SIMONA DE SILVESTRO Makes History as First Female Racer to Compete at Olympics

February 17, 2026

• SIMONA DE SILVESTRO rewrote the record books at Milano Cortina, becoming the first female racing driver to compete at an Olympics. The Swiss-Italian traded her usual 650 horsepower for pure human power and gravity in monobob and two-woman bobsled, finishing 23rd in Monday’s monobob competition. Her transition from Indy 500 veteran to Olympic athlete proves speed is speed.
• This wasn’t just a publicity stunt – DE SILVESTRO spent three years methodically building toward this Olympic dream. Her motorsports resume reads like a greatest hits album: six Indianapolis 500 starts, 2010 Rookie of the Year, first woman to score points in Formula E, and stints in Formula One testing and V8 Supercars. Now she’s proven that elite racing skills can translate across disciplines, even when you’re starting from scratch in your mid-thirties.
• The 37-year-old admits the learning curve has been steep, particularly mastering bobsled starts where she’s “missing a little bit too much” compared to seasoned sliders. But DE SILVESTRO draws parallels between Olympic qualifying pressure and Indianapolis 500 qualifying – both require putting together perfect runs when everything’s on the line. She’s already setting her sights on the next frontier: Le Mans 24 Hours, because apparently conquering multiple racing series and the Olympics still leaves room for more.

ABB FIA Formula E, bobsled, indianapolis 500, olympics