Paralympian Sydney Peterson Balances Skiing and Science at 2026 Winter Games

The U.S. Paralympic skier and neuroscience PhD candidate embodies the growing trend of athlete-scientists.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Sydney Peterson, a U.S. Paralympic skier and PhD candidate in neuroscience at the University of Utah, is preparing for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina. Her story highlights the increasing intersection of elite athletics and rigorous academic research, as she navigates the demands of training, competing, and conducting genetic research on movement disorders like the dystonia she experiences.

Why it matters

Peterson's dual path as an athlete and scientist represents a potential paradigm shift in how modern athletes approach training, recovery, and long-term career planning. Her experience demonstrates how the athlete-scientist model can foster resilience and a long-term vision, while also providing insights that can benefit the broader athletic community.

The details

Peterson, who began skiing at age five, manages a challenging neurological condition called dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle contractions. She skis with one pole and a custom ankle brace. Her personal experience with a movement disorder fuels her research into genetic movement disorders, testing the effectiveness of different drugs using fruit flies at the University of Utah. Peterson's research focuses on drug repurposing for rare neurodegenerative diseases linked to the FIG4 gene, conducting in vivo and in vitro screens to identify existing FDA-approved medications that could be used to treat these conditions more quickly and affordably.

  • Peterson began skiing at age 5.
  • She started experiencing symptoms of dystonia at age 13.
  • Peterson is preparing for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina.

The players

Sydney Peterson

A U.S. Paralympic skier and PhD candidate in neuroscience at the University of Utah who is researching genetic movement disorders like the dystonia she experiences.

University of Utah

The institution where Peterson is pursuing her PhD in neuroscience and conducting research on genetic movement disorders.

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What they’re saying

“Balancing a career as an elite athlete and a scientist is challenging, but it provides a unique form of resilience. When faced with setbacks in one area, I can shift my focus to the other, which keeps me motivated and engaged.”

— Sydney Peterson, Paralympic Skier and PhD Candidate (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

Peterson will continue her training and research leading up to the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina, where she hopes to add to her medal collection.

The takeaway

Sydney Peterson's story highlights the growing trend of athlete-scientists, who are leveraging their academic and athletic pursuits to gain a competitive edge and prepare for life after their competitive careers. Her experience demonstrates how the intersection of elite sports and rigorous research can foster resilience, long-term vision, and valuable insights for the broader athletic community.