Mystique Ro, a skeleton racer with ties to Northern Virginia, will represent Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy. The games run from February 6 to 22.
Ro, 31, was born in California and grew up in Nokesville. She is a graduate of Prince William County’s Brentsville High School. Today, she lives in Lake Placid, New York.
USA Bobsled & Skeleton (USABS) announced the 2026 Team USA athletes on Monday. “These athletes have earned their place through their incredible effort, talent, and perseverance,” said USABS CEO Aron McGuire.
The other members of the USA skeleton team are Kelly Curtis, Austin Florian, and Dan Barefoot.
Ro was a track and field athlete at the Queens University of Charlotte. She began her career in skeleton in 2016, when she was invited to a rookie camp by the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Team. Coaches there told her she was “a little small” for bobsled and encouraged her to try skeleton.
Ro earned a silver medal in the 2025 IBSF World Championships, making her the first American to win a world medal in skeleton in eight years. She also won gold in the mixed team event alongside Austin Florian.
Ro isn’t the only Northern Virginia athlete competing in this year’s Olympics. Vienna native Ilia Malinin will compete in figure skating. Brandon Kim of Fairfax will compete in speedskating and short track. And Sarah Everhardt of Haymarket is the second alternate for the women’s figure skating team.
Evan Nichols, from Haymarket, will compete in the Paralympics in sled hockey.
Feature image of Mystique Ro at 2024–2025 IBSF World Cup courtesy IBSF
