An amazing 56 athletes with ties to Park City competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan and Cortina, representing nine countries including the U.S., according to the local Youth Sports Alliance. More could well be on the way. With the 2034 Winter Olympics set to take place in Utah, including Park City, there’s no shortage of local inspiration for aspiring skiers, snowboarders, lugers, speed skaters and more.
Plus, the town’s world-class facilities, which include Utah Olympic Park and U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s Center of Excellence, provide training opportunities difficult to find elsewhere. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a guided tour of Utah Olympic Park, watch athletes practice their aerials by skiing or snowboarding off a ramp into a pool, and book a summer bobsled experience.
We caught up with five recent Olympic medalists who grew up in Park City or moved here as teens to learn more about their experiences in Italy and how they train (or cross-train) during the summer.
Casey Dawson
Speed Skating
2026 Olympics, silver medal, team pursuit
2022 Olympics, bronze medal, team pursuit
Born and raised in Park City, Casey Dawson says that living here has made him a “very outdoorsy person.” He took part in a typical variety of mountain-town sports while growing up: biking, soccer, and Nordic and alpine skiing. But Dawson credits his career choice to the pervasive local Olympic presence. “Without the legacy, I don’t think I would have been introduced to speed skating,” he says.
Dawson and teammates Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran refer to themselves as the “pain train” in team pursuit on social media. Starting in 2020, American speedskaters turned the event’s strategy on its head. Instead of changing up the lead during the race, they stayed in the same order for all eight laps.
Olympic takeaways: In 2022, I had a pretty brutal start to the Olympics, dealing with COVID. In 2026, there was way more pressure on us in the team pursuit because we were the reigning world champs and current world-record holders. That was almost a negative because we put so much stress and pressure on ourselves to win gold. We weren’t the fastest on the day we needed to be, but I found peace that we were the fastest team consistently, no matter what, for the last seven years. All in all, I had a lot of fun, but also learned a lot from the last two Olympics.
Summertime spots: I love staying local to Park City, whether that is to hike, run, walk my dog, bike or do dryland training. It’s just the perfect temperature and climate, and also culture to train in. With the surrounding views and Olympic venues, it’s always an inspiring place to train, too.
Plans for 2034 Olympics in Utah? It’s not completely off the table, but I’m not looking that far ahead. I am just so excited to have the games coming back to Utah, whether I’m in the stands, commentating or actually skating.
Ashley Farquharson
Luge
2026 Olympics, bronze medal, women’s singles
2022 Olympian
By winning bronze in Italy, Ashley Farquharson became the first American woman in a dozen years — and only the second overall — to win an Olympic medal in luge. The two-time Olympian moved to Park City with her family when she was 2 years old and loved growing up here, especially because of the easy access to all things outdoors and the Olympic venues.
Now in the summer, she’s based in Lake Placid, New York, where USA Luge is headquartered. There, she hikes, canoes and rock climbs, as well as participates in strength and conditioning programs.
Olympic takeaways: Comparing 2022 to 2026, the two Olympic Games feel totally separate. The biggest difference was that my family could be there this time, which was so special. I also feel like a totally different athlete and competitor than I did in Beijing. I was better prepared physically and mentally. My biggest takeaway from Beijing was that this whole thing is supposed to be fun, and if I can’t enjoy the ride, then I won’t be able to go my fastest. My experience in Cortina really cemented that idea, and I’m so happy to have gotten some hardware out of it.
Favorite part of her Park City upbringing: I didn’t realize exactly how special it was when I was a kid, but now I can appreciate how cool my childhood was. I got to try so many different sports, from dance and soccer to skiing and, of course, luge.
Plans for 2034 Olympics in Utah? As long as I’m still having fun in the sport and my body can keep up with the demand, then I can’t rule it out. It would be a really wonderful, full-circle moment to get to compete in front of the home crowd.
Connor Curran
Freestyle Skiing
2026 Olympics, gold medal, mixed team aerials
At 21 years old, Connor Curran was the youngest aerials skier in the recent Olympics. But he’s used to doing things at a young age. An Ohio native, Curran was only 15 when he moved to Park City on his own to train in freestyle skiing. “Some of my favorite parts about living here are being in the mountains, being able to ski whenever I want and having a very good community of locals who enjoy being outdoors,” he says.
In fact, a visit to Park City at age 7 set Curran on his current path. After seeing skiers train on the jumps at Utah Olympic Park, he joined a trampoline and tumbling team back home, learning the basics that translated into his high-flying achievements on skis.
Olympic takeaways: Winning gold, but outside of that moment, walking in the opening and closing ceremonies was one of the most spectacular experiences I’ve ever had. Being surrounded by the best athletes in the world, from all different countries, was a big takeaway too, because I got to learn a lot about other sports and meet legends and celebrities in their fields.
Summer plans: I primarily focus on training for my sport, but I like getting outside with my friends for camping and hiking, too. I also enjoy boxing, and my friends and I recently started getting into kickboxing and jiujitsu to help keep us in shape.
Plans for 2034 Olympics in Utah? I plan on training the next four years to make the Olympic team again and to come back with more medals. As for 2034, I am not sure what shape my body is going to be in, but if there is nothing stopping me, then you will see me in Salt Lake City.
Kaila Kuhn
Freestyle Skiing
2026 Olympics, gold medal, mixed team aerials
2022 Olympian
Like her fellow aerialist Connor Curran, Kaila Kuhn moved to Park City on her own at age 15 to train. “Living in such an athletic atmosphere pushed me to be better every day,” says Kuhn, a Michigan native.
Kuhn had competed as a gymnast until she was 12, then, after transitioning to aerials, skied in her first FIS World Championships when she was just 15.
At 21, she became the youngest American to win an individual aerials world title. In January 2026, Kuhn earned her first career World Cup victory at Lake Placid, New York, and she finished third for the season in the overall World Cup standings.
Olympic takeaways: I came into 2022 with such a fresh perspective, wanting to enjoy the privilege of earning the title Olympian. I had no huge expectations of myself, and I really just wanted to enjoy making my first Olympic team. In 2026 it was different, because I expected a lot out of those Olympic Games. I wanted to walk away with a medal around my neck, and that came with a lot of pressure. It was a totally different experience being in the mix with the best in the world with a real chance of taking home a medal.
Summer go-to: One of my favorite ways to train is mountain biking. Round Valley, Utah Olympic Park and the Canyons have some of my favorite trails.
Plans for 2034 Olympics in Utah? It would be a dream to compete on home snow in 2034. But I’m really just taking it one Olympic cycle at a time.
Alex Hall
Freeskiing
2026 Olympics, silver, slopestyle
2022 Olympics, gold, slopestyle
2018 Olympics, Olympian
As a 1-year-old, Alex Hall started skiing in the European Alps. The three-time Olympian was born in Alaska but grew up in Zurich, Switzerland, where his parents were both university professors. At age 16, with a promising ski career ahead, he moved to Park City to attend the Winter Sports School, take advantage of the top-notch training facilities and ski as much as possible. Hall’s American father grew up in Salt Lake City, so he already had family ties to the area, and his mom is Italian. Now 27, Hall lives in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Once in Utah, Hall embraced not just skiing but all of the outdoor activities at his doorstep. And the ski coaching and training paid off. Hall, known for his creativity, is the only skier to win X Games gold in four disciplines, and in 2022, he was the first male to medal in three different events at a single X Games. At those same X Games, he also became the first skier to land a 2160 — six full rotations — in competition.
Olympic takeaways: They were all great experiences over my three Olympics, and they were all completely different. I really loved having the fans back in 2026, as well as having a ton of family and friends come to watch. That was probably my favorite part, and it reminded me how special the Olympics really are.
Summer spots: I love any of the mountains in the surrounding area of Park City or Salt Lake City. I love to go on hikes or go fishing up in the mountains.
Plans for 2034 Olympics in Utah? I have no idea — ha ha. One year at a time for me.
