The Olympics
Harvard and the Olympics
Since the first modern games in 1896, Harvard athletes have taken part in the Olympics, winning more than 150 medals for countries across the globe.
Winter 2026 athletes
These Harvard athletes will compete in the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
Kristin Della Rovere
Harvard College alum Kristin joins the Italian National Women’s Ice Hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics after helping Italy win the Women’s World 1-B Championship last year.
Rémi Drolet
Harvard College alum Rémi earned a spot on the roster of Team Canada for cross-country skiing. He also competed for Team Canada at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Emerance Maschmeyer
Harvard College alum Emerance joins Team Canada’s Women’s Ice Hockey team. This is her second appearance in an Olympic tournament after competing with the Canadians at the 2022 games in Beijing.
Tess Johnson
Harvard Extension School student Tess joins Team USA in Italy for freestyle moguls. Tess also competed in PyeongChang in 2018.
The Paris report
Harvard athletes won a record-breaking 13 medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lauren Scruggs
Cementing herself in American fencing history, Lauren Scruggs earned two Olympic medals in Paris.
Kristen Faulkner
Kristen Faulkner’s gold in the women’s road race was Team USA’s first in the event since 1984.
Lisa Tertsch
Along with her teammates, Lisa Tertsch led Germany to its first ever gold medal in the triathlon mixed relay event.
David Abrahams
David Abrahams took fifth place in the 100-meter breaststroke SB13 at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Olympic history and Harvard
For more than 100 years, Harvard has been part of the worldwide competitions.
Olympic Harvard Stadium
In 1984, Harvard Stadium was host to a series of Olympic soccer preliminary matches involving Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Brazil, France, Iraq, Norway, Qatar, and Yugoslavia.
Harvard Olympians
These are just some of the athletes who have played an integral role in the Olympics and Paralympics for more than a century.
James Connolly had to take an “honourable withdrawal” from Harvard to attend the first modern Olympics in 1896, where he placed first in the triple jump and earned several other track and field awards.
Harvard College alum Cheta Emba competed in women’s rugby on Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in the second-ever Olympic appearance for rugby sevens.
After earning two graduate degrees—one from Harvard Kennedy School and one from Harvard Divinity School—Dan traveled to China in 2022 for his third Paralympic Games, competing in cross-country skiing and biathlon.
The 1968 Olympic gold medalist for Great Britain—and world record holder in the 400 meter hurdles—began work on a master’s in education while deep into his training for the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Jennifer Botterill skated with the Harvard Crimson from 1998 to 2003, taking a one-year break in 2002 to help Team Canada win gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Learning from the Olympics
I’ve always been pretty obsessed with the Olympics. I think they’re incredible, a time of great hope.”Harvard Kennedy School alum Jamie Mittelman, founder of Flame Bearers, the first and only global storytelling platform for women Olympians and Paralympians
Commercializing the Olympics
Harvard Business School professor explains how Adidas created the first sports sponsorships for the Olympics.
Mental health and competition
Anxiety can take a toll on athletic performance, especially at high stakes events like the Olympics.
Olympic monuments
Cities hosting the Olympics should practice legacy planning, solving present needs with an awareness of future generations.
Competitive edge
Practice might get you to the Olympics, but mental preparation may be what puts you on the podium.
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