U.S. Ski & Snowboard released its 97-athlete Olympic roster on Thursday, highlighted by established stars Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Chloe Kim. Notably absent was Anderson, a three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic gold medalist in snowboard slopestyle. Her exclusion closes the chapter on her comeback following the births of her two daughters in the past two years.
Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill champion, will appear in her fifth Olympic Games at age 41 after a remarkable comeback over the past 18 months. Shiffrin, the most decorated alpine skier in history, is set for her fourth Olympics, while Kim, also a three-time Olympian, will pursue an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold medal in snowboarding.
“In many respects, earning a spot on this team is tougher than competing at the Olympics,” said Rick Bower, U.S. snowboard program director. “The talent pool is extremely deep, and the final selections were decided at the very last moment.”
During her return, Anderson showed encouraging signs, including a sixth-place finish in her first World Cup Big Air event in three years and winning Best Trick honors at the Rockstar Energy Open in December. Reflecting on her journey, the 35-year-old told ESPN that motherhood once seemed incompatible with a prolonged snowboarding career, but growing support for women balancing family and elite sport made her Olympic pursuit meaningful regardless of the outcome.
Her comeback, however, was disrupted by injuries. Anderson fractured her right wrist during a September training camp in New Zealand and later suffered a concussion and hip bruise after a fall at the Aspen Grand Prix in early January. With the U.S. securing only three of the four available quota spots in women’s slopestyle, the team will send three Olympic debutants to Italy: Lily Dhawornvej, Hahna Norman, and Jess Perlmutter.
On the men’s side, the snowboard team will feature 2018 slopestyle Olympic champion Red Gerard, veteran snowboard cross racer Nick Baumgartner, who earned his first Olympic gold at age 40 in Beijingand 17-year-old halfpipe contender Alessandro Barbieri.
In freeskiing, four-time Olympian Nick Goepper leads a formidable halfpipe squad after transitioning from slopestyle earlier in the quadrennial. He is joined by two-time Olympic medalist Alex Ferreira, first-time Olympian Hunter Hess, and Birk Irving, whose sister Svea Irving also qualified in freeski halfpipe. Defending Olympic freeski slopestyle champion Alex Hall will compete in his third Games.
Goepper emphasized the level required to win in Italy, noting that success will demand full health, ultra-technical tricks, and resilience at the highest level of competition.
In cross-country skiing, Jessie Diggins a three-time Olympic medalist will compete in her fourth and final Olympics, while aerials skier Chris Lillis returns after winning gold in 2022.
Skiers and snowboarders accounted for 15 of the United States’ 25 medals at the Beijing Games and will represent nearly half of the American delegation heading to Milan-Cortina.
Vonn’s return from a partial knee replacement last season has been swift and convincing. She has already claimed two World Cup downhill victories this season, increasing her career total to 84 wins, and is expected to contend strongly in the speed events.
Shiffrin enters the Games seeking redemption after failing to medal four years ago. She previously won Olympic gold in slalom at the 2014 Sochi Games and in giant slalom at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
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