In The News – How Tahoe athletes performed on the Olympic stage
February 24, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 02/24/2026, Written by Petra Molina
From high-speed downhill runs to technical slalom turns and gravity-defying snowboard tricks, Truckee – Tahoe athletes delivered strong performances across disciplines at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Here’s a look at how local competitors fared on the world’s biggest winter sports stage.
Alpine Skiing
Olympic Valley skier Bryce Bennett competed in the men’s downhill, one of alpine skiing’s fastest events. Known for long courses and high speeds, downhill races often stretch beyond a minute and a half with wide gate spacing that allows athletes to reach top velocity. Bennett finished 13th with a time of 1:53.45, just 1.84 seconds off the podium.
In the women’s giant slalom, Team USA Nina O’Brien placed 20th, clocking a combined time of 2:15.31, 1.81 seconds behind the leader in the technical two-run event.