Where is Kristen Santos-Griswold from?

Kristen Santos-Griswold grew up in Fairfield, CT.

How old is Kristen Santos-Griswold in 2026?

Santos-Griswold is 30 years old. She will turn 31 on Nov. 2, 2025.

When did Kristen Santos-Griswold start competing in short track?

Santos-Griswold first began racing at 9 years old, though she had been figure skating since age 3.

Did Kristen Santos-Griswold compete at the 2022 Beijing Olympics?

Santos-Griswold made her Olympic debut in Beijing.

What distances does Kristen Santos-Griswold race?

Santos-Griswold excels in all three individual distances (500m, 1000m, 1500m). She also competes in the mixed, women’s 2000m, and women’s 3000m relays. 

What is Kristen Santos-Griswold’s career timeline in short track?

Originally a figure skater, Santos-Griswold first became interested in short track at 9 years old when she saw a commercial for speed skating on Disney Channel. Her mom took her to a club at Yale, and she was hooked.

Santos-Griswold began competing on the junior circuit shortly after, becoming national junior champion during the 2006-07 season. She made her first World Cup team in 2015 and earned her first World Cup medal — a bronze in the mixed relay — during the 2018-19 season. She continued to improve over the next several years, earning a spot on the Olympic roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

After her disappointing results in Beijing, Santos-Griswold considered retiring from the sport. Eventually, however, she decided to stick with it, and her career has exploded from there; 37 World Cup and World Tour medals, two overall national titles, and one Crystal Globe later, she is one of the world’s best short track skaters.

How did Kristen Santos-Griswold perform at the 2022 Beijing Olympics?

With two laps to go in the women’s 1000m race in Beijing, Santos-Griswold was in bronze medal position, but a bump by her opponent — later ruled a penalty — caused her to fall and finish 4th.

She also placed 8th in the mixed and women’s 3000m relay, 9th in the 1500m, and 17th in the 500m.

What records has Kristen Santos-Griswold set in short track?

Santos-Griswold holds four national records: the 500m (42.084 seconds), the 1500m (2:14.572), the 3000m relay (4:05.302) and the mixed 2000m relay (2:36.586). 

Until recently, she also held the national best in the 1000m, though teammate Corinne Stoddard eclipsed her mark at the 2025 U.S. Championships Short Track in September.

How does Kristen Santos-Griswold compare to Apolo Ohno and other U.S. short track stars?

When it comes to American short track skaters, no one touches the legenddary Apolo Ohno, who competed professionally for over two decades. After becoming the youngest U.S. national champion at age 14, Ohno’s career exploded. Two years later, he became the youngest athlete to win a short track World Cup event title. Between 2001 and 2009, he earned 108 World Cup medals (57 gold), 15 world championship medals, nine consecutive national titles, and the first-ever overall World Cup title for the United States. Ohno added eight Olympic prizes (2 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze) to his tally across three Games, making him the most decorated American short track Olympian and American winter Olympian of all time. His national record in the men’s 3000m, set in 2003, still stands.

All that being said, Santos-Griswold’s 43 combined World Cup and World Tour medals, eight prizes from the Four Continents Championships, five world championship medals, three national records, and a Crystal Globe make her the most decorated American short track athlete active today.

Will Kristen Santos-Griswold compete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics?

Though the official U.S. short track team will not be announced until December, Santos-Griswold is expected to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Could Kristen Santos-Griswold win her first Olympic medal in 2026?

Should she make the Olympic roster, Santos-Griswold likely is a serious medal contender for the United States. She finished the 2024-25 World Tour circuit in the top five of each individual distance, becoming only the third American skater to claim the prestigious Crystal Globe — an honor recognizing the world’s best man and woman short track skater.

A short track medal of any color would be the first for the American women in any event since 2010 and the first for any U.S.-born athlete since 2018.

Who is Kristen Santos-Griswold's coach?

Santos-Griswold works with Stephen Gough, the national program's head coach.

How is Kristen Santos-Griswold performing in the 2025–26 ISU World Tour season?

At the first World Tour event Oct. 9-12, Santos-Griswold placed sixth in the 1500m A Final and first in the 500m B Final. She currently ranks 7th overall.

The next World Tour competition will take place Oct. 16-19.

What challenges could Kristen Santos-Griswold face at the Milan Cortina Olympics?

Over the last year, Santos-Griswold has faced multiple injuries which have hampered her training, including a shattered clavicle, which required surgery, and a back injury. As such, the skater’s biggest challenges during the 2026 Olympics (and the season leading up to the Games) likely will be making up for lost time in her training while staying healthy.

How important would an Olympic medal be for Kristen Santos-Griswold’s legacy?

Already one of the United States’ most highly decorated short track athletes of all time, an Olympic medal further would cement Santos-Griswold’s place among the American elite.

How many World Tour podiums does Kristen Santos-Griswold have?

During the 2024-25 World Tour, Santos-Griswold raced to the podium 12 times (including four golds and nine individual medals) en route to claiming the women’s Crystal Globe. She and Stoddard accounted for all of the United States’ 18 individual podium finishes on the circuit.

Before the World Cup rebranded as the World Tour last season, Santos-Griswold collected 31 medals over five campaigns, including seven first-place finishes.

Has Kristen Santos-Griswold won medals at the world championships?

Santos-Griswold has five world championship medals, all earned in 2024: a gold in the 1000m, silvers in the 1500m and 3000m relay, and bronzes in the 500m and mixed relay.

How does Kristen Santos-Griswold rank in ISU short track standings?

At the end of the 2024-25 World Tour campaign, Santos-Griswold ranked 1st in the 500m, 5th in the 1000m, and 2nd in the 1500m, making her the top-ranked skater overall.

What skate brand and gear does Kristen Santos-Griswold use?

The U.S. short track team wears suits made by Under Armour. Santos-Griswold competes on skates and other gear made by EHS.

How many followers does Kristen Santos-Griswold have on Instagram?

As of October 2025, Santos-Griswold has 10,000 followers on Instagram.

She and Stoddard also have a joint account, called “Fast but Unstable” to pay tribute to the sport’s unpredictable nature, which has over 1,000 followers.

Where did Kristen Santos-Griswold go to college?

After graduating high school, Santos-Griswold moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, to pursue short track more seriously. While there, she earned a degree in kinesiology from the University of Utah.

Santos-Griswold decided to return to her alma mater following the Beijing Olympics and work toward a graduate degree in physical therapy.

Is Kristen Santos-Griswold married?

Santos-Griswold married Travis Griswold in August 2022.

What are Kristen Santos-Griswold’s hobbies outside skating?

In her free time, Santos-Griswold likes to do crafts and DIY projects.

What are some fun facts about Kristen Santos-Griswold?

• Santos-Griswold has two huskies, named Bear and Koda
• Before she made the switch from figure skating to short track, she also danced and played football
• At the rink, Santos-Griswold’s teammates call her “Puff”
• She is a life-long vegetarian, and her favorite addition to food is vinegar