Air Force Member Overcomes Adversity to Represent Team USA in Winter Olympics

Published: February 16, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

Jasmine Jones serves both in the U.S. Air Force and as a member of the Team USA’s bobsled team, and she couldn’t be more honored to represent her country.

“I’m excited to cheer on SrA Jasmine Jones, who is representing @TeamUSA at the Winter @Olympics, as she starts her competition in the bobsled starting this weekend!” Dr. Troy E. Meink, the Secretary of the Air Force, posted on X on Feb. 11.

I’m excited to cheer on SrA Jasmine Jones, who is representing @TeamUSA at the Winter @Olympics, as she starts her competition in the bobsled starting this weekend!

You can send her a note of encouragement here – https://t.co/G2MPasOBMU @usairforce https://t.co/EyLJ0iTeHG

— Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (@SecAFOfficial) February 11, 2026

“I feel like being able to represent my country, as well as being an athlete for my country, it definitely brings a different meaning and a different caliber,” Jones told Fox News Digital in an interview. “I feel like there’s so few people who do both at the same time, and I’m honored to have this opportunity to represent both. I’m thankful for being an airman and representing my country in that aspect. It definitely ties it together and brings different meaning and how much more I have to give.”

In fact, her previous attempt to qualify for the 2022 Beijing Olympics resulted in her decision to join the Air Force, which has a training program that helped her get into shape for Milano Cortina.

“I’m just thankful to be an airman,” she shared. “Going into the WCAP program, that allowed me to truly have my offseason training, allowed me to get to this point…Having that offseason training to be able to focus truly and put in the work. That transpired with this moment.”

Jones didn’t just join the Air Force for training purposes but to give her and her daughter a stable environment.

“I wanted to do something that gives me more stability. There was a time when I was working my civilian job and trying to train at the same time, and it just wasn’t enough. I know I wanted to dedicate my time towards bobsled,” the Olympian said.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is being resilient, and I feel like that plays a part, where, going into basic, and you’re waking up early. You’re following orders,” she continued. “You’re getting that discipline needed, and that goes into bobsled…So, I feel like transitioning from basic training and having that discipline as well translates into just knowing exactly what I’m supposed to do.”

Now, Jones hopes to be an example to her daughter and to many women around the world.

“Being able to show her different ways of, you know, you can join the Air Force, you can have these different things as well as being an athlete, continuing, and it’s just more meaningful to say the least,” Jones told Fox News Digital.

Jones’ journey to the Olympics and Air Force is certainly inspiring.

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