SALT LAKE CITY– Westminster’s long-standing Olympic legacy continued this spring at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, where 6 Olympians and 2 Paralympians with Westminster ties competed in a variety of winter sports and earned two Olympic medals. In addition, 2 Griffins and former Olympic athletes participated as announcers, continuing Westminster’s relationship with the institution.
2026 Paralympian and recent Westminster University graduate, Mikey O’Hearn, shared that before he was born, his parents were told he wouldn’t survive birth. After he was born, they were told he would never walk. These diagnoses proved to be incorrect, and Mikey trained hard to qualify for the Paralympics in alpine skiing. Through skiing, Mikey found support from his family and community and a sense of purpose.
“Ski racing is my purpose. My sanctuary and my happy place. My anatomical freedom. The introspection, the peace, the breath, and the adrenaline in the same beat. I’ve worked tirelessly to reach this milestone and it’s completely surreal. I’m so proud. I’ve given everything to this sport and in return it’s given me everything,” Mikey said.
The Griffins brought home two medals this year, both in alpine skiing: Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who secured the silver medal in men’s super-G, and Jacqueline Wiles, who scored the bronze medal in the women’s team combined event.
Ryan Cochran-Siegle reflected on his Olympic-medal winning run in an interview with Team USA:
“I try to take a moment every race to appreciate my run and not let me determine how my race went based on what I see on the scoreboard. I felt a wave of emotion by the time that this race was over, and I felt like I actually knew I got second. It was more even-keeled rather than just crossing the finish line and seeing the green light and being like, ‘You just won an Olympic medal’.”
After her bronze medal win in the women’s combined event with teammate Paula Moltzan, Jaqueline Wiles described the feeling in an interview with The Oregonian:
“This is a feeling I’ll never forget. I’m beyond honored to be skiing for my country, my family and friends, and just to share this with Paula is a dream.”
Westminster’s Olympic legacy is sure to continue in 2034, when Utah will host the Winter Olympic Games. Thanks to Westminster’s renewed partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard—which aims to support Olympic athletes in their educational and athletic careers—Westminster students who are working towards the Olympics will be supported in every step of their journey.
Olympic medalist (Sochi 2014) and 2026 Olympic announcer, Devin Logan, spoke about her time at Westminster University at an event celebrating Westminster’s renewed partnership with U.S. Ski and Snowboard.
“That’s the thing about Westminster. Just like our coaches, the staff and professors push us to be our best, on and off the slopes. They care deeply about who you are as a person and who you’re becoming beyond your sport. When I walked across the stage at graduation, it felt just as powerful as standing up on that Olympic podium.”
2026 Olympic Participants with Westminster Connections
Olympics
Alpine Skiing
- Bryce Bennett
- Ryan Cochran-Siegle – Silver (Men’s Super-G)
- Jacqueline Wiles – Bronze (Women’s Team Combined)
Freeski Halfpipe
- Alex Ferreira
- Nick Goepper
Snowboard Cross
- Faye Thelen
Paralympics
Alpine Skiing
- Andrew Haraghey
- Mikey O’Hearn
Olympic Announcers:
- Hannah Kearney – Gold (Women’s Freestyle Skiing, Vancouver 2010), Bronze (Women’s Freestyle Skiing, Sochi 2014)
- Devin Logan – Silver (Women’s Slopestyle, Sochi 2014)
