Anne O’Shea

Anne O’Shea, born on September 5, 1987, in Rockville Centre, New York, developed an interest in skeleton racing after meeting the father of fellow skeletoner John Daly at the Empire State Games in 2004. This encounter marked the beginning of a significant career in a challenging winter sport. She was first selected to the national team in 2006, having transitioned to skeleton from a background in track and field, like many athletes in bobsled and skeleton. O’Shea pursued her education at the California University of Pennsylvania, balancing her academic pursuits with her athletic training. Later, she furthered her education as an MBA student at Keller Graduate School of Management, an institution associated with DeVry University.

Throughout her career, O’Shea demonstrated consistent performance and dedication, which led to numerous achievements. She secured three national championships in 2011, 2013, and 2017. Her international career began with the North American Cup tour in the 2006–07 season, where she quickly achieved top results, including podium finishes in four of her first five races. Her progression saw her move to the World Cup circuit in the 2007–08 season. A significant milestone occurred in the 2015–16 World Cup season when she earned her first gold medal at her home track in Lake Placid, followed by a silver medal at Whistler. She also achieved a fifth-place finish at the 2016 World Championships in Igls during this successful season, culminating in her best-ever overall World Cup ranking of fourth place.

While her 2016–17 season saw her best results as two sixth-place finishes and a 19th-place finish at the World Championships, O’Shea continued to compete at a high level. In the Olympic 2017–18 season, after a performance at national team trials led to her starting in the Intercontinental Cup, she later rejoined the World Cup squad for a race in Altenberg, where she finished 18th. Her career highlights include a total of two World Cup silver medals and one World Cup gold. O’Shea has also been recognized twice as the USA Bobsled-Skeleton Athlete of the Year and received the 2008 Skeleton Athletes’ Choice Award, underscoring her impact and respect within the sport.