The 2026 Milano‑Cortina Winter Olympics highlighted the incredible talent and determination of female athletes from all around the world. To commemorate these women and celebrate the beginning of Women’s History Month this March, let’s take a look at five extremely talented female athletes and their lives that are filled with accomplishments.
Alysa Liu
Alysa Liu was born Aug. 8, 2005, in Clovis, California. She began figure skating at age five and immediately fell in love with the sport. At just 13, she became the youngest women’s champion in history when she won the 2019 U.S. Championships, then defended her title in 2020. During her senior season she earned bronze at the 2022 World Championships in her debut appearance. Liu also made history along the way, becoming the first American woman to land a quadruple Lutz in competition and one of the youngest to successfully execute a triple Axel on the national stage. In 2022 Liu made the difficult decision to retire from figure skating at age 16. Fulfilled with her career and longing for a more normal teenage life Liu stated, “I honestly never thought I would’ve accomplished as much as I did,” She then remarked, “I feel so satisfied with how my skating career has gone.” She ultimately decided to return in 2024 after two years of retirement. She then earned gold at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships, before being invited to join team U.S.A in the 2026 Milan Olympics. At the games, she won gold in women’s singles and the team event. Liu’s comeback and Olympic triumph stand as a powerful reminder of the strength and determination women continue to bring to the world stage.
Mikaela Shiffrin
Widely considered one of the greatest technical skiers in history, Mikaela Shiffrin has redefined excellence in alpine skiing through her consistency and record-breaking success. Shiffrin was born on March 13, 1995, in Vail, United States to parents Eileen and Jeff Shiffrin- both of whom were former ski racers. Shiffrin was only two years old when she began skiing, and it quickly became a passion of hers. At age 17 she joined the U.S ski team and at 18 she made her first Olympic appearance at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, where she won gold in the slalom, becoming the youngest Olympic slalom champion in history. She also recently participated in this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan where she placed gold in slalom. Over her career, she has won multiple World Championship medals and is the all-time leader in Alpine Ski World Cup race victories, holding the current record as well as three overall World cup titles. Her dedication and consistency make her the successful athlete she is today.
Eileen Gu
As one of the most decorated and inspirational young athletes, 22 year old Eileen Gu has already had quite the successful journey. As a freestyle skier, Gu has won six olympic medals including three gold and three silver in halfpipe, slopestyle and big air. She also has seven medals in the world championships and eight medals in the X games making her one of the most decorated female athletes. Although she was born in San Francisco, Gu competes for China in her international competitions to represent her mother’s homeland. Gu stated, “My goal is to use sports as a bridge to promote understanding and empathy, that’s why I chose to compete for China, to inspire the next generation of young Chinese girls to be involved in skiing.” Aside from skiing, Gu is also known internationally as a fashion model and influencer, and Time magazine has recognized her by including her in its Time 100 list of the most influential people.
Elana Meyers Taylor
Elana Meyers Taylor is an American bobsledder who leads on and off the ice. She began bobsledding when she was in her early 20’s, and only three years later was invited to compete in the 2010 Vancouver winter games. Over her career, she has won multiple Olympic medals,
including silver medals in Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018, and most recently earned gold at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics at age 41. She is also a multiple-time World Championship medalist and made history as the first woman to medal in the four-man bobsled at the World Championships. Off the ice she is a mother of two deaf sons. Her oldest son Nico was born with hearing loss and Down syndrome, followed by her youngest son Noah who was also born deaf. Meyers Taylor has proudly shared her and her family’s story as she and her husband have learned American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate and share everyday life with their children, proudly raising awareness about inclusion. Through her athletic achievements and her family story, Meyers Taylor continues to be a role model for resilience, determination, and advocacy in sports and life.
Jutta Leerdam
Born December 30, 1998 in ’s‑Gravenzande, Netherlands, Jutta Leerdam won the 2026 Olympic Gold medal in speed skating. The Dutch speed skater began her career at age 11 and quickly excelled at the sport. The Netherlands is known to be a powerhouse when it comes to speed skating, and Leerdam has demonstrated this excellence throughout her career. She’s won gold in the 1000 m at the 2026 Olympics, claimed multiple World Single Distances Championship titles in the 1000 m, and became overall World Sprint Champion, establishing herself as one of the fastest female sprinters in the world. Aside from her athletics you may know her due to her large social media presence and current engagement to professional boxer and internet personality, Jake Paul.
As the games conclude, these women leave a lasting legacy of excellence and inspiration. Their achievements go beyond medals, showing their commitment and love for their sports. They will continue to inspire beyond their past performances, setting a new standard of excellence and determination.
