Colorado University Athletics
CU 2026 Winter Olympic Preview & Watch Guide
February 05, 2026 | General, Skiing, Olympians
MILAN & CORTINA, ITALY – The University of Colorado Boulder has eight known Olympians competing in Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, a list that includes two current members of the CU Ski Team, four former members and two former students. Â
The Olympics take place Feb. 6-22 and below you'll find all the information you need to cheer on the Buffs in Italy. Â
The games will be primarily broadcast on NBC, USA Network and CNBC in the United States with live streaming of every event on Peacock. Â NBC will have daily daytime and prime time coverage and Peacock will also offer the "Gold Zone" which offer whip-around coverage of major moments.Â
Opening Ceremony:
The 2026 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies take place Friday, Feb. 6, and will air live at Noon MT on NBC.
Meet the CU-Connected Olympians
Alvar Alev — Cross-Country Skiing, Estonia
Alev returns for his second Olympic Games after making his debut in Beijing in 2022. The former CU standout — a three-time All-American — brings veteran experience to Estonia's distance roster and continues a long tradition of Buffs competing at the highest levels of Nordic racing.
Stacy Gaskill — Snowboarding, Team USA
Gaskill's return to the Olympic stage after recovering from a torn ACL is a testament to perseverance. A 2022 Olympian in snowboard cross, she has overcome adversity to secure her place on the U.S. team once again and will compete in both individual and mixed formats.
Cass Gray — Alpine Skiing, Canada
After winning the NCAA giant slalom title as a Buff, Gray has become a fixture on the international circuit and now earns her second consecutive Olympic selection for Team Canada. She returns to the Games stronger and more seasoned, poised for top-level competition in the technical alpine events.
Hugo Hinckfuss — Cross-Country Skiing, Australia
A current University of Colorado Buffalo and veteran of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Hinckfuss has carved out his place on the Australian cross-country squad again for 2026. A key contributor to the CU Nordic team, Hugo took a semester off from school to focus fully on training and now heads into Milano-Cortina as one of Australia's top distance skiers.
Svea Irving — Freestyle Skiing, Team USA
Irving is one of the rising stars in freeski halfpipe, riding off multiple World Cup top-five results and an X Games podium into her first Olympic appearance. A CU graduate with a strong competitive resume, she brings both flair and consistency to the U.S. freestyle team.
Jakob Moch — Cross-Country Skiing, Germany
Freshman Jakob Moch made history as the first CU student ever to compete for Germany at the Winter Games. After a breakthrough World Cup debut in Davos — finishing 21st in a stacked field — Moch has balanced World Cup starts with his collegiate season and now takes that momentum to the Olympic stage.
Joanne Reid — Biathlon, Team USA
Reid's path to Milano-Cortina is one of resilience: she qualified for her third Olympic team after a challenging comeback journey, demonstrating grit and competitiveness on the world stage. A proven performer in both skiing and marksmanship, Reid is making her third Olympic appearance.
Ryder Sarchett — Alpine Skiing, Team USA
A former CU skier and part of Colorado's 2024 national championship squad, Sarchett punched his Olympic ticket after scoring his first World Cup points and building momentum throughout the season. He becomes the first U.S. alpine Olympian from CU in nearly three decades — a milestone moment in Buff alpine history.
2026 Winter Olympic Watch Guide: CU Competitor Schedule
Here's how to follow the Buffs in action during the first half of the Games (all times MT with local CET Central European Time also noted):
Sunday, Feb. 8
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The Olympics take place Feb. 6-22 and below you'll find all the information you need to cheer on the Buffs in Italy. Â
The games will be primarily broadcast on NBC, USA Network and CNBC in the United States with live streaming of every event on Peacock. Â NBC will have daily daytime and prime time coverage and Peacock will also offer the "Gold Zone" which offer whip-around coverage of major moments.Â
Opening Ceremony:
The 2026 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies take place Friday, Feb. 6, and will air live at Noon MT on NBC.
Meet the CU-Connected Olympians
Alvar Alev — Cross-Country Skiing, Estonia
Alev returns for his second Olympic Games after making his debut in Beijing in 2022. The former CU standout — a three-time All-American — brings veteran experience to Estonia's distance roster and continues a long tradition of Buffs competing at the highest levels of Nordic racing.
Stacy Gaskill — Snowboarding, Team USA
Gaskill's return to the Olympic stage after recovering from a torn ACL is a testament to perseverance. A 2022 Olympian in snowboard cross, she has overcome adversity to secure her place on the U.S. team once again and will compete in both individual and mixed formats.
Cass Gray — Alpine Skiing, Canada
After winning the NCAA giant slalom title as a Buff, Gray has become a fixture on the international circuit and now earns her second consecutive Olympic selection for Team Canada. She returns to the Games stronger and more seasoned, poised for top-level competition in the technical alpine events.
Hugo Hinckfuss — Cross-Country Skiing, Australia
A current University of Colorado Buffalo and veteran of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Hinckfuss has carved out his place on the Australian cross-country squad again for 2026. A key contributor to the CU Nordic team, Hugo took a semester off from school to focus fully on training and now heads into Milano-Cortina as one of Australia's top distance skiers.
Svea Irving — Freestyle Skiing, Team USA
Irving is one of the rising stars in freeski halfpipe, riding off multiple World Cup top-five results and an X Games podium into her first Olympic appearance. A CU graduate with a strong competitive resume, she brings both flair and consistency to the U.S. freestyle team.
Jakob Moch — Cross-Country Skiing, Germany
Freshman Jakob Moch made history as the first CU student ever to compete for Germany at the Winter Games. After a breakthrough World Cup debut in Davos — finishing 21st in a stacked field — Moch has balanced World Cup starts with his collegiate season and now takes that momentum to the Olympic stage.
Joanne Reid — Biathlon, Team USA
Reid's path to Milano-Cortina is one of resilience: she qualified for her third Olympic team after a challenging comeback journey, demonstrating grit and competitiveness on the world stage. A proven performer in both skiing and marksmanship, Reid is making her third Olympic appearance.
Ryder Sarchett — Alpine Skiing, Team USA
A former CU skier and part of Colorado's 2024 national championship squad, Sarchett punched his Olympic ticket after scoring his first World Cup points and building momentum throughout the season. He becomes the first U.S. alpine Olympian from CU in nearly three decades — a milestone moment in Buff alpine history.
2026 Winter Olympic Watch Guide: CU Competitor Schedule
Here's how to follow the Buffs in action during the first half of the Games (all times MT with local CET Central European Time also noted):
Sunday, Feb. 8
- Cross-Country 10K + 10K Skiathlon — Alev, Hinckfuss, Moch — 4:30 AM (12:30 PM CET)
- Cross-Country Classic Sprints — Hinckfuss — 1:15 AM (9:15 AM CET)
- Biathlon 15 K Individual — Reid — 6:15 AM (2:15 PM CET)
- Snowboard Cross — Gaskill — 5:30 AM (1:30 PM CET)
- Alpine Giant Slalom — Sarchett — 2:00 AM (10 AM CET)
- Biathlon 7.5 K Sprint — Reid — 6:45 AM (2:45 PM CET)
- • Alpine Giant Slalom — Gray — 2:00 AM (10 AM CET)
- • Cross-Country 10K Freestyle — Alev, Hinckfuss, Moch — 3:45 AM (11:45 AM CET)
- • Snowboard Mixed Team Cross — Gaskill — 5:45 AM (1:45 PM CET)
- • Biathlon 10 K Pursuit — Reid — 6:45 AM (2:45 PM CET)
- Cross-Country Team Freestyle Sprint — Hinckfuss — 2:15 AM (10:15 AM CET)
- Biathlon 4×6 K Relay — Reid — 6:45 AM (2:45 PM CET)
- Freestyle Halfpipe (Qualifying + Finals) — Irving — Feb. 19: 11:30 AM (7:30 PM CET), Feb. 21: 11:30 AM (7:30 PM CET)
- Cross-Country 50K Classic Mass Start — Alev — 3:00 AM (11 AM CET) — Feb. 21
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Players Mentioned
XC
/ Olympians
SNB
/ Olympians
NORDIC
/ Skiing
FSK
/ Olympians
NORDIC
/ Skiing
BIA
/ Olympians
ALP
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