Racing Toward the Olympic Stage

Former WHS Track Star Aiming For Team USA Bobsled Team

When she walked into a bobsled combine last May, Karen Hubbard thought she was simply testing her power-sprinting background in a new environment. Instead, she walked straight into a future she hadn’t yet imagined. A former collegiate track athlete with a knack for explosive speed, she quickly became nationally ranked and caught the eye of Team USA bobsled coaches. Within weeks, she was invited to Rookie Camp — one of only five women selected from across the country. She finished first in the 2025 Rookie Camp Push Competition, a standout performance that earned her invitations to Development Camp, Performance Camp and Push Camp Trials.

The possibility of the 2026 Olympics was suddenly on her radar.

Since then, Hubbard’s life has shifted into a new gear. Training for the Olympics requires dedication, discipline and relentless time management — skills she credits to her engineering education from Purdue University and juggling multiple responsibilities in both college and career. As a developmental athlete for USA Bobsled, she is deepening her technical understanding of the sport, building strength and speed, and positioning herself for a competitive season leading into Olympic team selections in January.

As a newcomer to the sport, her “why” is simple: She loves the power and the speed. It is, she says, “the perfect combination of adrenaline, poise, power and engineering.” It seems to be a perfect fit.

The path to the Olympics brings new challenges beyond the ice track. The financial burden is immense: travel, equipment rental fees — nearly everything is self-funded. Hubbard had to dive headfirst into social media, branding and sponsorship outreach, none of which came naturally at first. Yet she learned quickly, driven by necessity and a desire to share not just her dream, but the bigger story behind it. Women’s sports, she says, remain underfunded and overlooked.

“I’m hopeful, but also realistic,” she says. “We’re at the precipice of something incredible in women’s sports.”

Bobsledding is just one of Hubbard’s passions. Her company, Kortex, is a consultancy that builds AI literacy solutions rooted in human skills like collaboration and problem-solving. By partnering with schools, companies and organizations, she helps create clear career pathways for youth and adults.

“People get nervous about the future,” she says. “I love creating experiences that help them find their genius zone. I can see a light in their eyes at the intersection of tech and teamwork.”

Add to that her nonprofit, Karen Sleighs Inc., which inspires girls in sports and STEM, and coaching track at Westfield High School, and her time management becomes a superpower.

Looking ahead, Hubbard hopes to continue her growth and competitiveness in bobsledding and use the platform to elevate women’s sports more broadly.

She credits her mom, little brother, mentors, the Westfield community and her church for fueling her journey — all of whom poured into her physically, academically and spiritually.

Now, she is determined to use that strength to help more women chase their dreams.