(Story Courtesy of Springfield Athletics) 

Springfield, Mass. - Former Springfield College women's track and field standout Kelly Curtis '12 will compete for Team USA at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, this February. Earlier this week, Curtis was one of two athletes named to the U.S. Olympic women's skeleton team, joining Mystique Ro.

Having previously represented the United States at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, Curtis became the first Springfield College alum to compete in multiple Olympic Winter Games. Former Springfield College women's track and field student-athlete Erin Pac Blumert '03 previously won a bronze medal for Team USA in the two-woman bobsled at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Curtis will return to the Olympic stage on Friday, February 13, when the skeleton competition begins with two runs scheduled for 10:00 a.m. EST. The final two runs will take place on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. EST. Live coverage of Curtis and the skeleton competition will air on USA Network and stream on Peacock, NBC's streaming service.

"Kelly represents everything we hope for in a Springfield College student-athlete — relentless work ethic, resilience, and a commitment to excellence," said Springfield College head track and field coach Michael Miller. "Watching her journey from an elite heptathlete on our track to earning a spot on the Olympic stage is incredibly inspiring. Her selection for the 2026 Olympic Games is a testament to her perseverance and a source of immense pride for the entire Springfield College community."

Entering the Olympic Games, Curtis is ranked 16th in the world in the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation's 2025-26 Olympic qualification standings and is the top-ranked American athlete. She is coming off her best-ever performance on the Women's Skeleton World Cup circuit, earning a silver medal at St. Moritz, Switzerland, on January 9. The result marked the second World Cup medal of her career, following a bronze medal on her home track in Lake Placid, New York, in December 2022. At the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Curtis finished 21st overall in the skeleton competition.

Curtis, who serves in the U.S. Air Force World Class Athlete Program, made history at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games as the first Black athlete to compete for Team USA in skeleton.

During her time as a student-athlete on Alden Street, Curtis enjoyed a decorated career with the Springfield College women's track and field program. After transferring from Tulane University before the 2010-11 season, she won the heptathlon at the 2011 Penn Relays, was a two-time NEWMAC Field Athlete of the Year, earned three NCAA Division III All-America honors in the multi-events, and was named the USTFCCCA New England Field Athlete of the Year.

In recognition of her excellence both athletically and academically, the Sport Management major was also selected as one of just 26 student-athletes nationwide to receive an NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Scholarship.

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.