As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, came to a close, the Big 12 Conference was well represented across snow and ice, with current and former athletes delivering medal performances and international appearances.
The University of Utah led the way among Big 12 schools, highlighted by freestyle skier Christopher Lillis.
Lillis captured gold in mixed team aerials for Team USA, repeating his Olympic success after also winning gold in the same event in 2022. His performance marked one of Team USA’s standout gold medals of the Games.
Fellow Utah freestyle skier Jaelin Kauf added two silver medals to the conference’s total, earning podium finishes in women’s moguls and women’s dual moguls. Kauf, who also medaled in 2022, continued her consistency as one of the world’s top mogul skiers.
On the speed skating oval, Utah athletes Ethan Cepuran and Casey Dawson helped Team USA secure silver in the men’s team pursuit. Both previously won bronze in 2022, making 2026 their second straight Olympic podium appearance.
Utah was also represented in cross-country skiing by Novie McCabe for Team USA and Joe Davies for Team Great Britain, underscoring some of the conference’s international reach.
University of Colorado athletes and students further showcased the Big 12’s global presence. Current Colorado student Jakob Moch competed for Germany in cross-country skiing, while Hugo Hinckfuss represented Australia and Alvar Alev raced for Estonia.
In alpine skiing, Cassidy Gray competed for Team Canada. Biathlete Joanne Reid made her third consecutive Olympic appearance for Team USA, continuing a steady international career. Snowboarder Stacy Gaskill also represented the United States.
Beyond just competition, Big 12 representation extended behind the scenes. Chris Scoppetto, an Arizona State alum, served as equipment manager for Team USA hockey, bringing his nearly two decades of NHL experience working with the New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers to the Olympic stage.
While medal counts often define Olympic success, the 2026 Winter Games illustrated the Big 12’s expanding footprint in winter sports. From gold-medal aerials runs to team pursuit silver and global participation across multiple disciplines, the conference demonstrated its growing influence far beyond traditional collegiate competition.
For a conference often associated with football and basketball, Milan-Cortina offered a reminder: the Big 12’s reach now stretches all over the globe, and directly onto Olympic podiums.