Honoring CO 2026 Winter Olympians & Paralympians

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-008

BY SENATOR(S) Roberts, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Bridges, Bright, Carson, Catlin, Cutter, Exum, Frizell, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Lindstedt, Liston, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Mullica, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Rodriguez, Simpson, Snyder, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Zamora Wilson, Coleman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) McCluskie and Lukens, Bacon, Barron, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley, Brooks, Brown, Caldwell, Camacho, Clifford, DeGraaf, Duran, Espenoza, Flanell, Froelich, Garcia, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Goldstein, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson, Joseph, Keltie, Lieder, Lindsay, Luck, Marshall, Martinez, Mauro, McCormick, Nguyen, Paschal, Phillips, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Slaugh, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Suckla, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Willford, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Zokaie.

CONCERNING HONORJNG COLORADO'S 2026 WINTER OLYMPIANS AND PARALYMPIANS.

WHEREAS, The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games represent the highest level of international athletic competition, celebrating excellence, perseverance, sportsmanship, and the unifying power of sport; and WHEREAS, Colorado has long been a national leader in winter sports, with world-class mountain terrain, training facilities, and a strong outdoor recreation culture that help develop athletes capable of competing on the international stage; and WHEREAS, Athletes from Colorado who qualified for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games demonstrate extraordinary dedication, discipline, and resilience, often training for years while balancing education, employment, and commitments to their families and communities; and

WHEREAS, While wearing the uniform of the United States of America and competing before a global audience, Colorado's Olympic and Paralympic athletes proudly represent our nation with honor and distinction, serving as ambassadors for American values including perseverance, teamwork, fair competition, and respect for others while also representing the state of Colorado and their hometowns, many of them rural and mountain communities; and WHEREAS, Colorado is home to nationally and internationally recognized training facilities that support elite athletic development, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team training center at Copper Mountain in Summit County, and numerous additional venues across the state that are regularly used by U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams; and WHEREAS, The following athletes, each of whom has a meaningful connection to the state of Colorado, qualified for and are competing in the 2026 Olympic or Paralympic Winter Games: • Annika Belshaw, Steamboat Springs, Ski Jumping; • Chase Blackwell, Longmont, Snowboarding; • Jake Canter, Silverthorne, Snowboarding; • Jason Colby, Steamboat Springs, Ski Jumping; • Lily Dhawornvej, Copper Mountain, Snowboarding; • Alex Ferreira, Aspen, Freestyle Skiing; • Stacy Gaskill, Golden, Snowboarding; • Red Gerard, Silverthorne, Snowboarding; • Birk Irving, Winter Park, Freestyle Skiing; • Svea Irving, Winter Park, Freestyle Skiing; • Riley Jacobs, Oak Creek, Freestyle Skiing; • Tess Johnson, Vail, Freestyle Skiing; • Malik Jones, Aurora, Sled Hockey; • Lauren Jortberg, Boulder, Cross-Country Skiing; • Ellie Kam, Colorado Springs, Figure Skating; • Elizabeth Lemley, Vail, Freestyle Skiing; • Niklas Malacinski, Steamboat Springs, Nordic Combined; • Oliver Martin, Vail, Snowboarding; • Charlie Mickel, Durango, Freestyle Skiing; • Kyle Negomir, Littleton, Alpine Skiing;

Nina O'Brien, Denver, Alpine Skiing; Danny O'Shea, Colorado Springs, Figure Skating; Jake Pates, Eagle, Snowboarding; Hunter Powell, Fort Collins, Bobsled; River Radamus, Edwards, Alpine Skiing; Madeline Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, Snowboarding; Mikaela Shiffrin, Edwards, Alpine Skiing; Jaccob Slavin, Erie, Ice Hockey; Cam Smith, Crested Butte, Ski Mountaineering; Hailey Swirbul, El J ebel, Cross-Country Skiing; Lindsey V onn, Vail, Alpine Skiing; Landon Wendler, Steamboat Springs, Freestyle Skiing; and Cody Winters, Steamboat Springs, Snowboarding; and

WHEREAS, The accomplishments of these athletes reflect not only individual excellence, but also the extraordinary commitment and sacrifice of their parents and families, as well as the strength of the communities, training institutions, and public investments that support athletic development in Colorado and across the United States; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly: ( 1) Hereby honor and commend the Colorado athletes who qualified for and are competing in the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, recognizing their exceptional achievements and their service in representing the United States of America and the state of Colorado with honor on the world stage; and (2) Express our sincere appreciation to the parents and families of these athletes, whose unwavering support, sacrifice, and encouragement made these achievements possible, as well as to the coaches, trainers, support staff, communities, and training facilities across Colorado that helped prepare these athletes to compete at the highest international level.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to each Colorado athlete who competes in the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, with the congratulations and best wishes of the Colorado General Assembly.

James Rashad Coleman Sr. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Julie McCluskie SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Esther van Mourik SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

Vanessa Reilly CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES