It’s no question that GSers come from a variety of nontraditional backgrounds–ballerinas, business owners, veterans. But did you know that many also competed for Team U.S.A. before arriving in New York City?
As the 2026 Winter Olympics approaches, here are the GS alumni who were champions both on the ice and on campus.
Sasha Cohen ‘16GS
This figure skater’s trip to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy ended with her sporting the silver medal in Women’s Figure Skating. She is also a three-time World Championship medalist and was known on the ice for her artistry and flexibility. Fun fact: Cohen is the most recent U.S.A. medalist in individual women’s figure skating! After retiring from skating in 2010, she turned her focus to GS, graduating with a degree in political science. In an interview during her time at Columbia, Cohen remarked, “There is something totally magical about the Olympics... I get wrapped up in pretty much all of it.”
2006 Winter Olympics: Sasha Cohen Short Program
Timothy Goebel ‘10GS
Known as the “Quad King” because of his jumps, Goebel’s figure skating was a force of nature. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, he took home the bronze medal in the individual event. Goebel was the first person to land a quadruple salchow jump in competition–an edge jump typically only doubled or tripled. Not only was he the first to compete this move, but over the course of his career he performed a total of 76 quadruple salchow jumps. The “Quad King” graduated from Columbia with a degree in mathematics, then earned his master’s degree from New York University. Now, the champion skater works for Google! His words to live by: “Never stop learning, and never be satisfied with the status quo” (NYU Stern).
2002 Winter Olympics: Timothy Goebel Free Skate
Maria Cruz Garcia ‘15GS
This Olympian turned GSer competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy . Along with a powerful team, she raced in the Short Track Speed Skating 3,000 meter relay, finishing in fourth place. In this sport, multiple skaters race on an oval ice track approximately 100 metres in length. Garcia is a five-time World Cup team member, , set a world record in the 500-meter relay. After retiring from skating in 2009, she turned to Columbia for her academic journey!
