72 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Love Leads Team USA Bobsledders At Cortina World Cup

The road to the 2026 Winter Olympics just got a lot more interesting. Team USA fired a major warning shot in the opening two-woman bobsled World Cup race of the season, with two American sleds landing on the podium and putting the bobsled world on notice.

On the very same track in Cortina d’Ampezzo that will host the Olympic showdown in February 2026, the U.S. women’s team showcased its remarkable depth and talent.  

A Star is Born: Love Shines with Double Silver

Kaysha Love is quickly becoming a household name in the world of bobsledding. After switching from brakewoman to pilot following the 2022 Olympics, Love has proven she belongs in the driver’s seat. She capped off a brilliant opening weekend by piloting her sled, with brakewoman Azaria Hill, to a stunning silver medal.

The duo put Team USA in fourth place after a solid first heat, but they found another gear in their second run. With a display of pure speed and precision, they launched themselves onto the second step of the podium, a mere 0.77 seconds behind the dominant Nolte. This performance was not just a one-off; it followed another second-place finish in the monobob event, cementing Love’s status as a genuine threat for gold. Her meteoric rise from world champion in monobob last March to a double-podium World Cup driver is a story of sheer determination.

The Veteran Returns: Humphries Back on the Podium

Just behind Love, the legendary Kaillie Humphries made an emotional and triumphant return to the World Cup podium for Team USA. Paired with brakewoman Sylvia Hoffman, the three-time Olympic gold medalist secured a bronze medal, finishing just two-hundredths of a second behind her teammate. It was a powerful statement from one of the sport’s all-time greats.

This was Humphries’ first podium finish since giving birth to her son in the summer of 2024. After taking a season away from the grueling circuit, any questions about her ability to return to elite form were answered emphatically. With her characteristic focus and competitive fire, Humphries proved she is far from finished and remains a formidable force heading toward another Olympic cycle.

As the World Cup season moves to Igls, Austria, the message from Cortina is clear: The TEam USA women’s bobsled team is deep, talented, and hungry. The thrilling start to the season has set the stage for an epic battle for supremacy, with Love, Humphries, and Meyers Taylor all poised to challenge for the top of the podium. The race to Milan has officially begun, and Team USA is right in the thick of it.

Results of U.S. Bobsledders

Team USA Results: 

• Kaysha Love & Azaria Hill: Silver medal in the two-woman event, second-place finish in the monobob event.
• Kaillie Humphries & Sylvia Hoffman: Bronze medal in the two-woman event.
• Elana Meyers Taylor & Jasmine Jones: Sixth place in the two-woman event, 19th place in the monobob event.
• Kristopher Horn (Men’s 4-man): Seventh place finish, fifth-fastest time in the second run.