Warrior Women on Your Winter Olympic Watch List
By: Lily Steen
We have anxiously awaited the return of the Winter Olympics. The athletes have been preparing for at least four years. Whether or not you’re an Olympic expert, I recommend watching out for these women.
Alysa Liu (Wikimedia Commons)
Alysa Liu- Figure Skating
Alysa Liu is a 20 year old U.S. figure skater who was born on August 8, 2005. She started skating recreationally at age five, but it became competitive for her as she got older. This led to her becoming the youngest women's figure skating champion at 13 years old in 2019. She placed sixth overall at the Beijing Winter Olympics at 16 years old. She retired after the 2022 Winter Olympics to live a normal life but she has since reignited her passion for skating during a ski trip in 2024. At first, she returned to the ice rink for the joy of skating and not competition, but, when she landed a double axel, she was reminded of her love for skating and immediately went back to full training.
Erin Jackson- Speed Skating
Erin Jackson is a 33 year old speed skater for the United States, and this is her third Olympic Games. She debuted in the 2018 Olympic Games, but it was at the 2022 Games that she won the gold medal in the 500m women's race, which made her the first Black woman to win gold in an individual Winter Olympic event. She began skating after her mom met a skating coach, leading her to compete in the junior inline championships. In addition to her Olympic gold, she also has five silver and seven bronze medals in other competitions.
Kendall Coyne Schofield- Ice Hockey
Kendall Coyne Schofield started skating 30 years ago at the age of three, accompanying her older brother to ice hockey. Her wanting to play ice hockey instead of figure skating eventually led her to play at Northeastern University. There, she led her team to their first NCAA Tournament berth and won a top women’s hockey award. This is her fourth Olympic Games, as she has been in the past three. She helped lead the US National Team to two silver Olympic medals in 2014 and 2022, as well as the gold medal in 2018.
Lindsey Vonn- Alpine Skiing
Lindsey Vonn (Wikimedia Commons)
Lindsey Vonn is 41 years old and began skiing at three years old, influenced by her father and grandfather, who were also competitive ski racers. After moving to Vail, Colorado, at age 12, she soon became the first American female to win the prestigious Trofeo Topolino slalom medal. She soon made her Olympic debut in 2002 at 17 years old. This will be her fifth Olympic Games as she has also competed in the 2006, 2010, and 2018 Olympic Games. She won an Olympic gold medal in 2010 in the downhill as well as two bronze medals.
Jessie Diggins- Cross Country Skiing
Jessie Diggins has been skiing since the age of three and is now 34 years old. She made her World Cup debut in 2011 after emerging as a top competitor in the U.S. junior ranks. This will be her fourth Olympic Games, as she has also competed in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 Olympic Games. She is a three-time Olympic medalist with one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. She won the gold medal in 2018 in the Team Sprint Freestyle for women and the silver and bronze medals in 2022 in the 30km and sprint freestyles, respectively.
There are many amazing athletes competing in the 2026 Olympic Games. Many of them are often overlooked for reasons like gender, race, and their sport not being as popular as others. But there are so many talented people, especially US women, who should be talked about more. Tune in to this year’s Winter Olympics, and especially to all of the talented women I mentioned above.
