Clarkson Among NCAA Leaders in Athlete Representation at 2026 Winter Olympics

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Clarkson University is among the nation's leaders in collegiate representation at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with 11 current and former student-athletes competing, the fifth-highest total among NCAA institutions.

Clarkson trails only Ohio State, Boston University, Minnesota and Wisconsin among NCAA schools in number of Olympians. The University's Olympic presence includes 10 ice hockey players from its men's and women's programs and one former alpine skier competing in skeleton, highlighting Clarkson's strength across winter sports.

Clarkson also ranks among the NCAA leaders in the number of countries represented at the Games. The University is tied for second nationally with athletes competing for six countries, trailing only the University of Maine, which has seven. Alaska Fairbanks and Minnesota Duluth are the only other NCAA institutions with athletes representing six countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Clarkson's hockey Olympians span six nations. Canada leads the group with three athletes, as Renata Fast, Erin Ambrose and Ella Shelton will compete for Team Canada on the women's side. Czechia is represented by Andrea Trnkova and Michaela Pejzova, while Germany has two former Clarkson players in men's hockey, with Nico Sturm and Lukas Kalble skating for their country.

Additional Clarkson hockey athletes competing in the Games include Haley Winn representing the United States, Manon le Scodan skating for France, and Haralds Egle competing for Latvia, further illustrating the international scope of Clarkson Athletics.

Beyond hockey, Clarkson is also represented in sliding sports. Austin Florian, a former Clarkson alpine skier, is competing for the United States in men's skeleton after transitioning to the discipline following his collegiate career.

"This is an extraordinary achievement for Clarkson University and a testament to the dedication and excellence of our student-athletes," said Laurel Kane, Director of Athletics and Recreation. "Seeing Golden Knights represent so many countries on the Olympic stage reflects the strength of our programs and the reach of Clarkson Athletics."

According to the NCAA, hundreds of current and former student-athletes with collegiate ties are competing in the 2026 Winter Games, highlighting the NCAA's role in developing elite Olympic talent.

Clarkson University will proudly support its Olympians throughout the Games as they compete on the world's biggest stage.