St. Mary's Law Online J.D. student represented U.S. in 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics

Winter Vinecki placed sixth in women's freestyle skiing aerials competition

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:37pm

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A vibrant, expressionist painting depicting the dynamic motion and energy of a female freestyle skier mid-jump, with her body dissolving into a colorful blur of movement.An aerial skier's explosive, high-flying performance captures the thrill and intensity of Olympic competition.San Antonio Today

St. Mary's University School of Law cheered on Online J.D. student Winter Vinecki, who represented the United States in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in Italy. Vinecki, from Gaylord, Michigan, placed sixth in the women's freestyle skiing aerials competition.

Why it matters

Vinecki's Olympic appearance highlights the success of St. Mary's Law's innovative Online J.D. program, which allows students to pursue their legal studies while also pursuing professional athletic careers.

The details

Aerials is a high-flying acrobatic discipline in which athletes speed down a steep inrun, launch off a near-vertical kicker and execute multiple flips and twists up to 50 feet in the air. Vinecki was first introduced to aerial skiing at age 12 and was named to the U.S. national ski team in 2016. She made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and began the St. Mary's Law Online J.D. Program in Fall 2023, continuing to advance her legal studies while pursuing her professional athletic career.

  • Vinecki was first introduced to aerial skiing at age 12.
  • Vinecki was named to the U.S. national ski team in 2016.
  • Vinecki made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
  • Vinecki began the St. Mary's Law Online J.D. Program in Fall 2023.

The players

Winter Vinecki

An Online J.D. student at St. Mary's University School of Law who represented the United States in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, placing sixth in the women's freestyle skiing aerials competition.

St. Mary's University School of Law

The law school at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, which offers an innovative Online J.D. program that allows students to pursue their legal studies while also pursuing professional athletic careers.

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What they’re saying

“We are incredibly proud of Winter and her accomplishments. Her success in the Olympics while also pursuing her law degree is a testament to the flexibility and quality of our Online J.D. program.”

— Dean Patricia Roberts, Dean, St. Mary's University School of Law

What’s next

Vinecki plans to continue her legal studies at St. Mary's Law while also training for the 2030 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The takeaway

St. Mary's University's innovative Online J.D. program is enabling students like Winter Vinecki to pursue their professional athletic dreams while also advancing their legal education, showcasing the program's flexibility and commitment to supporting students' diverse aspirations.