Freestyle skier Rell Harwood is set to develop her 2026 Winter Olympics debut in Milano‑Cortina despite a torn ACL that sidelined her on the day of her first Olympic event. The 24‑year‑old U.S. Ski & Snowboard team member qualified for the Games in January and will compete in the women’s big‑air competition, a discipline she has focused on after skipping slopestyle to conserve strength.
Harwood’s Olympic berth was confirmed by U.S. Ski & Snowboard on Jan. 23, when the federation announced the final roster for the United States at the 2026 Games officially naming her to the team. The Park City, Utah native had been battling a recurring knee injury that required surgery before the 2022 Beijing Olympics and a similar tear resurfaced during the opening day of the Milano‑Cortina competition.
Injury on opening day and the decision to compete
Harwood posted an Instagram update explaining that she “didn’t compete at the Olympics today, but my time here isn’t done.” She detailed how a right‑ACL tear—identical to the one that forced her out of the 2022 Games—occurred during warm‑up. With no time for immediate surgery, she chose to continue competing under the guidance of her medical team, a path previously taken by former Team USA skier Lindsey Vonn.
Due to the fact that the torn ligament limited her stability on rails, Harwood elected to skip the slopestyle event—her original Olympic entry—and concentrate on big‑air jumps, where “jumps have felt better than rails.” The big‑air qualifications are slated for Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, with finals two days later.
Big‑air focus and competition schedule
Women’s big‑air at Milano‑Cortina features a single‑run format where athletes launch off massive snow‑filled ramps to perform aerial tricks judged on difficulty, execution and amplitude. Harwood’s decision to prioritize this event aligns with her 2024–2025 season, in which she consistently posted higher scores on jumps than on rail sections.
In addition to the Olympic schedule, Harwood will compete in the World Cup circuit leading up to the Games, including events in Deer Valley (Feb. 9‑11) and Val Thorens (Feb. 19‑21). Those meets serve as final tune‑ups and provide opportunities to gauge recovery progress before the Olympic finals.
Career highlights and X Games success
Harwood burst onto the international stage at the 2024 X Games in Aspen, entering slopestyle, big air and knuckle huck. She finished second in knuckle huck, third in big air and fourth in slopestyle—her first podium appearances at the premier extreme‑sports festival X Games results. The following year, she captured gold in knuckle huck, cementing her reputation as a versatile freeskier capable of delivering under pressure.
Harwood also earned a gold medal at the 2024 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in big air, marking her first World Cup victory. Her consistent podium finishes have placed her among the top five women in the U.S. Freeski rankings for the 2025–2026 season.
Beyond the slopes: fashion partnership with J.Crew
Off the mountain, Harwood has cultivated a reputation as the “Après Aficionado,” a self‑described “cocoa connoisseur and queen of the après‑ski happy hour.” That persona landed her in a three‑year partnership between U.S. Ski & Snowboard and apparel brand J.Crew. In October 2023, she joined seven teammates on a flight to Austria to film the short film Alpine People, which debuted J.Crew’s new ski‑and‑snowboard collection J.Crew press release. The campaign highlighted each athlete’s distinct mountain character; Harwood’s was celebrated for her love of post‑run cocoa and thrift‑store style.
Harwood says the collaboration sparked a deeper interest in fashion, especially second‑hand shopping. “I love to be creative with my outfits, mixing old finds with my outerwear sponsor gear,” she told a fashion editor at a post‑shoot interview. She frequently thifts while traveling, noting that “I’ve probably been to a thrift store in every place I’ve gone to.”
Looking ahead
Harwood’s immediate focus is a successful big‑air run at the 2026 Olympics, followed by a planned ACL reconstruction once the Games conclude. She hopes to return to competition later in 2026 and continue her dual path as an elite athlete and fashion influencer.
Team USA will provide official updates on Harwood’s health status and competition results through the U.S. Ski & Snowboard website. Fans can follow her progress on Instagram at Rell Harwood.
Share your thoughts on Harwood’s comeback story and let us know how you’re cheering for the U.S. Team at Milano‑Cortina.
