American speed skating star Brittany Bowe has announced her retirement following the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, closing the chapter on one of the most successful and influential careers in long track speed skating.

A multiple-time world champion, Olympic medallist and world record holder, Bowe leaves the sport after more than a decade among the world’s elite middle-distance skaters.

From inline skating in Florida to the Olympic stage

Growing up in Florida, far from traditional winter sports culture, Bowe did not have access to ice during her childhood. Instead, she developed her athletic foundation through several sports before discovering inline skating at the age of eight.

Bowe's talent quickly translated into international success. Bowe won multiple inline skating World Championship titles and claimed gold at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Before fully committing to speed skating, she also played basketball at collegiate level as a point guard for the Florida Atlantic Owls.

Inspired by former inline skaters competing at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Bowe relocated to Salt Lake City to pursue long track speed skating on ice. Alongside teammate Heather Bergsma (USA), she rapidly established herself as one of the sport’s brightest talents.

Brittany Bowe’s dominance in the 1000m

Bowe became one of the defining athletes of her generation in the women’s 1000m.

In 2013, she set a world record in the distance, beginning a remarkable sequence of record exchanges with Bergsma. After her teammate broke the mark in 2015, Bowe reclaimed it only one week later.

Japanese star Nao Kodaira lowered the record in 2017, but Bowe responded again in 2019 with a stunning time of 1:11.61, a world record that still stands today.

Bowe's achievements extended beyond record-breaking performances. Bowe won consecutive World Sprint titles in 2015 and 2016 and secured multiple world single distance crowns, including three gold medals in the 1000m and one in the 1500m.

Brittany Bowe skates during the 1000m ladies race Divison A at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Stavanger, Norway in 2016. © ISU

Olympic medals and emotional farewell at Milano Cortina 2026

Despite her sustained success on the World Cup circuit and at World Championships, Olympic gold remained elusive throughout Bowe’s career.

At the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, she earned bronze in the Team Pursuit alongside Bergsma and Mia Manganello.

Four years later, Bowe added another Olympic bronze medal in the women’s 1000m at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Bowe's final Olympic appearance came at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, where she finished fourth in the Team Pursuit, 1000m and 1500m.

Reflecting on the conclusion of her career, Bowe said:

“Finishing fourth place three times these Olympics is heartbreaking (...) I'm at peace with it.”

“Speed skating has shaped me into the person I am.”

Bronze Medallist Brittany Bowe celebrates during the Women's 1000m flower ceremonyat the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. © Getty Images

Brittany Bowe leaves lasting legacy in speed skating

Bowe retires as one of the most accomplished athletes in United States speed skating history and one of the most successful inline skaters ever to transition to ice.

Bowe's journey from Florida inline rinks to Olympic podiums inspired a new generation of athletes and helped further strengthen the connection between inline and long track speed skating.

With an enduring 1000m world record, multiple world titles and Olympic medals across three Games, Brittany Bowe leaves the sport as one of speed skating’s defining athletes of the modern era.

Brittany Bowe – Career Highlights