Kristen Santos-Griswold’s journey through the world of Olympic speed skating embodies resilience, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence despite setbacks. After nearly reaching the podium in Beijing 2022—only to be denied a medal in a heartbreaking turn of events—she faced the arduous task of re-evaluating her relationship with the sport. Her story is one of overcoming disappointment, rediscovering her internal motivation, and returning stronger than ever, culminating in her recent victories and her unwavering focus on future success at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.
The emotional toll of Beijing 2022 and the path to recovery
The agony of a near-miss
Kristen Santos-Griswold entered her first Olympic Games in Beijing 2022 with high hopes. Leading on the final lap of the 1000-meter race, she was poised to claim her first medal. However, an aggressive move by Italy’s Arianna Fontana, who attempted a daring inside dive to seize the lead, resulted in a tangled skater-on-skater collision. Although Fontana’s move was deemed illegal, Santos-Griswold’s race ended in heartbreak—finishing just shy of the medals in fourth place, a position often remembered more for its ‘almost’ than its achievement.
The moment left a profound impact on Santos-Griswold, exposing the brutal reality of high-level sport where circumstances beyond control can determine outcomes. She described the difficulty of accepting that even when she was the fastest, luck, timing, and mishaps could deny her success. “The hardest part about this sport,” she reflected recently, “is that concept of, you can be the best, you can be the fastest, and things just don’t work out for you.”
Reflecting and reassessing
Having already faced age and injury-related hurdles, Santos-Griswold realized that her window for Olympic medals might be closing faster than hoped. A string of setbacks—including a significant injury that cost her a spot in the 2018 Olympics—had already made her acutely aware of how fleeting sporting glory can be. Following her 2022 disappointment, she admits she needed to step back, pause, and reevaluate her commitment.
“After 2022 was really hard. I’m not going to lie, I had to take a little bit of a step back from the sport and really reflect on whether I still wanted to keep doing it,” she said. During that time, Santos-Griswold grappled with the advice and opinions from friends and family, ultimately recognizing that quitting wasn’t an option for her. “I really needed to make that decision for myself.”
Choosing resilience: The mental journey and renewed focus
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The struggle with identity and purpose
The pause allowed Santos-Griswold to dig deeper into her identity as an athlete. She began recalling her early days—starting figure skating at age three in Connecticut, before switching to speed skating at nine after seeing races on Disney Channel. Over the years, speed skating became more than just a sport; it became a core part of who she was. As she approached 31, she admits that imagining life beyond the ice was daunting.
“The concept of being an athlete, and specifically a speed skater, has really defined my whole life,” she explained. “And thinking that you’re done with that, and no longer going to be an athlete, can be really daunting.”
Turning pain into motivation
The painful experience of Beijing and her subsequent introspection led her to a crucial realization: she needed to focus on the journey rather than fixate solely on the outcome. This shift in focus helped her rebuild her mental strength and develop healthier perspectives on success and failure.
What helped her heal was accepting the sport’s intrinsic unfairness, recognizing that setbacks are part of the process. “I chose the sport. I chose to be there every day on the ice,” she said. “Every win is that much more special because you had to overcome mental obstacles, adapt in the moment, and push through adversity.”
In her own words, her training leading into Beijing was all-consuming, with every decision geared towards Olympic success. Despite her meticulous preparation—correct diet, rest, and intense training—the result was beyond her control. That realization prompted her to begin detaching her self-worth from medals, embracing life’s small joys and everyday moments during the build-up to her next Olympic appearance.
The comeback and renewed triumphs
Finding renewed strength and motivation
After allowing herself time to process the disappointment, Santos-Griswold made an inspiring comeback. Her persistence bore fruit in 2024 when she achieved a historic milestone: becoming the first American short-track speed skater since the sport’s inclusion in the Winter Olympics in 1992 to medal across all three individual distances—500m, 1000m, and 1500m—at the World Short Track Championships. The following year, she claimed her first Crystal Globe, awarded to the best overall short-track skater, and topped the world rankings. These victories marked her true return to prominence in the sport.
Her journey was complicit in a clearer understanding of her capabilities and her mental resilience. Watching her 2022 race replay for the first time since the event was emotional; she shed tears, feeling the pain of what could have been but also gaining clarity about the variables that sometimes override effort and intention.
A new mantra for a new phase
With her newfound confidence, Santos-Griswold approached her upcoming 2026 season with a fresh mindset. Her mantra—“Untouchable”—captures her desire to take full control of her races. She emphasizes her focus on being so far ahead that no competitor can influence her race outcome. “That means I want to be ahead, and so far ahead that no one could affect my race,” she explained. “This sport is really unpredictable, and a lot of that you can’t control. The best way to control other racers is to make it so they can’t even affect how I compete.”
Her approach signifies a matured perspective: smarter, steadier, and more centered. She admits that her energy levels aren’t what they once were, and she’s embraced a “work smarter, not harder” philosophy. Alongside that, she’s embracing her life outside of the rink—being married, earning her college degree, and understanding that her purpose extends beyond just medals.
Looking ahead: Embracing the challenges of 2026
Ultimately, Santos-Griswold’s story underscores her readiness to face whatever hurdles lie ahead. Her experience has taught her that setbacks are part of every athlete’s journey and that embracing both success and failure with equanimity is essential for longevity. Her reflection about the future is straightforward: if she faced similar disappointments in four years’ time, she’s prepared to persevere again.
“I had to really sit there and think, if in four years the same thing happens again, would that be worth it?” she said. “Obviously, I’m here, so I decided that it would be.”
As she trains toward Milan with her new outlook, Santos-Griswold exemplifies resilience and dedication, proving that setbacks are merely stepping stones to greater achievements when approached with resilience and a clear mind.
