Slalom skier Paula Moltzan of Prior Lake was nominated for the U.S. Olympic Alpine skiing team for the Beijing Olympics on Friday, bringing the number of athletes with Minnesota ties on the American team to 30. Moltzan, who trained at Buck Hill until she was 16, will be competing in her first Olympics at age 27. The opening ceremony in Beijing is Feb. 4.
Minnesotans in the 2022 Winter Olympics
As of Friday, the Minnesota contingent of Team USA includes 30 athletes in sports from curling to biathlon.
January 21, 2022 at 9:45PM
Here are the athletes with Minnesota ties on the U.S. team:
MEN'S CURLING: John Shuster (Chisholm), John Landsteiner (Duluth), Chris Plys (Duluth)
WOMEN'S CURLING: Tabitha Peterson (Eagan), Tara Peterson (Eagan), Aileen Geving (Duluth)
MIXED DOUBLES CURLING: Plys
BIATHLON: Jake Brown (St. Paul), Paul Schommer (College of St. Scholastica), Leif Nordgren (Marine on St. Croix)
LONG TRACK SPEEDSKATING: Giorgia Birkeland (White Bear Lake)
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights/Gophers), Megan Bozek (Gophers), Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth/Gophers), Amanda Kessel (Gophers), Abbey Murphy (Gophers), Kelly Pannek (Plymouth/Gophers), Maddie Rooney (Andover/Minnesota Duluth), Lee Stecklein (Roseville/Gophers), Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior/Gophers)
MEN'S HOCKEY: Noah Cates (Stillwater/Minnesota Duluth); Brock Faber (Maple Grove/Gophers); Drew Helleson (Farmington); Sam Hentges (New Brighton/St. Cloud State); Matthew Knies (Gophers); Ben Meyers (Delano/Gophers); Aaron Ness (Roseau/Gophers); Nick Perbix (Elk River/St. Cloud State); Nathan Smith (Minnesota State Mankato)
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Jessie Diggins (Afton)
ALPINE SKIING: Paula Moltzan (Prior Lake)
The Afton, Minnesota native talks success, pressure, focus, and fun in this Q & A.
