Michigan Skiers Kuhn and Vinecki Return to 2026 Olympics

A first-ever World Cup victory at just the right moment has Boyne City's Kaila Kuhn flying high into the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 22-year-old freestyle aerial skier couldn't have timed her breakthrough win better, claiming gold in Lake Placid just weeks before heading to Milano Cortina.

Kuhn's Lake Placid triumph pushed her to third in overall World Cup standings and first among American competitors with 279 points. Her teammate and fellow northern Michigan native Winter Vinecki, 27, from Gaylord also secured her Olympic spot with a Canadian World Cup victory this season, finishing fourth overall with 274 points.

"There is no better place where I would want to get my first World Cup win," Kuhn said after her victory. "Going into the Olympics this year with this win in the back of my mind is a huge confidence boost."

Both athletes are Olympic veterans returning for their second Games after competing in Beijing 2022, where Kuhn placed eighth and Vinecki finished 15th in aerial events. This time they're bringing championship-level momentum and the experience of competing on the world's biggest stage.

The duo represents two of eight Michigan athletes competing for Team USA in Italy. The group includes figure skaters from Northville, Novi, Saint Clair, and Grosse Pointe Farms, plus ice hockey players from Farmington Hills and Plymouth.

Why This Inspires

Small town roots don't limit big dreams. Kuhn graduated from Boyne City High School just three years ago, and now she's standing on World Cup podiums alongside the planet's best aerial skiers. Vinecki's journey from Gaylord to global competition shows that world-class training grounds exist in northern Michigan's snowy landscape.

Their parallel paths prove that dedication and the right environment can launch athletes from any hometown to Olympic glory. Both women train in Lake Placid alongside Team USA's aerial squad, constantly pushing each other to new heights, literally launching themselves skyward in their sport's breathtaking acrobatic competitions.

Women's freestyle skiing events run from February 14 through 21 at the Milano Cortina Games, which open February 6. Kuhn and Vinecki will carry not just Michigan pride but also the momentum of their best competitive season yet into Italy's mountains.