3 Alaska Olympians Win Medals, Vie for Top Athlete Honor
Three Alaskan athletes who won medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics are competing for Alaska's top adult athlete award. The historic podium sweep includes gold, silver, and bronze medalists across Olympic and Paralympic events.
Alaska just had its best Winter Olympics ever, and now three medal-winning athletes are competing for the state's highest sporting honor.
Jeremy Swayman, Gus Schumacher, and Andrew Kurka all returned from the 2026 Milan Cortina Games with hardware around their necks. Now they're finalists for the 2026 Pride of Alaska Award, which recognizes the state's top adult athlete.
Swayman, 27, helped Team USA win its first Olympic gold medal in hockey since the legendary 1980 Miracle on Ice. The Anchorage native and Boston Bruins goaltender appeared in one game during the tournament and currently ranks fourth in the NHL with 30 wins this season.
Schumacher made history as only the third U.S. man ever to win an Olympic cross-country skiing medal. The 25-year-old from Anchorage powered through the final leg of the team sprint to claim silver alongside partner Ben Ogden, finishing a season that included three World Cup medals and a top-10 overall ranking.
Kurka brought home Paralympic bronze in super-G, capping a remarkable 16-year career. The 34-year-old Palmer native earned the honor of carrying the U.S. flag at the Closing Ceremonies and retires with three Paralympic medals, six World Championship medals, and 27 World Cup medals.
The women's division features equally impressive talent. Kristen Faulkner of Homer won three gold medals at the Pan-Am Games in cycling. Kendall Kramer of Fairbanks competed in her first Olympics and posted one of the season's best World Cup results by a U.S. woman. Sayvia Sellers of Anchorage led the University of Washington basketball team to the NCAA Tournament while racking up assists and post-season honors.
The Ripple Effect
Alaska's population of just 730,000 makes this medal haul even more remarkable. These athletes are proving that dedication and world-class training can flourish anywhere, inspiring the next generation of Alaskan competitors to dream bigger.
Winners will be announced April 16 and honored at a June 3 ceremony at the Anchorage Museum.
Based on reporting by Google News - Olympic Medal
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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