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Stanford Athletes Shine at 2026 Winter Olympics
Four Cardinal undergrads compete in events ranging from freeskiing to cross-country skiing.
Published on Feb. 5, 2026
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The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy are underway, and Stanford University is well-represented with four undergraduates competing across a variety of events. Eileen Gu, Zoe Atkin, Brandon Kim, and Sammy Smith will all take the world stage over the next two weeks to represent their respective countries and aim for Olympic glory.
Why it matters
Stanford's strong showing at the Winter Olympics highlights the university's commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes who can excel both academically and athletically on the global stage. The diverse array of sports represented by the Cardinal competitors also underscores the breadth of Stanford's athletic programs.
The details
Eileen Gu, one of the biggest stars of the Games, is competing in freeskiing halfpipe and slopestyle events after winning gold in 2022. Zoe Atkin, also in her second Olympics, will look to improve on her ninth-place finish in the freeskiing halfpipe from four years ago. Brandon Kim is making his Olympic debut in short track speed skating after a dominant 2025 season, while Sammy Smith, a standout soccer player at Stanford, will compete in cross-country skiing in her first Olympics.
- The 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony takes place on Friday, February 6.
- Eileen Gu's freeskiing slopestyle qualifications are on Saturday, February 7, with the final on Monday, February 9.
- Brandon Kim's short track speed skating events are scheduled for Sunday, February 8 (5000m relay final), Sunday, February 11 (1000m final), and Saturday, February 14 (500m final).
- Sammy Smith's cross-country skiing sprint classic qualifications and finals are on Tuesday, February 10.
- Zoe Atkin and Eileen Gu will both compete in the freeskiing halfpipe qualifications on Thursday, February 19, with the finals on Saturday, February 21.
The players
Eileen Gu
A Stanford undergraduate competing in freeskiing halfpipe and slopestyle events for China. Gu won gold medals in both events at the 2022 Winter Olympics and is one of the biggest stars of the 2026 Games.
Zoe Atkin
A Stanford undergraduate competing in the freeskiing halfpipe event for Great Britain. Atkin finished ninth in her event at the 2022 Olympics and is looking to improve on that result in Milan.
Brandon Kim
A Stanford undergraduate making his Olympic debut in short track speed skating for the United States. Kim had a dominant 2025 season and is poised to make a strong showing in Milan.
Sammy Smith
A Stanford undergraduate competing in cross-country skiing for the United States. Smith is a standout soccer player for the Cardinal and is making her first Olympic appearance.
The takeaway
Stanford's strong representation at the 2026 Winter Olympics showcases the university's commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes who can excel on the global stage. The diverse array of sports represented by the Cardinal competitors underscores the breadth of Stanford's athletic programs and the school's ability to produce world-class talent.
