Winter Olympics 2026: Ashley Farquharson rallies for bronze to secure second-ever U.S. medal in women's luge

Ashley Farquharson made U.S. Olympic history on Tuesday with a bronze-medal run to secure the nation's second medal ever in women's luge.

She needed a dramatic comeback to make it happen. 

Farquharson entered Tuesday's competition in fifth pace after two of four runs on Monday in an event where the times of all four runs are combined to determine the standings. 

Germany's Julia Taubitz and Merle Malou Fräbel were in control in first and second place as the country sought its eighth straight gold medal and fourth consecutive gold-silver finish in the event. But Fräbel had a rocky third run and dropped into eighth place, opening the door for other competitors to move onto the podium. 

Farquharson took advantage. Latvia's Elina Bota moved into silver-medal position from bronze with her third run, and Farquharson jumped from fifth place to bronze-medal position with her third, moving past Italy's Verana Hofer in the process.

Farquharson entered her fourth and final run knowing that was in control of her place on the podium. When she crossed the finish line with a clean run and a time of 52.909, she knew that she'd secured at least a bronze medal ahead of Hofer, who finished in fourth place. 

Bota held on for silver with her final run, while Taubitz earned Germany's eighth straight gold medal in the event.

Farquharson, meanwhile, was elated as she joined Erin Hamlin (bronze, Sochi 2014) as the only U.S. women to medal in the history of the event.