Olympic speed skater Casey Dawson is facing a unique penalty at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, all because he landed in last place in his fantasy football league.
The Team USA athlete confirmed he’s fulfilling his fantasy football consequence during his time at the Games in Italy. This includes a distinctive phone case adorned with a remarkably large artificial foot.
Dawson described the item to NBC Sports, calling it “pretty ridiculous” and noting its “huge, clunky” nature.
In addition to the phone case, the Park City, Utah, native must also carry a small, “flashy” backpack with limited storage capacity.
The fantasy football league includes Dawson and his U.S. team pursuit colleagues Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran, as well as other speed skaters, NBC Olympics reported. The International Skating Union learned from Dawson that the individual finishing last in the league must endure the penalty for the duration of the speed skating season. Dawson secured the last spot in the league during the 2024 NFL season, as reported by The Associated Press.
Despite its duration, Dawson is embracing the punishment with good humor.
He shared that, “Whenever I have [the backpack] at the side of the ice, I’ll look at it and it gives me a little smile every time.”
Casey Dawson holding the backpack and phone case at the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speed skating at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Howard Fendrich)
Dawson, Lehman, and Cepuran currently hold the world record for the team pursuit. At the 2022 Beijing Games, Dawson and Lehman were members of the men’s pursuit team that earned a bronze medal.
A two-time Olympian and medalist, Dawson made his debut at the 2026 Games on Sunday, securing an eighth-place finish in the men’s 5000m. The 25-year-old is additionally scheduled to compete in the men’s 1500m, 10000m, and team pursuit events.