It seems the engagement excitement didn’t quite transfer over in a parallel fashion.
Hilary Knight led the US women’s hockey team to a gold medal victory on Thursday, right after revealing her engagement to speedskater Brittany Bowe. Unfortunately for Bowe, she just missed out on medaling herself.
The 37-year-old, set to retire after the Milano Cortina Games, placed fourth in the 1500-meter race, despite having a strong start. She gradually lost speed as she neared the finish line.
Even with the letdown, Bowe managed to greet fans with a wave during her lap around the rink, her loved ones—including Knight, who had just scored a critical goal in the gold medal match—cheering for her.
Bowe finished 0.61 seconds behind a medal, competing against Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong of the Netherlands.
Well-known for her explosive starts, Bowe maintained a strong pace, running second for most of the race. But as it progressed, Rijpma-de Jong surged ahead, ultimately clinching the gold with a time of 1:54.09.
This marked Rijpma-de Jong’s first gold medal and the sixth overall medal in her career, while Norway’s Ragne Wiklund took silver (1:54.15) and Canada’s Valerie Maltais earned bronze (1:54.40).
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
Bowe also finished fourth in both the 1000-meter and the team pursuit events. Though she hasn’t yet medaled in the 1500-meter, she did take home a bronze in the 1000-meter at the Beijing Games, marking her inaugural individual Olympic medal. Additionally, she secured a bronze in the team pursuit in 2018.
Leaving Milan, Bowe will carry an engagement ring and a significant legacy in American speedskating. Her accolades include 91 World Cup medals, 22 national titles, six world titles—including one in the 1500m—and four world records (again, one in the 1500m).
Bowe and Knight’s relationship blossomed during the 2022 Winter Olympics, where they took evening strolls to alleviate stress from the competition.
Knight will have the honor of carrying Team USA’s flag during the closing ceremony on Sunday alongside figure skater Evan Bates.
