Women's Single Luge in the Winter Olympics: Dramatic Turns at Run 3 in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics

Hey there, Olympic Luge enthusiasts! We're back with more edge-of-your-seat coverage from the Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. On February 10, 2026 Day 5 of the Games, the Women's Singles Luge event ramped up with Run 3, setting the stage for the medal-deciding Run 4 later today. After a strong German lead following Runs 1 and 2, this run brought some unexpected shake-ups, including a costly error from one frontrunner and stellar performances from underdogs. The action started with athletes pushing their limits on the challenging track.

Top 5 Performers

The leaderboard tightened up, with razor-thin margins and a mix of consistency and bold recoveries. Here's the breakdown:

1st Place: Julia Taubitz (Germany) - Total Time: 2:37.918 (Leader). Taubitz continued her dominance with a flawless Run 3 time of 52.730 seconds (1st in run), hitting a top speed of 119.5 km/h. Her start time was 3.934 seconds, and she maintained perfect lines throughout, solidifying her as the one to beat.

2nd Place: Elīna Ieva Bota (Latvia) - Total Time: 2:38.622 (+0.704). Bota held steady with a Run 3 of 52.939 seconds (4th in run) and a top speed of 121.7 km/h. Her quick start (3.897 seconds) and consistent pacing kept her in silver contention, showcasing Latvia's rising prowess in luge.

3rd Place: Ashley Farquharson (USA) - Total Time: 2:38.673 (+0.755). A breakout run for Farquharson! She clocked 52.877 seconds (3rd in run) with a top speed of 122.7 km/h and a start of 3.973 seconds. Moving up from 5th after Run 2, her mistake-free slide put her firmly in medal territory, exciting U.S. fans.

4th Place: Verena Hofer (Italy) - Total Time: 2:38.720 (+0.802). The local hero delivered a solid 52.977 seconds (5th in run), reaching 123.4 km/h after a 3.921-second start. Hofer's performance thrilled the home crowd, keeping Italy's hopes alive despite the tight competition.

5th Place: Emily Fischnaller (USA)- Total Time: 2:38.748 (+0.830). Fischnaller shone brightly with the 2nd-fastest Run 3 at 52.876 seconds, topping out at 117.9 km/h from a 3.913-second start. Climbing the ranks, her precise handling marked a strong rebound and highlighted Team USA's depth.

Highlights from the 3 USA Players

Team USA had a mixed but promising showing in Run 3, with two athletes cracking the top 5 overall:

- Ashley Farquharson: As mentioned, her 52.877-second run was a highlight, propelling her to 3rd overall. No major errors, solid speed, and a confident finish— a potential podium preview.

- Emily Fischnaller: Nearly stealing the show in Run 3 with her 52.876 seconds (just 0.146 behind the leader in the run). Her performance was a testament to her experience, especially after celebrating her husband's bronze the day before.

- Summer Britcher: Sitting 14th overall after Run 3 with a total of 2:40.130 (+2.212), Britcher posted 53.516 seconds (15th in run) and a top speed of 118.8 km/h from a 3.946-second start. Some minor mistakes held her back, but she remains a veteran presence for the team.

A key moment was Merle Malou Fräbel's (Germany) stumble in Run 3—54.144 seconds (20th in run), dropping her to 10th overall and opening the door for others like Farquharson and Fischnaller. The track's demanding curves tested everyone, with speeds consistently over 120 km/h adding to the intensity.