DIVINA GALICA & SIMONA DE SILVESTRO Bridge F1 and Winter Olympic Competition

February 6, 2026

• DIVINA GALICA stands as one of only five women to compete in F1 Grand Prix weekends, but her athletic legacy extends far beyond the track. She represented Britain in three consecutive Winter Olympics from 1964-1972, achieving her best result with seventh place in giant slalom at Sapporo. After her F1 debut in 1976, she made a stunning return to Olympic competition at age 47, competing in speed skiing at the 1992 Albertville Games.
• SIMONA DE SILVESTRO brings the dual-sport tradition into modern times, preparing to represent Italy in bobsleigh at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The Swiss-Italian driver built an impressive motorsport resume through IndyCar Series competition from 2010-2022 and Formula E, plus serving as a Sauber F1 test driver. At 37, she’ll compete in both monobob and two-person bobsleigh events.
• These women join an exclusive club of four F1 drivers who’ve competed at Winter Olympics, demonstrating the crossover appeal between motorsport and winter sports. While male drivers Alfonso de Portago, Bob Said, and Robin Widdows also made this transition through bobsleigh competition in the 1950s-1970s, the women’s stories showcase longer, more diverse athletic careers spanning multiple decades and sports.

bobsleigh, formula 1, skiing, winter olympics