Brittany Bowe On Her Life And Love, Hilary Knight
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by Lisa Costantini
(l-r) Brittany Bowe and Hilary Knight take part in a game during Team USA's Universal Studios Photoshoot on May 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.
By the time Brittany Bowe lined up for her first speed skating race at the Winter Olympics Beijing 2022, she had already embarked on another adrenaline-pumping journey — one that had nothing to do with medals or podiums. The three-time Olympian and six-time world champion was falling for someone unexpected: hockey icon Hilary Knight.
“We had crossed paths so many times through Team USA events,” Bowe, 37, recalled from her Utah home, “but never really more than a quick hello.” It wasn’t until Beijing that the two officially met and got to know each other better. However, it wasn't the most romantic of circumstances.
Olympic Village life during COVID was strict and isolating. Still, amid masked walks and socially distanced dinners separated by plexiglass, something sparked.
“She asked if I wanted to go on a walk,” Bowe said about the four-time Olympian and 10-time world champion. “That became our routine. We’d walk the Village after dinner and just talk. It was cool living in a bubble and not having outside distractions.”
The two have been inseparable ever since.
Learning Something New #
That quiet, personal connection was the beginning of a bond that has grown across continents, seasons and sheets of ice. Bowe, a Florida native, and Knight, 35, from California, now share a home in Salt Lake City. Despite competing in entirely different sports, they’ve built a partnership rooted in respect, empathy and unwavering support.
“I had always seen her as strong and competitive — the face of women’s hockey,” Bowe said. “But when I was getting to know her, the first thing that caught my eye was how soft spoken she was, and the calming presence she had.” The “complete opposite” of someone who dominates the rink.
As professional athletes, they speak a shared language of discipline, pressure and sacrifice — even if their sports couldn’t be more different.
“Growing up in Florida, I barely paid attention to hockey,” Bowe admitted. “Now, I’m a big fan. I leave my skates at the door and get to sit in the stands and cheer for her and her team. It’s such a different perspective — and a lot of fun.”
In return, Knight has been learning the intricacies of Bowe’s high-speed world.
“She didn’t know anything about speed skating,” Bowe said with a laugh. “She’s still learning. But that’s what’s so special about the Olympics — bringing together athletes who would otherwise never cross paths.”
Supporting One Another #
Their relationship has unfolded in the public eye, but Bowe was happy to admit that the two have “been met with nothing but acceptance, love and grace,” she said. “I am blessed, because that is not always the case.”
The two also count on one another for support through the highs and lows of elite sport. Whether it’s post-game analysis or race-day pep talk, the understanding they share is priceless.
“She’ll text me after a race, saying she’s proud of me. It means a lot,” Bowe said.
Sometimes, the support is in person, and sometimes, it comes as a complete surprise.
Two years ago, during a rough patch in Bowe’s season, she was surprised when Knight showed up in the Netherlands: “Left a hockey game — either early or right when it was done — caught a flight with multiple connections, and got there an hour before I raced. To see her in the stands and hug her, it gave me strength,” she shared.
Home is Where the Heart Is
Despite the constant travel and time apart, their seasons often align — and they make the most of it.
“This summer, we’re both in Salt Lake,” Bowe said. “I’m in full training mode — skating four to six hours a day — but it’s so comforting to come home to the person you love and care about.”
Their daily routines might not be glamorous, but that’s what they treasure most.
“We’re two old ladies now — 36 and 37 — so I find my joy tending to the backyard, and she’s a supervisor, nothing too exciting. Just enjoying getting to do those little things.”
Still, their competitive fire hasn’t dulled — not even off the ice.
“Oh, I never stop running my mouth,” Bowe joked. Calling them both “insanely competitive,” she is just the louder of the two.
And while Bowe dominates in the kitchen, she’s hoping Knight will one day join her.
“I’m a foodie and love to cook. I’d love for Hilary to learn how to navigate her way through the kitchen,” she laughed. “But she’s definitely the handier one.”
Outside the Rink #
More than just elite athletes, the pair also serves as advocates for their sports, for women, and LGBTQ+ visibility.
“Hilary has been an advocate for women in hockey and sports in general — demanding fair pay and treatment,” Bowe said. “Watching her work has inspired me to do more. I became an elite athlete director on the US Speedskating board because of her. I want to leave this sport better than I found it.”
Bowe’s advice for young LGBTQ+ athletes is simple but powerful: “Surround yourself with people who love and accept you. You are perfect the way that you are.”
Italy is Calling
As for what’s next, the road to the Olympic Winter Games Milan 2026 is in full swing.
“I’m back in full training with the U.S. national team,” Bowe said. “My body feels better than it has in years. I’ve been to three Olympic Games, and this one — this fourth one — I want to savor. I’m full of gratitude.”
Bowe admitted that trying to coordinate her schedule in Milan with Knight, a four-time Olympic medalist, might be a challenge. But “my family is already buying hockey tickets and her family is trying to buy speed skating.”
For Bowe, who has a pair of bronze medals, it’s more about sharing the moment over chasing gold.
In Beijing, she finished third, but the stands were empty. It made her realize that “I didn’t just do this for me,” she shared. “I did this for everybody who’s been a part of this journey. That’s what it’s all about.”
“So,” she concluded, “to be able to look up and see everybody in those seats, it will be an amazing way to finish my career.”
Lisa Costantini has covered Olympic and Paralympic sports for more than a decade, including for the International Olympic Committee. She is a freelance writer who has contributed to TeamUSA.com since 2011.
