Skeleton racer Kendall Wesenberg bounces back from career risking spinal injury to chase 2026 Winter Olympic dream

Chasing an Olympic dream is difficult at any age. Doing it at 35, after a serious spinal injury, is even harder. Kendall Lorraine Wesenberg is proving it can still be done. The American skeleton racer, who competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics, spent nearly 600 days recovering from a major back problem. Many believed her career was over. Instead, she returned to competition and is now pushing for a spot at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.Wesenberg recently spoke honestly about her long recovery journey. She shared how every step forward brought a tougher challenge. Making the World Cup team again was a major milestone. With Olympic qualification approaching, her focus is clear and unwavering.Kendall Wesenberg reflected on her recovery journey in a recent Instagram post. “Each time I’ve reached a milestone in this recovery, the next goal that follows has been an even more difficult one. And when I made our World Cup team in November, I was well aware that racing on the top tour would be the biggest challenge yet”, she wrote. Her return showed promise early. At the Fall Selection Races at Utah Olympic Park, she finished second overall in women’s skeleton. The following day, on November 1, she won the race with the fastest two-run combined time of 1:39.49. The result earned her a place on the 2025-26 World Cup circuit.However, the World Cup season brought new struggles. At Cortina d’Ampezzo, Wesenberg placed 23rd. In Lillehammer, she finished 27th individually, though Team USA won silver in the mixed team event. Looking back, she admitted the start was harder than expected. “Some errors on my part, some unlucky draws, and my push not being back in the way I hoped it would be have led to missing more cuts in half of a season than in the rest of my career combined. This has put me in a tough spot in terms of qualifying, but it’s not over until it’s over”, she added. Despite the setbacks, USA Bobsled & Skeleton named her to the official World Cup roster on November 1, 2025. Wesenberg now looks ahead to tracks she knows well. Winterberg, St. Moritz, and Altenberg are next on her schedule. She wrote, “My three best tracks on circuit this year are up next, and I plan on giving it everything I have in the final World Cup races of the season.”Team USA will announce its Olympic skeleton team on January 17. For Kendall Wesenberg, the journey itself already stands as a remarkable victory! Also Read: Alica Schmidt shares cozy Christmas moments from Italy vacation after tough 2025 season on the track