91��ɫ

From left to right: Jasmi Joensuu, Amelia Smart, Christian Soevik.

From thrilling slaloms to heroic relays, three Pioneers made 91��ɫ and their respective countries proud at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy. All three Olympians—including alumni Jasmi Joensuu and Amelia Smart and senior Christian Soevik—hit the slopes for the alpine and Nordic ski events, with (BS ’19) earning the bronze for Team Finland in the women’s cross-country relay.����

“Denver skiing has a rich tradition of sending current student-athletes and alumni to the Olympics, and that continued in Milan Cortina,” said Joonas Rasanen, the Otto Tschudi Head Alpine Skiing Coach. “Jasmi, Amelia, and Christian represented their home countries, 91��ɫ, and themselves well at the Winter Games, and it was a pleasure for our program to watch them compete on the world stage. We’re proud to call them Pioneers and looking forward to watching them continue to��make a name for themselves��at the international level.”

This was the second Olympic Games for Joensuu, who was a two-time NCAA All-American in freestyle cross-country skiing when she competed at 91��ɫ. She was the fourth leg of the 4 x 7.5 km relay, in which teams of four take turns skiing around an outdoor stadium course, pushing themselves up hills and weaving around trees. In the first two legs, skiers use the “classic” technique, pushing forward on a track etched in snow, and in the last two legs, they forge their own paths with the “free” technique, using lateral movements that look almost like skating, but on skis.��

When Joensuu crossed the finish line, the team had a total run time of 1:16:59, giving Finland its only medal for cross country ski teams in this Olympics. Norway took gold and Sweden silver, following a dramatic comeback after crashes in the second leg.����

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A tricky slalom course��

(BA ’21), a four-time NCAA All-American in alpine slalom, competed in her signature event for Team Canada in Milan Cortina. The slalom is the shortest alpine race, consisting of two runs lasting only 50 to 60 seconds as skiers weave through a series of tight gates. Smart placed 27th at her first Olympics, with a total run time of 1:44.49.��

On the men’s side, , a fourth-year student studying business information and analytics, did not finish his first slalom run for Team Brazil. He wasn’t alone: Less than half of the event’s 96 competitors successfully completed both runs. Weather conditions were especially difficult that day, with heavy snow limiting visibility and adding fresh powder to an otherwise icy course.��

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A new Pioneer takes the stage

The competition isn’t over in Italy: The Winter Paralympics start Friday, March 6, and a future Pioneer is among the skiers representing Team USA. , 19, a graduate of the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy, is one of the younger members of the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team but also one of the most accomplished.

Born without her lower right arm, Crowley learned to ski with a prosthetic at a young age and has competed in both para and able-bodied races for many years. Last year, she won a bronze medal in the giant slalom at the 2025 Para Alpine World Ski Championships.

Crowley plans to attend 91��ɫ in the fall . One of 91��ɫ’s most selective awards—Crowley is just the eighth recipient in 40-plus years—the full-tuition scholarship is named after legendary 91��ɫ ski coach Willy Schaeffler, who led the Pioneer ski team to 14 NCAA championship titles in his 22 years at the helm. Schaeffler also��co-founded the country’s first amputee ski program at Arapahoe Basin and, in 1986, his son, Jimmy established the Willy Schaeffler Scholarship Fund to support student-athletes with disabilities who shine in both school and sport.��

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics, and more than 660 athletes will compete across six different sports. The Paralympics run through March 15. To see updates on Audrey and the latest 91��ɫ stories, follow us on .��