Grandchildren of Renowned Author John Irving Compete at Winter Olympics

Birk and Svea Irving, grandchildren of John Irving, represent the U.S. in freeski halfpipe events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Birk and Svea Irving, the brother-sister Olympic skiing duo and grandchildren of acclaimed American author John Irving, are competing in the freeski halfpipe events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy. Despite not being able to attend in person due to health concerns, the 83-year-old Irving has been closely following his grandchildren's Olympic journeys, offering words of encouragement and pride through detailed text messages and emails.

Why it matters

The Irving family's Olympic story highlights the intergenerational connection and passion for sports that can be passed down through families. As renowned literary figures, the Irvings' Olympic pursuits also demonstrate how elite athletic achievement can transcend traditional boundaries and be appreciated by those in vastly different fields.

The details

Birk, 26, and Svea, 23, grew up skiing at Winter Park Resort in Colorado, where their father Brendan worked as a ski patroller after discovering a love for the sport. Both siblings found success in freeski halfpipe, with Birk earning a fifth-place finish at the 2022 Olympics and Svea winning medals at the Winter Youth Olympics and World Junior Championships. Despite the risks and fears their grandfather John Irving has about the dangerous nature of halfpipe skiing, he has been a constant source of support, often sending lengthy, grammatically perfect text messages and emails to his grandchildren.

  • Birk Irving competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
  • Svea Irving won medals at the Winter Youth Olympics in 2016 and the World Junior Championships in 2017.
  • The men's and women's freeski halfpipe qualifying events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina will take place on Thursday, February 20th, with the finals on Friday for the men and Saturday for the women.

The players

Birk Irving

A 26-year-old American freeski halfpipe competitor and Olympian, and the grandson of renowned author John Irving.

Svea Irving

A 23-year-old American freeski halfpipe competitor and the younger sister of Birk Irving, both of whom are grandchildren of John Irving.

John Irving

An 83-year-old acclaimed American author, best known for novels such as "The World According to Garp," "The Cider House Rules," and "A Prayer for Owen Meany." He is the grandfather of Birk and Svea Irving.

Brendan Irving

The father of Birk and Svea Irving, who works as a ski patroller and encouraged his children's passion for winter sports.

Stephanie Irving

The mother of Birk and Svea Irving, a former alpine skier who now teaches in Winter Park, Colorado.

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What they’re saying

“Complete paragraphs, all spaced out. Grammatically, the best text messages you've ever seen.”

— Birk Irving

“I remain astonished by them. By their sweet dispositions, and the level of friendly normalcy they've always had, knowing, as I do — and I say this in a positive sense — their fanatical desire to always be training, to always wanting to compete and improve.”

— John Irving, Author

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This story highlights the intergenerational passion for sports that can be passed down within families, even among those in vastly different fields like literature. Despite the risks and fears, John Irving remains in awe of his grandchildren's athletic pursuits and dedication, showing how elite achievement can transcend traditional boundaries.