Utah Fourth Graders Meet Olympians, Dream Big Ahead of 2034 Games

Students at the Guadalupe Center get inspired by Olympians' visit as they look forward to hosting the Winter Games.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 9:07pm

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Students at the Guadalupe Center in Salt Lake City had the opportunity to meet and be inspired by several Olympic athletes, including alpine skier Doug Lewis, luge athlete and 2018 Olympic medalist Chris Mazdzer, and Salt Lake City native Tristan Gale, the first woman to win Olympic gold in skeleton. The fourth-grade students, who will be seniors when the 2034 Winter Olympics return to Utah, were excited to learn from the Olympians and make their own gold medals.

Why it matters

The visit from the Olympians is part of a broader effort by organizers to connect today's students with Utah's Olympic future ahead of the 2034 games. Inspiring the next generation of athletes and fans is crucial for the long-term success and legacy of the Olympics in the state.

The details

The Olympians visited the fourth-grade classrooms after a school-wide assembly, sharing lessons and experiences that went beyond just sports. They signed the students' Utah 2034 hats and helped them decorate their own gold medals, planting the seed that the students could one day compete in the Olympics themselves.

  • The Olympians visited the Guadalupe Center on Friday, February 7, 2026.
  • The 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will return to Utah.

The players

Doug Lewis

A two-time Olympian in alpine skiing, competing in 1984 and 1988.

Chris Mazdzer

A luge athlete and 2018 Olympic medalist.

Tristan Gale

The first woman to win Olympic gold in skeleton, a native of Salt Lake City.

Abi

A 10-year-old fourth-grade student at the Guadalupe Center.

Brandon

A 9-year-old fourth-grade student at the Guadalupe Center.

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What they’re saying

“We are going to graduate and be seniors when they have the Olympics.”

— Abi, 10-year-old fourth-grade student (ksltv.com)

“These kids just got the seed planted within them about, 'I can do this, I can be a part of this, I may even be in the Olympics in eight years.' And that's just going to be amazing.”

— Doug Lewis, Two-time Olympian (ksltv.com)

“When I'm older, I want to be in the Olympics, so I made this gold medal so if I can get a gold medal, I'll never forget this day.”

— Brandon, 9-year-old fourth-grade student (ksltv.com)

“We're not superheroes. We just set goals, we're determined. We get nervous, we crash, we get back up. Failing is a normal thing — especially in sports. I don't want them to be deterred by that.”

— Chris Mazdzer, 2018 Olympic medalist (ksltv.com)

What’s next

Organizers said this is just the beginning of efforts to connect today's students with Utah's Olympic future ahead of the 2034 games.

The takeaway

Inspiring the next generation of athletes and fans is crucial for the long-term success and legacy of the Olympics in Utah. The visit from the Olympians shows how connecting students with the Olympic dream can plant the seeds for future success, even years before the games return to the state.