Alex Hall flashes his medal (left) as he poses with fellow medalists after earning silver in the men’s freeski slopestyle at the 2026 Winter Olympics. In an Instagram post, the Fairbanks-born skier wrote he was “honoured to share the podium,” sharing a victory selfie following the medal ceremony. Photo courtesy: Alex Hall Instagram.
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | February 2026
Medal Winners
As the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics continue, Alaskans and athletes with Alaska roots are already standing on the podium.
Alex Hall, a freestyle skier from Fairbanks, captured a silver medal in the men’s freeski slopestyle on February 10. This adds to the gold he won at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Hall’s silver came after a strong final run at Livigno where Norway’s Birk Ruud won gold and New Zealand’s Luca Harrington took bronze.
Alaskans Competing for Team USA
Alaska is well represented across multiple sports. Current U.S. athletes with Alaska ties include:
- Alex Hall – Freestyle skiing, silver medalist
- Jeremy Swayman – Ice hockey goalie
- Max Germain – Biathlon
- Gus Schumacher – Cross-country skiing
- Zanden McMullen – Cross-country skiing
- JC Schoonmaker – Cross-country skiing
- Hunter Wonders – Cross-country skiing
- Rosie Brennan – Cross-country skiing
- Kendall Kramer – Cross-country skiing
- Novie McCabe – Cross-country skiing
- Hailey Swirbul – Cross-country skiing
Many of these athletes developed their skills through Alaska Pacific University or statewide ski programs.
Alaskans Competing for Other Nations
Some athletes with Alaska roots are representing other countries. This happens due to dual citizenship, family heritage, or opportunities to qualify for Olympic teams with less competition.
- Peter Hinds – Cross-country skiing for Slovakia, eligible through his mother’s Slovak heritage
- Rosie Fordham – Competing for Australia
- Mariel Pulles – Competing for Estonia
- Mike Ophoff – Competing for the Czech Republic
- Joe Davies – Competing for Great Britain
- Colton Parayko – Competing for Canada
- Pascale Paradis – Competing for Canada
Olympic rules allow athletes to compete for any country where they hold citizenship. Some also switch sporting nationality after long-term training or through family connections.
Looking Ahead with Key Alaska Athlete Events
As the Games progress through February 22, several Alaska-linked athletes still have major events on the horizon.
Cross-Country Skiing
Alaska’s strong contingent continues racing through the heart of the Olympic schedule at the Cross-Country and Biathlon Center in Tesero. Events with Alaska ties include:
- Women’s 10km freestyle on Feb. 12, early morning start
- Men’s 10km freestyle on Feb. 13
- Women’s 4 × 7.5km relay on Feb. 14 and Men’s relay on Feb. 15, where racers like Kendall Kramer and Hailey Swirbul may have crucial roles
- Team sprint freestyle events for women and men on Feb. 18
- The 50km mass start races wrap up cross-country on Feb. 21 for men and Feb. 22 for women, classic Olympic distance tests of endurance
Biathlon
Max Germain and other biathletes with Alaska connections will compete across several biathlon events. The Women’s sprint and Men’s pursuit follow early rounds, and the 12.5km pursuit and 10km pursuit are scheduled around Feb. 15, with more distance events in the days after.
Ice Hockey
Alaska-trained goalie Jeremy Swayman and the U.S. men’s team are in action as the men’s tournament begins Feb. 11 and continues through group play and playoffs. Preliminary rounds run Feb. 11–15, quarterfinals on Feb. 18, semifinals on Feb. 20, and the gold medal game on Feb. 22.
Freeski and Other Events
Freeski competitors have already seen action, including Alex Hall’s medal performance. Big air and other freestyle disciplines remain mid-Games.
With a mix of individual races, team relays, and high-stakes elimination rounds still to come, Alaskans have plenty of opportunities to cheer on familiar names through the closing days of competition, from long-distance cross-country racing to the thrill of Olympic hockey and beyond.
The 2026 Winter Olympics conclude on February 22 with the men’s ice hockey gold medal game serving as the final competition before the Closing Ceremony in Milan. Canada enters the tournament as the favorite to win gold, with the United States close behind as a top challenger, setting up the possibility of a high-stakes North American showdown to cap the Games.
