Kelly Curtis was a first-time Olympian in 2022, competing in skeleton at the Beijing Winter Games. But when the events ended, she was back to being an airman first class.
“I never thought I would have the opportunity to serve, and then when I found out about the World Class Athlete Program [WCAP], I thought it was so cool that I would be able to potentially serve my country while still chasing my Olympic dream,” said Curtis, now a staff sergeant who is returning to the Olympic stage, this time in Italy. “So that became the goal — to become good enough for the program.”
The Air Force WCAP, managed by the Air Force Services Center, allows “elite airmen athletes” to train and compete nationwide and internationally with the goal of qualifying for the Olympics. Established in 1995, the program traces its roots to Tuskegee Airman Malvin G. Whitfield, a Korean War veteran and the first active-duty U.S. service member to win gold.
Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier stated in a news release that the athletes competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics represent “the pinnacle of athleticism” and the warrior mindset that defines the Air Force.
“Your performance on the world stage demonstrates a critical link between physical fitness, commitment to excellence and military readiness,” Lohmeier said.
Curtis started training for bobsled and skeleton events in 2014 and 2015, a progression of her athletic endeavors that included basketball and track and field. Until she joined WCAP in August 2020, she was climbing the ranks while working odd jobs to pay her way through.
The WCAP provided the financial stability to focus on her athletic career while also pursuing a career outside of athletics. Since joining the program, she has become the first Black athlete to slide skeleton for the U.S., and currently ranks as No. 1 skeleton slider in the country.
While she said those accolades mean a lot, she’s not taking them for granted as she prepares for this year’s competition.
“Everything prior to this has been fantastic, but we’re still working hard behind the scenes to make sure that I’m as best prepared as possible,” said Curtis, who earned silver at a January World Cup event to qualify for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. “Because my last Olympics did not go so great, and it was coming off of my first World Cup season and I had a great season. And then it just didn’t come together for the Olympics.”
She placed 21st in 2022, and said a lot of behind-the-scenes occurrences left her mentally and emotionally drained.
“I think that came out physically. I was just never able to truly relax on my sled and that’s how you make the sled go fast,” she said. “And so the whole time when I’m tense on the sled, it’s like fighting the gravity with it.”
For 2026, she requested a PCS to Aviano Air Base in Italy. With her family in tow, she’s bringing the lessons from 2022 along for the ride.
“Now that I’m qualified, I feel more relaxed,” she said. “I’m working with a whole team to make to make sure that I can get relaxed on all three race days.”
For more information on the Winter Olympics and to follow along with the events, visit the Olympics website.
