Craftsbury Rowing Team Cheers on Teammate at Milan Cortina Games

Margie Freed, a UVM alum training at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, placed 21st in the women's 15k biathlon.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Margie Freed, who trains at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and is a UVM alum, placed 21st in the women's 15k biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics. While Freed competed thousands of miles away, her teammates in Craftsbury followed her race closely, many of them in the middle of their own training sessions for upcoming international competitions, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Why it matters

The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is a small training facility in northern Vermont that continues to produce competitors on the world stage. Seeing a teammate reach the Olympics elevates the atmosphere and reinforces what is possible for the other athletes training there.

The details

Between intervals on their rowing machines, the Craftsbury athletes checked their phones and shared updates as Freed moved through the demanding biathlon course, which combines cross-country skiing and precision rifle shooting. The sound of rowing machines filled the building as the athletes prepared for upcoming international competitions.

  • Margie Freed placed 21st in the women's 15k biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The players

Margie Freed

A UVM alum who trains at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and placed 21st in the women's 15k biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Natalie Hoefer

An athlete training at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center with hopes of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic rowing team.

Kevin Harvell

An athlete training at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center who is preparing for the 2026 Central American Games.

Grace Donabedian

An athlete training at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center with her sights set on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Hap Whelpley

The head coach at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.

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What they’re saying

“It's so crazy that we know her and we're friends with her, but she's competing on the world stage at the highest level.”

— Natalie Hoefer, Athlete (mynbc5.com)

“Seeing somebody make it to that level really brings up the vibe over here.”

— Kevin Harvell, Athlete (mynbc5.com)

“We're training to eventually make it to the Olympics. Just seeing our teammate doing that in real time is so inspiring.”

— Grace Donabedian, Athlete (mynbc5.com)

“It's awesome to watch these endurance athletes with different specialties root for each other in and out of their seasons. It gives them an appreciation for being here and what can happen out of this little state. Big things can happen here.”

— Hap Whelpley, Head Coach (mynbc5.com)

The takeaway

The Craftsbury Outdoor Center, a small training facility in northern Vermont, continues to produce world-class athletes who inspire their teammates and reinforce the belief that big things are possible, even in a small state.