American Olympians slide during speed skating races

Team USA had a smooth time on the ice during two speed skating events at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

The first problem occurred in the third heat of the women’s 500 meter short track speed skating race. Corinne Stoddard was up against China’s Wang Xinran, Japan’s Rika Kanai and Italy’s Arianna Sighel.

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Stoddard had great pace out of the gate. She moved up the track along Wang to go around her. As the skaters came back toward the line, Stoddard fell and took out three of his opponents.

Stoddard was shocked when Kanai got up and finished behind Wang. American Kristen Santos-Griswold finished first in the fifth heat and would qualify for the final race.

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Julie Letai of the United States crashes while competing in the team mixed relay short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Then, in the short track speedskating mixed team relay B final, Julie Letai suffered her own misfortune when she slipped and crashed into the padding. Team USA finished fourth in the meet.

Italy won the gold medal in the race, with Canada winning a silver and Belgium picking up a bronze.

Julie Letai, below, of the United States crashes into Kim Gilli of South Korea while competing in the team mixed relay speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

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Both mishaps were unfortunate events as medals have been hard to come by in the early days of the Winter Olympics. On Tuesday, the USA had picked up only two medals – both gold.