The Beijing Olympics are starting this week (Fri., Feb. 4-Sun., Feb. 20) and to get you excited about all of the athletic talent competing this year, we’ve put together a list of six Portland + Oregon athletes to watch this winter.
Check out the schedule + plan your Olympic events watch party in advance. And, don’t forget the Paralympic Games are Fri., March 4-Sun., March 13.
⛷️ Jackie Wiles | Alpine Skiing (Downhill) | Portland, OR
This two-time Olympian learned to ski when she was 2, and by age 5, she was doing it competitively. Wiles was born in Portland + graduated from Canby High School, and though an injury forced her to miss the PyeongChang Games in 2018, she did place 26th in Sochi. With five career top 10 World Cup finishes, including two podium appearances, she looks to build off a recent best — finishing 14th in Italy on Jan. 22.
🏒 Rico Roman | Sled Hockey (Forward) | Portland, OR
When Roman was wounded by an improvised explosive device during his third tour in Iraq, his leg had to be amputated above the knee. Now, 15 years later, the retired Army Staff Sergeant — who is already a Purple Heart recipient + two-time gold medal winner — is looking to push his team to another top finish at the Paralympic Games.
🎿 Asa Miller | Alpine Skiing (Slalom + Giant Slalom) | Portland, OR
As the only athlete to represent The Philippines in the 2022 Winter Olympics, Miller has the honor of bearing the country’s flag in both the Opening + Closing Ceremonies. He was born in Portland and attended Lincoln High School, but now trains in Snowbird, UT.
⛷️ Luke Winters | Alpine Skiing (Slalom) | Gresham, OR
From learning to ski on Mt. Hood, to making his Olympic debut in Beijing, the Gresham native looks to build on past successes, like earning a bronze medal in super-G at the Junior World Championships (2018), and winning his first national championship title in Sugarloaf, Maine (2019).
🏂 Sean Fitzsimons | Snowboarding (Slopestyle) | Hood River, OR
The 21-year-old snowboarder’s talents don’t stop at slopestyle (he also excels at halfpipe + big air) or snowboarding, for that matter — Fitzsimons also skateboards and kiteboards. But, after winning a World Cup title at the 2022 Laax Open in Switzerland, he gets to add Olympian to the resume.
🎿 Tommy Ford | Alpine Skiing (Giant Slalom) | Bend, OR
Looking to rebound from a serious knee injury suffered at a World Cup Race in Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2021, Ford has his sights set on a strong showing in 2022. The Olympian lives in Bend and trains on Mt. Bachelor, and has competed at the 2010 Vancouver + 2018 PyeongChang Games.
Pro tip: If you don’t have cable + are looking for ways to stream your favorite events, here’s how.