The Columbians Bound for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
The 2026 Olympic Winter Games will take place in Italy from February 6 to February 22, followed by the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games from March 6 to March 15, with events hosted across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and other alpine venues.
Winter Olympic sports may have a generally smaller pool of Ivy League competitors, but that makes it all the more exciting to cheer on the Columbians who are breaking through.
With the help of Columbia Athletics, we’ve been tracking Lions as they compete to qualify and earn their place on the world’s biggest winter stage. We’re also on the lookout for coaches, physicians, and other Columbians affiliated with the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Have we missed someone? Email [email protected] to help us spread the good news. We'll keep updating this story as we hear more.
ATHLETES
Olivia Giaccio (CC’25, SSW’28), Moguls Skiing, USA
Olivia Giaccio (CC’25, SSW’28) will head to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as part of the U.S. Olympic Freestyle Ski Team. Read more here.
This will be Giaccio’s second Olympics after competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Columbia Magazine offered a glimpse into her recent achievements, including her work as a current Columbia School of Social Work student.
You can follow her journey on Instagram at @oliviagiaccio.
Bea Kim (CC’30), Snowboard Halfpipe, USA
Bea Kim (CC’30) was admitted to Columbia College last fall, but deferred until Fall of 2026 to prepare for the Milano Cortina Olympics, where she will compete on the U.S. Olympic Halfpipe Snowboard Team. The 19-year-old Kim hails from Palos Verdes, California, and started snowboarding at age 5. Get excited to cheer on this future Lion! Read more here.
You can follow her journey on Instagram at @hellobeakim.
Regina Martinez (MPH'17), Cross-Country Skiing, Mexico
Regina Martinez (MPH'17) will head to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as part of Team Mexico in cross-country skiing. As NBC Miami reports, she's the first woman to do so! “Cross-country skiing is for warriors," Martinez said. "It's endurance. It's strength. So much strength. Balance. Technique. It's like, full body. Everything in one sport." Read more here.
You can follow her journey on Instagram at @doctor_regina.
COACH
Dean Spirito (CC’08), Freestyle Skiing Coach, USA
Dean Spirito (CC’08) will coach a freestyle skier, Team USA’s Nick Goepper (a prior Olympic medalist). "It’s an amazing feeling to have an athlete of that caliber reach out to you as a resource,” Spirito told Columbia College Today. "...I think he values the knowledge that comes with [my] two decades in the sport.” Read more here.
You can follow his journey on Instagram at @dean_spirito.