American speed skater Mia Manganello is set to compete in her third and final Winter Olympic Games at Milano Cortina 2026, entering the competition in what she describes as the best form of her career.
According to Olympics.com, Manganello, 36, has earned three World Cup medals this season, including her first gold, marking a career peak as she prepares for her swansong at the Games. After a period away from speed skating during which she pursued professional cycling, she returned for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, where she helped the U.S. women’s team pursuit capture a bronze medal—the country’s first Olympic speed skating medal for women since 2002.
Manganello reversed her earlier decision to retire after the Beijing 2022 Olympics, expressing confidence in her physical and mental readiness for the final chapter of her competitive career. She emphasized that regardless of the outcome at the Games, she feels proud of her accomplishments and readiness to conclude her Olympic journey.
The upcoming Olympics hold special significance for Manganello, who has deep family ties to Italy. Her parents owned a pizza restaurant in Florida named ‘Mia’s,’ reflecting her heritage and early environment. Her family relocated to Salt Lake City to support her speed skating pursuits, a move that contributed to her development into a three-time junior national champion and multiple-time world championship competitor.
Notably, Manganello kicked off the 2025-26 Speed Skating World Cup season at her home training ground in Salt Lake City, winning her first individual World Cup race there. She described the achievement as the result of two decades of dedication and sacrifice, underscoring the long journey that has led to her Olympic finale in Italy in 2026.
