From Grief to Gold: How Olympian Sophia Kirkby Is Changing the Games Off the Track
The Olympic Games are often defined by medals and milliseconds, but sometimes the most powerful stories unfold far from the finish line and that’s exactly what’s happening with American luger Sophia Kirkby.
Kirkby is competing on the sport’s biggest stage, representing the United States in women’s doubles luge, an event making its Olympic debut. But while she trains on ice and steel at terrifying speeds, her quieter work happens with clay, patience and purpose. What began as a deeply personal coping mechanism has turned into a movement that’s capturing attention across the Olympic village.
After losing her father to stage four prostate cancer, Kirkby found refuge in ceramics. Pottery became a way to steady her hands and her thoughts while processing grief. That creative outlet never left her. Instead, it evolved. Today, she spends hours each week crafting small ceramic pins by hand, each one stamped with images celebrating women’s winter sports and the athletes who compete in them.
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At the Olympics, pin trading is more than a tradition. It’s a social currency. Athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials exchange pins as symbols of connection and shared experience. Kirkby saw an opportunity in that tradition. If pins travel far and last forever, why not use them to elevate women’s sports that still fight for visibility.
She has created more than two thousand pins, each carefully designed, fired and glazed. They feature athletes from hockey, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge, including competitors from other nations. These aren’t mass-produced souvenirs. They’re handmade keepsakes meant to be remembered and that’s the point. Kirkby believes people hold on to objects with stories and those stories can carry messages long after the Games end.
What makes this moment especially significant is timing. Women’s doubles luge is appearing at the Olympics for the first time. Kirkby isn’t just racing in a new event. She’s helping define how it’s remembered. A portion of the proceeds from her pins goes directly to the athletes represented, turning art into tangible support.
This story matters because it challenges the idea that athletes only influence the world through podium finishes. Kirkby is showing that impact can come through creativity, empathy and intention. She’s turning personal loss into collective gain and using the global spotlight to push women’s sports forward in a way that feels human and lasting.
As the Winter Games continue, remember that some of the most meaningful victories won’t be measured in seconds or scores. Stay with us for more stories that reveal the people behind the performances and keep watching as the Olympics continue to unfold.
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