The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy wrapped up last week and a total of 30 Colorado athletes competed across events, which is more than any other U.S. state this year. Among them were several current and former University of Denver athletes continuing DU’s strong tradition of Olympic representation, especially in winter sports.
Christian Soevik, a fourth-year student, studying business information analytics represented Brazil in the men’s alpine slalom on Feb. 16. The 24-year-old, born in Rio de Janeiro, is in his third season with the Denver ski team and is one of nine athletes on Brazil’s Olympic delegation. Soevik did not finish his race which is a result commonly seen in Olympic slalom events.
Due to steep, icy courses, poor visibility and heavy snow in Milan, a high number of skiers recorded “Did Not Finish” results. A DNF often occurs when an athlete misses a gate rather than crashes. Despite this, Soevik has built an impressive collegiate career at DU, with a recorded 15 top-10 finishes across 33 races.
Canadian alpine skier Amelia Smart, who graduated in 2021, finished 27th in the women’s slalom with a combined time of 1:44.49. Born in North Vancouver, Smart represented Canada while competing in one of the Games most technically demanding events.
DU alumna Jasmi Joensuu also competed in Milan, representing her home country of Finland in cross-country skiing. The 29-year-old from Järvenpää delivered one of the most notable performances among DU athletes, earning bronze in the women’s 4×7.5-kilometer relay with a team time of 1:16:59.5.
Joensuu also placed 14th in the women’s sprint classic and ninth in the team sprint free event.
Joensuu, who studied finance at DU, previously competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics. Her podium finish in Milan adds to DU’s growing list of Olympic medalists.
Katie Hensien, a DU alum and Team USA alpine skier, missed the Games due to injury earlier this season. Hensien was a standout during her collegiate career, winning the 2020 NCAA National Championship in giant slalom and the 2022 national title in women’s slalom. She graduated in 2023 with degrees in applied computer science and business and made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
With the exception of Hensien, the DU athletes in Milan represented their home countries — Brazil, Finland and Canada — highlighting the university’s international reach.
Beyond DU, Colorado’s Olympic presence remained strong. Originally from Aspen, Colo., Alex Ferreira captured gold in the freeski halfpipe, securing Team USA’s 10th gold medal of the Games and tying the nation’s all-time Winter Olympic gold record. Mikeala Shiffrin from Vail, Colo. made another iconic appearance in the Games, delivering what may stand as the most emotionally resonant victory of her storied career. After years of battling injuries and heartbreak on the world stage, Shiffrin claimed gold in the slalom with a combined time of 1:39.10, leaving Switzerland’s Camille Rast a staggering 1.50 seconds behind.
DU athletes once again demonstrated how collegiate programs connect directly to the highest level of international competition, with the university’s winter sports talent represented on one of the world’s biggest stages. While the results varied, their presence in Milan reinforces DU’s steady role in developing athletes who compete at the Olympic level.
