Winter Olympics: Four years after last-lap heartbreak, Kristen Santos-Griswold returns for one more shot at gold

Jay Busbee Senior writer Wed, 11 February 2026 at 9:34 am UTC·6 min read MILAN — Imagine having everything you’ve wished for, everything you’ve worked for, everything you’ve trained for, right there in front of you, just a few seconds away. And then imagine losing it all, all at once, through no fault of your own. Team USA speed skater Kristen Santos-Griswold, who will compete Thursday in the 500m event, has spent the last four years trying to skate out from under a cloud of what-if. Four years ago in Beijing, Santos, at her first Olympics, was leading on the final lap of the 1000m medal race. A gold medal was just a lap away.Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then Italy’s Arianna...