Basketball Star Trades Court for Ice, Wins Olympic Bronze

A college basketball player from Florida walked away from the sport she loved and became a two-time Olympic medalist in speedskating, proving it's never too late to chase a completely different dream.

Brittany Bowe spent four years as a point guard at Florida Atlantic University, averaging over 12 points per game and earning the school's Most Outstanding Female Athlete award in 2010. But basketball wasn't her only passion.

Since age 8, Bowe had been competing in inline speedskating alongside her basketball career. When she watched the 2010 Winter Olympics during her senior year of college, something clicked.

She moved to Salt Lake City after graduation and switched from inline skating to ice speedskating. Just four years later, she made Team USA for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Her path to the podium hit a major obstacle in 2016 when a severe head injury sidelined her for nearly a year. Bowe struggled with panic attacks and anxiety for the first time in her life.

"That was the first time in my career that I realized it was OK to say that I wasn't OK," she said. Admitting she needed help became the turning point in her recovery.

Bowe came back stronger than ever. She won bronze at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and again at the 2022 Beijing Games.

At Beijing, she showed what it means to be a true teammate. Bowe gave up her spot in the 500-meter relay to teammate Erin Jackson, who went on to win gold. That selflessness, Bowe says, came directly from her college basketball days.

Why This Inspires

Bowe credits her college coaches for teaching her resilience, dedication, and what it means to put the team first. Those lessons from the basketball court transformed into Olympic success on the ice.

At 37, she's now preparing for her final Olympic run at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. While she admits she's chasing gold, she's focused more on performing her best and embracing each moment.

"I have been so blessed to have such a long, successful career," Bowe said. "I'm excited for what life will look like next."

After 16 years of four-year training cycles and two bronze medals, Bowe gets to end her remarkable journey on her own terms.