Olympians Faulkner, Schumacher Earn Pride of Alaska Honors

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Directors Awards recognize top athletes across the state.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting various winter sports competitions and athletes, with sharp geometric shapes in vibrant colors like blue, white, and red, conceptually representing the multifaceted nature of Alaska's sports culture.The Pride of Alaska awards honor the state's top young athletes, celebrating the diverse range of winter sports talent found across the rugged Alaskan landscape.Anchorage Today

Olympians Kristen Faulkner and Gus Schumacher were named Pride of Alaska winners for the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Directors Awards this week. They were joined by Sobina Clendaniel and Jack Leveque, who won the girls and boys categories respectively. The awards honor the top athletes across various sports in the state of Alaska.

Why it matters

The Pride of Alaska awards recognize the exceptional talent and achievements of young athletes in the state, highlighting the depth of athletic prowess found in Alaska. These awards help promote and celebrate the state's sports culture, inspiring the next generation of Alaskan athletes.

The details

Schumacher, a 25-year-old from Anchorage, is a four-time recipient of the award, having previously won in 2024, 2020, and in the boys category in 2018. He is the third American man in history to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing. Faulkner, an Olympic cyclist from Homer, won the award for the second year in a row after winning three gold medals at the Pan-Am Games last month. Clendaniel, a wrestler from Seward, won medals at three different national youth wrestling tournaments. Leveque, a cross-country skier from Anchorage, defended his state titles and earned a second straight Skimeister title, in addition to winning a junior national title.

  • The awards were announced on April 18, 2026.
  • The winners will be honored on June 3, 2026 during the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The players

Kristen Faulkner

An Olympic cyclist from Homer, Alaska who won the Pride of Alaska award for the second year in a row after winning three gold medals at the Pan-Am Games last month.

Gus Schumacher

A 25-year-old cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska who is a four-time recipient of the Pride of Alaska award, including wins in 2024, 2020, and in the boys category in 2018. He is the third American man in history to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing.

Sobina Clendaniel

A wrestler from Seward, Alaska who won a trio of medals at three different national youth wrestling tournaments in the past calendar year.

Jack Leveque

A cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska who defended his state titles in both the classic and freestyle races as well as earning a second straight Skimeister title. He also won a junior national title last month in a 10K classic race in Cable, Wisconsin.

Jan Buron

The founder and head coach of the Alaska Winter Stars ski club, who was awarded the Joe Floyd Award for significant contribution to Alaska sports. He coached and was instrumental to the development of three winners on this year's list, including both Schumacher and Leveque.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Alaska is a big state. Every year our challenge is to make sure every worthy candidate is considered and every year we come away from the process in awe of of how many talented athletes we have across our state from a wide range of sports.”

— Harlow Robinson, Alaska Sports Hall of Fame executive director

What’s next

The winners will be honored on June 3, 2026 during the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Anchorage Museum.

The takeaway

The Pride of Alaska awards showcase the depth of athletic talent found across the state, from Olympic medalists to rising young stars in a variety of sports. These honors help celebrate Alaska's vibrant sports culture and inspire the next generation of athletes to pursue their dreams.