Puerto Rico's lone Winter Olympian on a quest to inspire - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

by Kevin Baxter

February 14, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Puerto Rico’s lone Winter Olympian, Kellie Delka, is competing in the skeleton event at the Milan-Cortina Games, marking a significant milestone for the island. Though she finished 24th out of 25 athletes, her participation is a testament to Puerto Rico’s renewed efforts to rebuild its winter sports program after a 16-year absence from the Winter Olympics. Delka’s journey began in 2018 when she moved to Puerto Rico to help revitalize the island’s Olympic delegation, despite facing challenges like loneliness and financial strain. Delka, a former pole vaulter and cheerleader at the University of North Texas, was drawn to skeleton by her connection to the sport through Johnny Quinn, a fellow alum who competed in bobsled. After competing for the U.S. until 2017, she shifted her focus to Puerto Rico, where she now lives and trains on her own, relying on personal initiative and support from small scholarships. Her dedication has not only kept her in the sport but also deepened her connection to Puerto Rico, despite lacking fluency in Spanish. Puerto Rico’s Olympic participation is

Verticals

newscalifornia

Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 2/14/2026