Buffs take over the Winter Olympics
By: Brontë Moore
CU Athletes: Alvar Alev, Cassidy Gary, Hugo Hickfuss, Joanne Reid, Jakob Moch, Ryder Sarchett, Stacy Gaskill competing in 25th Winter Olympics, Milano Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 2026. (Courtesy, Alpine Canada, Getty Images, International Olympic Committee)
With the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games officially coming to an end Sunday, Feb. 22, here are eight remarkable athletes who are current and alumni Buffs who competed in Italy.
Jakob Moch-
Moch is a current freshman at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and made his first Olympic debut in this year’s winter games, becoming the 45th Olympian on CU’s ski team. He competed for Germany in the men’s cross-country skiing and placed ninth overall in the Men’s Ski Team Sprint Free final. He is the first student in CU history to compete for Germany and was the second youngest athlete in the field and the youngest finisher in the top 100 in the 10k Freestyle race.
Hugo Hinckfuss-
Hinckfuss is a current senior at CU, making him the second CU undergraduate to compete in this year’s winter Olympics and also be part of CU’s ski team. This was his second appearance in the Winter Olympics, competing for Australia in cross-country skiing and skiathlon. He placed 14th overall in the Men’s Ski Team Sprint Free final, making him and his teammate the first Australian team to reach an Olympic final in the team sprint.
Alvar Alev-
Alev is a CU aulmn and former buff who competed on CU’s ski team from 2018 to 2019 in Men’s Nordic. He made his second appearance at this year’s Winter Olympics, competing for Estonia in men’s cross-country skiing and in skiathlon. He was most notable in Cross-Country Skiing Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic, placing 15th overall, and placed in the top 50 in all three of his competitions.
Ryder Sarchett-
Sarchett is a former buff who competed on CU’s ski team for alpine skiing in 2024; he was part of the NCAA championship team while at CU. He made his Winter Olympics debut this year, competing for the United States in slalom skiing. He competed in one event and placed 25th overall in Alpine Skiing Men’s Giant Slalom.
Joanne Reid-
Reid is a prominent former buff who competed on CU’s team from 2010 to 2013; she was part of the NCAA championship team in 2011 and 2013, and recently had her name added to CU’s hall of fame. This was her third and final appearance in the Winter Olympics, competing for the United States in biathlon. She placed 18th overall in the Biathlon Women’s 4 x 6km Relay final, concluding her Olympic career.
Stacy Gaskill-
Gaskill is a Colorado native and a former buff who graduated from CU in 2024; unlike other buffs who competed in skiing, she was the only buff who competed in snowboarding. This is her second appearance at the Winter Olympics, competing under the United States for snowboarding. She competed in one event and placed 14th overall in the Women’s Snowboard Cross.
Svea Irving-
Irving is a former buff who graduated from CU in 2025; while she wasn’t part of CU’s ski team, she is an incredible skier. She made her Olympic debut this year, competing for the United States in the freestyle ski halfpipe. While competing, she took a slam during her first run in the Women’s Ski Halfpipe, leaving her with a bruised hip; though, despite her injury, she still managed to place 11th overall.
Cassidy Gray-
Gray is a former buff who studied at CU in 2021. She was part of CU’s ski team, competing in alpine skiing before leaving to focus on her skiing career. This was her second appearance at the Winter Olympics, competing under Canada for alpine skiing. She competed in four events and placed 26th overall in Women’s Alpine Skiing Downhill.
Overall, each former and current buff made it to the final rounds in one or more of the events they competed in, leaving their mark at CU with another successful Olympics.