Just weeks after competing on the world stage at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Vermont’s top athletes were celebrated back home.”Being an Olympian is one of the highest honors in all of sports. And I want to congratulate you on earning this very, very worthwhile distinction. I know I speak for every Vermonter when I say it was great to watch and cheer you on,” said Gov. Phil Scott. Scott hosted a proclamation signing ceremony, recognizing the athletes’ hard work and representation of the Green Mountain State.Several athletes, coaches, and trainers were there to celebrate.”It’s really special to share this with the communities that helped support,” said Olympian Julia Kern. During the ceremony, state leaders also raised a concern about the Olympic event Nordic Combined.”Tara Geraghty-Moats is here. And she made me aware that there is still one winter sport that doesn’t have gender equality,” said John Rogers, the lieutenant governor. Now, lawmakers said they’re working on a resolution, urging international governing bodies to expand equal competition opportunities.”We now know that women’s Nordic Combined is out of the Olympic level, and it’s really time for the IOC to realize that and allow women to compete alongside the men,” Geraghty-Moats said.And moving forward, athletes said they hope to inspire the next generation of Vermonters.”At any age, it’s just about having your willpower, having your grit. And persevering through all the hard times and knowing that the work you’re putting in is always going to be worth it,” said alpine skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle. A lot of the athletes said that they are looking forward to resting during this off-season and being with their family and friends.
Just weeks after competing on the world stage at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Vermont’s top athletes were celebrated back home.
“Being an Olympian is one of the highest honors in all of sports. And I want to congratulate you on earning this very, very worthwhile distinction. I know I speak for every Vermonter when I say it was great to watch and cheer you on,” said Gov. Phil Scott.
Scott hosted a proclamation signing ceremony, recognizing the athletes’ hard work and representation of the Green Mountain State.
Several athletes, coaches, and trainers were there to celebrate.
“It’s really special to share this with the communities that helped support,” said Olympian Julia Kern.
During the ceremony, state leaders also raised a concern about the Olympic event Nordic Combined.
“Tara Geraghty-Moats is here. And she made me aware that there is still one winter sport that doesn’t have gender equality,” said John Rogers, the lieutenant governor.
Now, lawmakers said they’re working on a resolution, urging international governing bodies to expand equal competition opportunities.
“We now know that women’s Nordic Combined is out of the Olympic level, and it’s really time for the IOC to realize that and allow women to compete alongside the men,” Geraghty-Moats said.
And moving forward, athletes said they hope to inspire the next generation of Vermonters.
“At any age, it’s just about having your willpower, having your grit. And persevering through all the hard times and knowing that the work you’re putting in is always going to be worth it,” said alpine skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle.
A lot of the athletes said that they are looking forward to resting during this off-season and being with their family and friends.
