Olympians Faulkner, Schumacher Earn Pride of Alaska Honors

Two Alaskan athletes recognized at Sports Hall of Fame Directors Awards

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:21pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and competitive energy of cross-country skiing and cycling, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form.The Pride of Alaska awards honor the state's top athletic achievements, celebrating the diverse range of sports talent found across the region.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. Faulkner, a cyclist from Homer, and Schumacher, a cross-country skier from Anchorage, were joined by two other youth athletes in earning the prestigious honor.

Why it matters

The Pride of Alaska award recognizes the state's top athletic achievements and celebrates the diverse range of sports talent found across Alaska. Faulkner and Schumacher's accomplishments at the highest levels of their respective sports bring pride to their local communities and inspire the next generation of Alaskan athletes.

The details

Faulkner, an Olympic cyclist, won three gold medals at last month's Pan-Am Games. Schumacher, a 25-year-old from Anchorage, became the third American man in history to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing, and is the first-ever four-time recipient of the Pride of Alaska award.

  • Faulkner won three gold medals at the Pan-Am Games last month.
  • Schumacher became the third American man to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing.
  • Schumacher is the first-ever four-time recipient of the Pride of Alaska award, with previous honors in 2024, 2020, and 2018.

The players

Kristen Faulkner

An Olympic cyclist from Homer, Alaska who won three gold medals at the recent Pan-Am Games.

Gus Schumacher

A 25-year-old cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska who became the third American man in history to win an Olympic medal in his sport.

Sobina Clendaniel

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

Jack Leveque

A cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska who defended his state titles in both classic and freestyle races, earned a second straight Skimeister title, and won a junior national title last month.

Jan Buron

The founder and head coach of the Alaska Winter Stars ski club, who was instrumental in the development of several award winners including Schumacher and Leveque.

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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 during the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Anchorage.

The takeaway

The Pride of Alaska awards celebrate the incredible depth of athletic talent found across the state, from Olympic medalists to rising youth stars, showcasing Alaska's vibrant and diverse sports culture.