It’s not every day you find an Olympic athlete who’s allergic to ice and terrified of roller coasters—yet has become one of the world’s top competitors in a sport that combines both. Mystique Ro, the 31-year-old U.S. skeleton racer, is rewriting what’s possible at the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, and her journey is as riveting as the sport itself.
On a chilly February morning, the walls of The Crab Barn in Millsboro, Delaware, were lined with supporters. Family, friends, and fans packed the restaurant, eyes glued to the screens as Ro rocketed down the icy track in Cortina. Her mother, Nicole Ro, was front and center, her emotions plain for all to see. "It’s awesome. I mean, this is crazy. It’s absolutely wonderful," Nicole said, her pride unmistakable. "I feel so honored and privileged to be her mom, just to see her live out her dreams and never give up."
Ro’s path to the Olympics is anything but ordinary. Growing up in Nokesville, Virginia, she was an accomplished track athlete, excelling in hurdles and the heptathlon at Queens College in Charlotte. Skeleton, a sport that demands athletes hurl themselves headfirst down a mile-long chute of rock-hard ice at speeds over 80 miles per hour, was nowhere on her radar. In fact, when first asked to try skeleton, she was baffled. What exactly did they want her to do?
Yet, after college, Ro attended a bobsled tryout hosted by Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor. While her 5-foot-4 frame and lighter build weren’t ideal for bobsled, they were just right for skeleton. The opportunity to pivot and try something new was irresistible. Ro embraced the challenge, despite her unusual set of obstacles—she has cold urticaria, an allergy to ice, and a long-standing fear of roller coasters. As a child, she discovered that thrill rides were not her thing, recalling she "screamed on the way down" during her one attempt. That experience could have closed the door on adrenaline sports forever. Instead, it set the stage for a remarkable transformation.
"When things are against you, to never give up and just keep persevering and working hard," Nicole Ro reflected, describing her daughter’s relentless drive. That perseverance has paid off in a big way. Mystique Ro has become a beacon for Team USA skeleton—a sport where American women have rarely reached the podium. She made history by capturing a silver medal at the 2025 World Championships, becoming the first American to medal at a skeleton world event. Her momentum didn’t stop there: she clinched gold in mixed doubles skeleton, an event making its Olympic debut at these very Games in Cortina.
Ro’s success isn’t just about personal achievement. She’s keenly aware of the bigger picture. "Starting to break these droughts and bringing more hardware is reassuring that the United States is a good contender for the sport," she emphasized. For Ro, this is a collective win. "As a nation, we deserve to be on the platform and in those podium spots." She’s quick to credit her supporters: "I would not be here without the support of everyone who said a prayer or provided any type of resources, because it is such a team effort."
Skeleton is a sport of controlled chaos. Athletes steer their sleds using subtle shifts of the shoulders and knees, racing against the clock with runs often decided by mere hundredths of a second. The stakes are high, the danger real, and the margin for error razor-thin. Ro, who now trains full-time in Lake Placid, New York, describes the sport as "controlled chaos," a phrase that captures both the precision and the wildness of her chosen discipline.
After two heats in the women’s skeleton event at the 2026 Winter Games, Ro found herself in 17th place with a combined time of 1:56.36. Her fellow American, Kelly Curtis, sat in 10th with 1:55.69. The competition was fierce, the difference between competitors measured in blinks. With the women’s skeleton event wrapping up on February 14, Ro’s focus now shifts to the next challenge—the mixed doubles skeleton event, where she’ll team up with Austin Florin. The pair are hoping to build on their world championship gold and bring home more hardware for Team USA as the event makes its Olympic debut on February 15.
Ro’s journey to the Olympic stage has been shaped by more than just athletic ambition. Her mother, Nicole, spoke movingly about the personal loss that continues to motivate her daughter: the death of Mystique’s brother. "She got over the loss of her brother. He’s with her always," Nicole said. "She talks about him, she remembers him, and she’s doing it because he always pushed her to do the best that she could do." For Ro, every run down the ice is both a pursuit of her own dreams and a tribute to her brother’s memory. "She’s living out her dream in remembrance of him. She’s a wonderful person, and I love her," Nicole added.
The support from home has been unwavering. At The Crab Barn, the mood was electric as Ro’s runs played out on the big screen. Community members cheered, hugged, and marveled at the courage it takes to compete in such a high-risk sport. For many, Ro’s story is a source of hometown pride—a testament to what’s possible with grit, heart, and a willingness to face fears head-on.
Ro’s allergy to ice, oddly enough, has become a competitive advantage. She jokes that it gives her extra incentive not to touch the walls as she barrels down the track at 80 miles per hour. It’s a quirky twist that perfectly encapsulates her approach: turn every obstacle into an opportunity. Her journey from track athlete to world-class skeleton racer is proof that the most unlikely candidates can become champions with the right mindset and support system.
As the Milano-Cortina Games unfold, all eyes will be on Mystique Ro and Austin Florin as they take to the ice for the mixed doubles skeleton event. With a world championship gold already under their belts, the pair are poised to make history once again. Whether they reach the podium or not, Ro’s story has already inspired countless fans and reminded the world that the Olympic spirit is alive and well—sometimes in the most unexpected places.
With the women’s skeleton event concluded and the mixed doubles ahead, the excitement in Millsboro, Lake Placid, and beyond is palpable. Ro’s journey is far from over, and her legacy as a trailblazer in American skeleton is only just beginning.