Her Five-Year-Old Self Called It. Kamryn Lute Is An Olympian.

Kamryn Lute was five and a half years old when her parents put on the Vancouver Games and she saw short track speed skating for the first time. She was hooked. 

"The second I watched short track on TV, I was immediately interested and wanted to try it."

At the time, her family was splitting time between Manhattan and Washington D.C. Coincidentally, the Northern Virginia area had a thriving short track community with three clubs all within reach.

"It kind of worked out perfectly. The proximity of different club teams is certainly not normal everywhere in the US. A lot of strong short track skaters have come from the DC area over the years."

She tried it and absolutely loved it. And somewhere around age five, Kamryn Lute decided she was going to the Olympics.

Started as a Dream, Became a Lifestyle 

Twenty years is a long time to chase a goal. Long enough that it stops feeling like a dream and more like a lifestyle.

"Speed skating immediately became such a big part of my life. Going to practice was just as normal as going to school. I had training to go to. There was no question as to whether I wanted to continue and see it through."

Then, at 17, something changed.

"I started having some odd symptoms…mostly fatigue and some other things. I eventually was diagnosed with a few autoimmune conditions that are chronic and lifelong."

The question was never whether there was a path forward. It was what that path was going to look like for her.

"It's not a visible injury, so I have to advocate for myself. I have people who are very understanding and want to listen to me and work with me. But it's also an internal battle. I'm very used to having coaches push me constantly, and I always want to push myself, but also know that I should not overdo it."

But the diagnosis forced something unexpected. In the process, she reconnected with her “why” within the sport. 

"It made me realize, for the first time, how much I wanted to skate for myself. Not just because it had become such an automatic part of my life. I was really willing to do whatever it took to keep going as long as I can."

Pre-Race Mindset 

Lute is a routine person, not a superstitious one. Ninety minutes to two hours before every race, she needs to arrive for not just physical preparation, but to mentally prepare too. 

"I need time to mentally process before I can start getting ready. I wouldn't say I'm super superstitious, but rather a very routine-oriented person. The nerves before I get on the ice are higher than once I'm actually at the start line.” 

Once the gun goes, there's no room for it.

"While I'm racing, I'm not thinking about how nervous I am. You just have to go and lock in. I'm thinking about what I need to do. What I can do. There’s no time to be stressed."

The Moment That Mattered Most

When asked what her “I-made-it” moment was of her Olympic debut, she didn't hesitate. And it had nothing to do with the race.

"A very large portion of my family was there. A much bigger group of my closest friends and family that have ever been able to see me skate all at once. It was especially special because my family is very spread out…I have family in Europe and all over the US."

Her best friend. Her boyfriend. Her best friend's mom. Her parents. Her sisters. All in the same place: the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.

"I spend so much of my life training and we're all doing our own things. So, there's not a lot of occasions where we can all come together like that. Being able to be part of the reason that we were all able to come together meant a lot. We've all known that this is what we've all been working towards my whole career."

She called it her favorite moment of the Games. For a dream that was 20 years in the making, it’s most fitting that her she got to share it with the support system who helped make it possible.

ABOUT THIS SERIES

I’m Amy Wotovich and I am on a mission to interview 100% of Team USA's 2026 Olympic and Paralympic athletes to create the most comprehensive mindset record of a single Games cycle. What do elite competitors actually believe about pressure, identity, failure, and joy? Kamryn Lute is one of hundreds of athletes sharing their unfiltered answers. Follow the journey!