The event is the first-ever Olympic skeleton mixed event.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Province of Belluno — The first-ever skeleton mixed team event had a surprising performance from the Americans.
Americans Mystique Ro and Austin Florian did not medal, but they set a new track record on Sunday at the Cortina Sliding Centre during their run. The Americans took the lead early on in the mixed team event.
Ro and Florian set the tone early with a 2:00.04 track record. They placed 7th overall.
Both Ro and Florian are making their first Olympic appearance. Total times were expected to be in the 2:01 mark, but several teams set and broke new track records on Sunday.
Florian and Ro were overtaken by Italians Amedeo Bagnis and Alessandra Fumagalli, who beat the Americans’ track record with 2.00.04. That record was soon broken again and again by China, Germany and Great Britain.
Once again, the record was smashed, with Great Britain setting a 1:59.36 mark to seal their gold medal win.
Germany won silver and bronze.
Team USA also included athletes Daniel Barefoot and Kelly Curtis, who finished in 2:01.43 and placed 10th.
How does the skeleton mixed team event work?
The event requires a female skeleton athlete to take the course first before her male teammate follows after her completed run
What are the differences between skeleton and luge?
Skeleton events differ from luge as athletes must begin their races with a standing start. They build up speed by running around for 40 meters (131 feet) before assuming a head-first position as they slide down the icy course.
Skeleton athletes reach speeds of more than 130 kph (81 mph).
Olympic skeleton includes men’s and women’s events, as well as a mixed-team event that is new for the 2026 Winter Olympics.