Mia Manganello Wins Bronze Medal at 2026 Winter Olympics

American speed skater Mia Manganello clinched the bronze medal in the women’s mass start final at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium on Saturday. It was an exhilarating finish as she pushed hard during the last lap to secure her place on the podium.

Marjike Fourneud of the Netherlands took home the gold, and Canada’s Ivanie Blondin edged out Manganello for the silver medal by a narrow margin.

This bronze marks Manganello’s first individual medal after competing in her third Olympic Games. She had previously earned a bronze in the women’s team pursuit at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

Manganello’s journey to this success wasn’t straightforward. Hailing from Crestview, Florida, she aimed for the 2010 Vancouver Games but missed the cut during the U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Trials. Subsequently, she transitioned to cycling professionally, only to return to speed skating in 2016. By then, she had earned a spot on the U.S. team for the PyeongChang Olympics, where her efforts paid off with a team bronze.

At the recent Beijing 2022 Games, however, Manganello narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the women’s mass start. Yet, just the year prior, she conquered her first mass start race at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup.

Now, in what turned out to be her final Olympic race, Manganello has added a bronze medal to her achievements. Interestingly, this medal will also stand as the first for a U.S. woman in speed skating at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

In the same event, fellow American Greta Myers finished in 12th place. Their camaraderie was evident as they embraced after the race, a small but touching moment amongst the competition.

Manganello’s success has contributed to the United States now tying with Italy for second place in Olympic medals, with Norway leading at 40 medals overall.