Through COVID haze, Alaska’s Olympic contingent eyes medals in Beijing.
2022 Olympians with ties to Alaska. From upper left: Rosie Brennan, Hunter Church, Brian Cooper, Hannah Halvorsen, Luke Jager, Keegan Messing, Caitlin Patterson. From bottom left: Scott Patterson, Vicky Persinger, JC Schoonmaker, Gus Schumacher, Hailey Swirbul, Casey Wright, Jessica Yeaton.
But over the next few weeks, the spotlight at the Games will likely shift to competitions — and the bevy of participating Alaskans will have a chance to tell their own stories. ADN reporter Nat Herz is traveling to China to cover Alaska’s athletes and writing regular dispatches from the Games. Visit adn.com for the latest on the Alaska athletes competing.Alaska can lay claim to more than half of America’s cross-country skiing squad in Beijing, as eight of the 14 athletes have ties to the state.
Brennan is a medal contender in several Olympic events — there are six cross-country competitions — but her recent success in the sport has come only after pressing on through injuries and being cut from the U.S. Ski Team, twice. She has a podium finish on the top-level World Cup circuit from earlier this season.