New Hampshire’s snowy landscapes and rugged terrain have long been a training ground for winter athletes competing on the world stage. From celebrated athletes like Bode Miller to rising stars preparing for the Milan Cortina Games, New Hampshire’s Olympic contributions are shaping up to be legendary in 2026.
NH’s Olympic Training Grounds
As a state whose official sport is skiing, it’s no surprise that a few New Hampshire landmarks have played stage to some of the world’s best winter athletes. The Nansen Ski Jump was the foremost ski jump in the country for almost 50 years, hosting the first Olympic Trials in 1938, followed by four US Ski Jumping National Championships in the years later. The jump closed in 1988, but has since undergone extensive restoration and ongoing maintenance which allowed the 2013 Women’s Ski Jumping World Champion Sarah Hendrickson to successfully complete the first returning ski jump at the Big Nansen in March of 2017.
Waterville Valley is known as the birthplace of freestyle skiing after launching the country’s first freestyle instruction program in 1969. Since then, Waterville has hosted several world-class freestyle competitions, including the Freestyle National Championships and National Open Championships. In 2026, Waterville hosted the FIS World Cup moguls and dual moguls qualifiers—the last chance for skiers to earn spots at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Dartmouth’s Olympic Pipeline
Fun Fact: New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College has sent more athletes to compete in the winter Olympics than any other Ivy League institution. In fact, a Dartmouth athlete has competed in every winter game since the first in 1924, earning medals in skiing, hockey, biathlon, and more- cementing Dartmouth’s reputation as a powerhouse for winter sports talent.
2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
New Hampshire’s Team USA Qualified Athletes
- Sean Doherty
Sport: Biathlon
Hometown: Center Conway, NH - Caroline Harvey
Sport: Ice Hockey
Hometown: Salem, NH
- Mikaela Shiffrin
Sport: Alpine Skiing
NH ties: Moved to Lyme, NH at age 8, Honorary Degree from Dartmouth College
New Hampshire’s Team USA Olympic Hopefuls*
These athletes with New Hampshire ties are working towards joining Team USA to compete in the upcoming 2026 Milan Cortina Games!
- Seth Baylus
Sport: Aspiring U.S. Olympic Bobsledder
Hometown: Loudon, NH - AJ Hurt
Sport: Aspiring U.S. Olympic Alpine Skier
Education: Dartmouth College - Sam Morse
Sport: Aspiring U.S. Olympic Alpine Skier
Education: Dartmouth College
*This list is not comprehensive and will be updated with changes and athlete qualifications.
