U.S. Ski Team Announces Athletes Headed to 2022 Olympics in Beijing

Exactly two weeks out from the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, U.S. Ski and Snowboard today announced its nominations for the U.S. Olympic Alpine and Freestyle Teams. Seventeen athletes will represent Team USA across the six Olympic alpine skiing disciplines, including slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, alpine combined, and mixed team parallel. On the freestyle side, which comprises the aerials and moguls events, 15 athletes will represent the U.S. There will be 17 additional athletes on the U.S. Olympic Freeski team competing in the halfpipe, slopestyle/big air, and skicross events. All nominations are to be confirmed by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee when it formally announces the U.S. Olympic Team.

2022 U.S. Olympic Alpine Team

The alpine team headed to China to represent Team USA includes 17 athletes—11 women and 6 men—and is headlined by two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin. The Beijing Games will mark Shiffrin’s third Olympic bid, where she’s expected to enter in all five major individual disciplines, including slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, and alpine combined.

The 26-year-old who, just weeks ago, shattered the World Cup record for the most World Cup slalom victories earned by any individual, will be competing to add more Olympic hardware to her current collection—a slalom gold medal from the 2014 Games, and a GS gold and alpine combined silver from the 2018 Olympics.

Related: Shiffrin “not in competition” for the 2022 World Cup slalom title anymore

Breezy Johnson, Bryce Bennett, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Tommy Ford, Travis Ganong, Tricia Mangan, and Jacqueline Wiles will also be joining Shiffrin as Olympic veterans. Each has at least one Olympic bid under their belt, though Ganong and Wiles will make their first appearance at a Winter Games since 2010 after missing the selection criteria for the 2018 Games.

“Being able to have the opportunity to represent my country while doing the sport I love is every athlete’s dream,” says Wiles. “Having to miss 2018 due to injury makes this Olympics that much more special.”

Shiffrin says she is honored to once again represent her country on the biggest sporting stage in the world. “What I’m even more excited about is the depth this team has and the success we’ve collectively had coming into this Olympics,” says Shiffrin. “Not only do we have a group of very talented veterans, but we also have so many first-time Olympians who have a shot at the podium, and I can’t wait to see what they do.”

First-time Olympians named to the 2022 Olympic Alpine Team include Paula Moltzan, Katie Hensien, AJ Hurt, Maureen Lebel, Nina O’Brien, River Radamus, and Luke Winters. All of these athletes, like the veterans named above, were nominated to this year’s Olympic team after securing one or more top-three, top-five, or top-10 finishes in World Cup races during the 2021-’22 World Cup season.

“This team is filled with talent and multiple podium threats in many events,” says U.S. Ski and Snowboard Alpine Director Jesse Hunt. “We’ve had five athletes in the last two seasons who have had breakthroughs and career-first podiums. On top of that, we’ve had numerous up-and-coming athletes score personal best results.”

Noticeably absent from the men’s side is speed skier Steven Nyman, who after the U.S. Team’s Olympic quota was reduced from 24 for the 2018 Games to 17, didn’t make the cut, despite being ranked 33rd in the world in downhill this season.

Whoever wrote the new rules of @olympic spots allocated to nations and genders has completely missed the boat. Your rules are leaving out a lot of the top contenders on the mens side across several nations to make room for random competitors from small nations. @fisalpine #ioc

— Steven Nyman (@Steven_Nyman) January 18, 2022

Ford, on the other hand, earned a discretionary spot on this year’s Olympic team after an injury at the end of last season kept him out of the start gate this World Cup season. Since Ford, now reported to be healthy and ready to return to racing, is a GS-specialist, it seems the scales tipped in his favor.

2022 U.S. Olympic Alpine Team Athletes

Listed by name, hometown; birth date; club; past Olympic appearances; *denotes first-time Olympian

Women

• *Keely Cashman, Strawberry, California; 1999; Team Palisades Tahoe
• *Katie Hensien, Redmond, Washington; 1999; Rowmark Ski Academy
• *AJ Hurt, Carnelian Bay, California; 2000; Team Palisades Tahoe
• Breezy Johnson, Victor, Idaho; 1996; Rowmark Ski Academy (Olympics: 2018)
• *Maureen “Mo” Lebel, Truckee, California; 1998; Sugar Bowl Ski Team/Mammoth Mountain Ski Team
• Tricia Mangan, Buffalo, New York; 1997; Holimont Race Team (Olympics: 2018)
• *Paula Moltzan, Prior Lake, Minnesota; 1994; Buck Hill Ski Team/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail/University of Vermont
• *Nina O’Brien, Edwards, Colorado; 1997; Burke Mountain Academy/Team Palisades Tahoe
• Mikaela Shiffrin, Edwards, Colorado; 1995; Burke Mountain Academy/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (Olympics: 2014, 2018)
• Jacqueline “Jackie” Wiles, Aurora, Oregon; 1992; White Pass Ski Club (Olympics: 2014)
• *Isabella “Bella” Wright, Salt Lake City, Utah; 1997; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation

Men

• Bryce Bennett, Tahoe City, California; 1992; Team Palisades Tahoe (Olympics: 2018)
• Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Starksboro, Vermont; 1992; Cochran’s/Mount Mansfield Ski & Snowboard Club (Olympics: 2018)
• Tommy Ford, Bend, Oregon; 1989; Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation (Olympics: 2010, 2018)
• Travis Ganong, Alpine Meadows, California; 1988; Team Palisades Tahoe (Olympics: 2014)
• *River Radamus, Edwards, Colorado; 1998; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail
• *Luke Winters, Gresham, Oregon; 1997; Sugar Bowl Academy

2022 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team

On the freestyle side, 15 athletes will represent Team USA across the aerial and mogul disciplines, including four-time Olympian in aerials Ashley Caldwell and mogul phenom and 2021 Rookie of Year Kai Owens.

Of the 15-member team, 11 athletes will make their Olympic debut in China. The only two athletes to return to the Olympic stage on the aerials team are Caldwell (2010, 2014, 2018) and Eric Loughran (2018). On the mogul team, Brad Wilson (2014, 2018) and Jaelin Kauf (2018) return as veterans.

“The 2022 Olympic roster for moguls is stacked with an impressive lineup of Olympic veterans and new-to-the-Games talent,” says U.S. Ski and Snowboard Head Moguls Coach Matt Gnoza. “These athletes have put in the work and are excited and ready to make their mark in the sport. We’re heading into Beijing well-prepared and with a clear understanding of what we need to execute in order to be successful.”

2022 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team Athletes

Aerials Team, Women

• Ashley Caldwell, Ashburn, Virginia; 1993; Elite Aerial Development Program (Olympics: 2010, 2014, 2018)
• *Kaila Kuhn, Boyne City, Michigan; 2003; Park City Ski & Snowboard
• *Megan Nick, Shelbourne, Vermont; 1996; Elite Aerial Development Program
• *Winter Vinecki, Gaylord, Michigan; 1998; Park City Ski & Snowboard

Aerials Team, Men

• *Chris Lillis, Pittsford, New York; 1998; Bristol Mountain Freestyle
• Eric Loughran, Pelham, New Hampshire; 1995; Loon Mountain Freestyle (Olympics: 2018)
• *Justin Schoenefeld, Lawrenceburg, Indiana; 1998; Perfect North Slopes

Moguls Team, Women

• *Olivia Giaccio, Redding, Connecticut; 2000; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
• Jaelin Kauf, Alta, Wyoming; 1996; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (Olympics: 2018)
• *Kai Owens, Vail, Colorado; 2004; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail
• *Hannah Soar, Killington, Vermont; 1999; Killington Mountain School

Moguls Team, Men

• *Cole McDonald, Park City, Utah; 2003; Wasatch Freestyle
• *Nick Page, Park City, Utah; 2002; Wasatch Freestyle
• *Dylan Walczyk, Rochester, New York; 1993; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail
• Brad Wilson, Butte, Montana; 1992; Wasatch Freestyle (Olympics: 2014, 2018)

2022 U.S. Olympic Freeski Team 

The slopestyle and big air teams come into the 2022 Games following a dominating qualifying season. Two-time Olympic medalist Nick Goepper and returning Olympians Alex Hall and Maggie Voisin head to Beijing with Olympic tryout event podiums. Caroline Claire enters her second Games as the top-ranked U.S. woman in FIS points, alongside Darian Stevens. First-time Olympians include Colby Stevenson, Mac Forehand, and Marin Hamill.

Two-time gold medalist David Wise headlines the men’s halfpipe team joined by 2018 Olympic silver medalist Alex Ferreira and three-time Olympian Aaron Blunck. Birk Irving rounds out the men’s team in his first Olympic Games.

“It’s absolutely euphoric, pure jubilation. I’m super excited to represent the United States and go back to my second Olympics and hopefully do my best out there,” says Ferreira of Aspen, Colorado. “My goal this season was to do well in every event, and by doing well, I think the definition of that is making the podium. The biggest goal of all is to bring home that Olympic gold medal. So, I think we’re right on track.”

On the women’s halfpipe team, 2018 Olympic bronze medalist Brita Sigourney is set to return to Beijing for her third Games, along with 2014 Olympic silver medalist Devin Logan.

“It still feels surreal knowing that I’m heading to my third Olympics and everything leading up to this moment was worth it,” says Sigourney. “I know this will be a unique experience unlike the last two, but I’m just as excited as ever to represent the U.S. and continue to push myself in this sport. The Olympics are a special place where it feels like the whole world comes together and I cannot wait to soak it all in one more time.”

Seventeen-year-old Hanna Faulhaber, whose remarkable season has included three World Cup podiums and the national halfpipe title, is heading into her first Olympic Games as the top-ranked American on the FIS points list. Carly Margulies also will be attending her first Olympic Games.

2022 U.S. Olympic Freeski Team Athletes

Halfpipe Team, Women

• Brita Sigourney, Carmel, California; 1990 (2014, 2018)
• Devin Logan, West Dover, Vermont; 1993; Mount Snow Academy (2014, 2018)
• *Hanna Faulhaber, Aspen, Colorado; 2004; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club
• *Carly Margulies, Mammoth Lakes, California; 1997; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team

Halfpipe Team, Men

• Alex Ferreira, Aspen, Colorado; 1994; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club (Olympics: 2018)
• Aaron Blunck, Crested Butte, Colorado; 1996; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (Olympics: 2014, 2018)
• David Wise, Reno, Nevada; 1990 (2014, 2018)
• *Birk Irving, Winter Park, Colorado; 1999; Winter Park Freeride Team

Slopestyle/Big Air, Women

• Maggie Voisin, Whitefish, Montana; 1998; Park City Ski & Snowboard ( 2014, 2018)
• Caroline Claire, Manchester Center, Vermont; 2000; Stratton Mountain School (2018)
• *Marin Hamill, Park City, Utah; 2001; Park City Ski & Snowboard
• Darian Stevens, Missoula, Montana; 1996; Missoula Freestyle Ski Team (2018)

Slopestyle/Big Air, Men

• Alex Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah; 1998; Park City Ski & Snowboard (2018)
• Nick Goepper, Lawrenceburg, Indiana; 1994 (2014, 2018)
• *Mac Forehand, Southport, Connecticut; 2001; Stratton Mountain School
• *Colby Stevenson, Park City, Utah; 1997; Park City Ski & Snowboard

Skicross, Men

• *Tyler Wallasch, Mammoth Lakes, California; 1994; Mammoth Lakes Ski Team

The U.S. Olympic Freeski Team has seven medal events at the 2022 Games, starting with the debut of men’s and women’s big air at the Big Air Shougang venue February 7-9. Freeski then moves to the Zhangjiakou Genting Snow Park for men’s and women’s slopestyle February 13-15, followed by men’s skicross on February 18. (First-time Olympian Tyler Wallasch is the sole skicross athlete on the U.S. team.). Men’s and women’s halfpipe takes place February 17-19.