Every Colorado Olympian & Paralympian at the 2026 Winter Olympics – And How They Did

A few months removed from the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics & Paralympics earlier this year, let’s take a look at how Colorado Olympians shaped the Winter Games, including Longmont’s own Chase Blackwell. Colorado sent more athletes (33 Olympians, plus one alternate, and 14 Paralympians) than any other state in 2026.

Colorado Olympians at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Colorado’s athletes helped Team USA deliver a standout performance at the 2026 Games, reinforcing its position as a global winter sports powerhouse. The U.S. secured 33 medals, including 12 gold, 12 silver, and 9 bronze, while competing across 16 disciplines.

Alpine Skiing

• 🥇 Mikaela Shiffrin (Edwards) – Gold, women’s slalom. Now holds four Olympic gold medals and eight world championships, making her one of the most decorated alpine skiers in history.
• Lindsey Vonn (Vail) – Returned after nearly six years of retirement, but ruptured her ACL in a training run in Switzerland the week before the Games, then fractured her tibia in a practice run days before competition. Did not race.
• Nina O’Brien (Denver) – Competed in alpine skiing.
• River Radamus – Placed 17th in giant slalom and 19th in the men’s team combined (second Olympics).

Freestyle Skiing & Moguls

• 🥇 Elizabeth Lemley (Vail) – Gold in moguls, bronze in dual moguls.
• 🥈 Jaelin Kauf (Vail) – Silver in women’s dual moguls at the event’s Olympic debut.
• Charlie Mickel (Durango) – Competed in the Olympic debut of dual moguls; grew up skiing Purgatory.
• Tess Johnson (Vail) – Competed in moguls.
• Megan Jortberg – Olympic debut in moguls.

Halfpipe Skiing

• Birk Irving (Winter Park) – Competed in halfpipe (second Olympics).
• Svea Irving (Winter Park) – Competed in halfpipe (Olympic debut). Birk’s sister; the siblings trained together for over a decade.

Snowboarding

• 🥉 Jake Canter (Silverthorne) – Bronze, Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle.
• Taylor Gold (Steamboat Springs) – Competed in halfpipe. Two-time Olympic medalist: silver at PyeongChang 2018, bronze at Beijing 2022.
• Red Gerard (Silverthorne) – 6th in slopestyle, 20th in big air. The 2018 Olympic gold medalist did not medal in 2026.
• Lily Dhawornvej (trains at Copper Mountain) – 11th in slopestyle (Olympic debut).
• Stacy Gaskill (Golden) – Competed in snowboard cross.
• Faye Gulini (Vail) – Competed in snowboard cross.
• Chase Blackwell (Longmont) – Competed in halfpipe.

Ski Jumping

• Annika Belshaw (Steamboat Springs) – Competed in the Olympic debut of women’s large hill ski jumping.
• Erik Belshaw (Steamboat Springs) – Together, the Belshaw siblings were the first brother-sister duo to represent Team USA in ski jumping.
• Jason Colby (Steamboat Springs) – 7th in Mixed Team, 20th in Men’s Normal Hill, 31st in Men’s Large Hill.

Figure Skating

• 🥇 Ellie Kam & Danny O’Shea (Colorado Springs) – Gold in team figure skating; 7th in pairs.

Colorado Paralympians in Milan-Cortina 2026

At least 14 Colorado residents competed for Team USA, contributing to a second-place overall finish of 24 medals (13 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze).

Para Alpine Skiing

• 🥈 Patrick Halgren (Fraser) – Silver, men’s super-G standing – the first Team USA medal in that event since 1998.
• Meg Gustafson (Edwards) – Olympic debut; her older brother Spenser served as her guide.
• Audrey Crowley (Eagle) – Olympic debut.
• Allie Johnson (Granby) – Second Paralympics (also competed in 2022).
• Jasmin Bambur (Granby) – Fifth Paralympics (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026), competing in GS slalom sitting.
• Hailey Griffin (Paonia) – Olympic debut.
• Kyle Taulman (Winter Park) – Second Paralympics.
• David Williams (Fraser) – Second Paralympics.

Para Snowboarding

• Noah Bury (Fraser) – Paralympic debut.
• Zach Miller (Silverthorne) – Second Paralympics.

Wheelchair Curling

• Daniel Rose (Aurora) – Paralympic debut.

Sled Hockey

• 🥇 Declan Farmer (Boulder), Noah Grove (Salida), Malik Jones (Aurora) – Members of the U.S. sled hockey team that won a record fifth consecutive Paralympic gold medal, defeating Canada 6-2. It was Jones’ second gold after winning in 2022.

Why Colorado Produces Elite Winter Athletes

Colorado’s natural advantages create an ideal foundation for elite training. The state’s high altitude improves endurance, while consistent snow conditions allow for long, reliable seasons. Athletes also benefit from direct access to world-class terrain, including the best ski resorts in Colorado, where training environments closely mirror Olympic-level competition.

Culture and Athlete Development Pipeline

Beyond geography, Colorado’s ski culture plays a critical role in athlete development. Success is built through:

• Structured youth programs that identify talent early
• Ski towns encouraging daily exposure to winter sports 
• Strong community support from families and coaches

This integrated pipeline consistently produces top-tier winter athletes, many of whom have trained at the best ski resorts in Colorado.

FAQs

How many Colorado Olympians competed in 2026?

33 athletes, the most of any state.

Who are the most famous olympians from Colorado?

Stars like Mikaela Shiffrin and Red Gerard.

How did Colorado paralympians perform?

Colorado paralympians helped drive Team USA’s 24-medal success.

Why does Colorado produce elite athletes?

Its geography, training systems, and ski culture.

Are there training advantages?

Yes, high altitude and elite resorts enable year-round training.

What sports do paralympians from Colorado compete in?

Para alpine, snowboarding, and Nordic skiing.

Where can you follow them?

On Team USA platforms, social media, and major sports networks.