42 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Kaillie Humphries Armbruster Makes Emotional Return to Top of Podium
In a sport defined by fractions of a second, Kaillie Humphries Armbruster has spent a lifetime measuring her success in gold. But as she stood atop the podium recently in Sigulda, Latvia, the moment wasn’t just in the medal around her neck, it was in the small child she held in her arms.
It had been nearly three years since Humphries Armbruster last tasted victory in a two-woman bobsled race. In that time, she turned 40, stepped away from the ice to start a family, and navigated the grueling, often unspoken challenges of returning to elite athletic form after childbirth.
But this past weekend, it all changed. Teaming up with Emily Renna, Humphries Armbruster won their two-woman bobsled race and snapped a dominant 20-race winning streak held by the German team.
Kaillie Humphries Armbruster Enjoys Her “Mom Moment”
“Being back on top after three years feels great. This is my first win as a mom, and a first win ever for Emily. This is a special one for us both. I’m proud of how we performed at the start and down the track,” said Humphries Armbruster.
The victory marked her 31st career World Cup win in the two-woman discipline and her 43rd major international victory overall, a tally that includes World Championships and Olympic triumphs.
Yet, the scene on the podium offered a glimpse into her new reality. Her son, Aulden, was right there with her, wearing a knit cap from Cortina—the site of the upcoming 2026 Winter Games. It was a subtle but powerful nod to her ultimate goal: defending her legacy on Olympic ice one more time.
A Career Defined by Resilience
To understand the magnitude of this comeback, you have to look at the road traveled. Humphries Armbruster is already one of the most decorated bobsledders in history. She claimed back-to-back Olympic golds for Canada in 2010 and 2014, added a bronze in 2018, and then made a high-profile switch to Team USA in 2019. That transition culminated in a historic gold medal in the inaugural monobob event at the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
But the journey back to the pilot’s seat this season has been different. In a candid podcast appearance earlier this year, she admitted that returning to the sport was “way harder than I thought.” The physical demands of bobsledding are unforgiving. To return at 40 years old is impressive; to return as a new mother and immediately dethrone the dominant Germans is extraordinary.
Looking Toward 2026
With this victory, Humphries Armbruster has vaulted into second place in the World Cup two-woman standings, signaling that she is peaking at the right time. The Germans, led by Lisa Buckwitz and Laura Nolte, took silver and bronze in Sigulda, proving they remain formidable rivals. But the Americans have served notice.
As the tour moves forward, the narrative has shifted. It’s no longer just about whether Kaillie Humphries Armbruster can compete with the next generation, it’s about whether they can keep up with her on the way to the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
