Western Pennsylvania native makes Olympic debut in skeleton

Dan Barefoot of Johnstown competes in his first Olympic Games in Beijing

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Western Pennsylvanian Dan Barefoot made his Olympic debut in the skeleton event on Thursday at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The 19-year-old Johnstown native is currently sitting in 19th place after the first two heats, with more runs scheduled for Friday.

Why it matters

Barefoot's Olympic debut marks an exciting milestone for the young athlete from Western Pennsylvania, a region not typically known for producing top winter sports competitors. His performance in Beijing will be closely watched by fans back home who are eager to see a local athlete succeed on the world's biggest stage.

The details

In his first two runs, Barefoot said he experienced a whirlwind of emotions, from feeling overwhelmed to simply perfect. He was buoyed by the loud chants of "USA" from the American fans in attendance, which he said made the moment feel almost like a home race. Barefoot's entire family has traveled to Milan to cheer him on, which he says means more to him than he can describe.

  • Barefoot made his Olympic debut in the skeleton event on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • The final two heats of the men's skeleton competition are scheduled for Friday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Dan Barefoot

A 19-year-old skeleton athlete from Johnstown, Pennsylvania who is making his Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Beijing.

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What they’re saying

“There were so many US fans there. Honestly felt almost like a home race. I got to the line, and all of a sudden, 'USA' chants were coming from my right that were so loud, you couldn't help but look over. Then they became even louder. You know what? You look over, and I look back at my coach. My coach gave me this smirk, and I was like, holy cow, like, I think at that moment, it was kind of real to me.”

— Dan Barefoot (WPXI.com)

“Having the support team, that really is the reason that I'm here. Being here in person is insane. Being in the Olympics, one thing, but then having the people that help you get there, you know, being there with you, family members, teammates...It's really just incredible.”

— Dan Barefoot (WPXI.com)

What’s next

The final two heats of the men's skeleton competition are scheduled for Friday, February 14, 2026, where Barefoot will look to improve on his 19th place standing after the first two runs.

The takeaway

Dan Barefoot's Olympic debut in skeleton represents an inspiring achievement for a young athlete from Western Pennsylvania, a region not typically known as a winter sports hotbed. His performance has already captivated local fans, and with the support of his family and community cheering him on, Barefoot has the opportunity to make an even bigger impact in the final two heats of competition.