Winter Olympics: What to know about Team USA’s NorCal athletes
It’s just about showtime for the thousands of athletes who qualified for the Winter Olympics next month in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
The XXV Winter Olympiad runs from Feb. 6-22 and will include Northern California stars such as Oakland figure skater Alysa Liu and the youngest member of Team USA’s ski/snowboard roster, 15-year-old Abby Winterberger of Truckee, who competes in freestyle halfpipe skiing.
In all, eight Northern California athletes will represent the United States, including three from the Bay Area.
Here is a closer look at the eight:
Bryce Bennett, Alpine Skiing, Truckee
Age: 33
What to know: This will be his third Olympic Games. Took 16th in the downhill and 17th in the Super Combined at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018 and 19th in the downhill and 17th in the Super G at the Beijing Games in 2022.
Keely Cashman, Alpine Skiing, Strawberry (Tuolumne County)
Age: 26
What to know: Population of her hometown is 86. Also made the Olympic team in 2022, finishing 17th in the downhill and 27th in the Super G. When she’s not skiing, she works as a barista at her family’s coffee shop.
Amelia Josephine (AJ) Hurt, Alpine Skiing, Carnelian Bay
Age: 25
What to know: Competing in her second consecutive Olympic Games. Finished 13th in the Giant Slalom at the World Championships in 2025. Became hooked on skiing because her dad was a ski patrol at Palisades Tahoe.
Alysa Liu, Figure Skating, Oakland
Age: 20
What to know: Gold medal favorite. Retired in 2022 but returned to finish first at the World Championships in 2025.
Nina O’Brien, Alpine Skiing, San Francisco
Age: 28
What to know: Specialty events are Giant Slalom and Slalom. Competed at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 and was part of a team that won gold at the World Championships in 2023.
Anthony Ponomarenko, Figure Skating, San Jose
Age: 25
What to know: Raised in Morgan Hill. Parents Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko are former Soviet ice dancing stars. Competes in ice dancing with longtime partner Christina Carreira.
JC Schoonmaker, Cross-Country Skiing, Tahoe City
Age: 25
What to know: Appearing in his second Olympics. Finished ninth in Team Sprint Classic Style and 15th in Sprint Freestyle at the Beijing Games in 2022.
Abby Winterberger, Freestyle Skiing, Truckee
Age: 15
What to know: The youngest of the 97 skiers and snowboarders who qualified for the U.S. Olympic team. Believed to be the only club-level athlete to directly qualify for the Games.