History on the Slopes, Pride Across Campus
Emma Gatcliffe ’27 spent years dreaming about the Olympics. This winter, that dream carried her from the North Country to one of the world’s biggest sporting stages—and made history along the way.
Representing Trinidad and Tobago in Alpine skiing at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Gatcliffe became the first woman ever to compete for the Caribbean nation at the Winter Games. She also served as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s flag bearers during the Opening Ceremony, a fitting honor for an athlete whose Olympic journey inspired not only her home country but the entire St. Lawrence community.
Gatcliffe competed in two Alpine events at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, highlighted by a 45th-place finish in the giant slalom. For the Saints skier, the results marked the culmination of a lifelong ambition that she had described before leaving campus as “a dream of mine since I was a little kid.”
The excitement surrounding her Olympic debut began well before the Opening Ceremony. A crowd of students, faculty, and staff gathered outside her sorority house, Kappa Kappa Gamma, to cheer as Gatcliffe departed for Italy, escorted to the airport by local police and fire departments in a celebration that reflected the pride felt across campus and the Canton community.
Head Alpine Skiing Coach Willi Steinrotter said Gatcliffe’s achievement represented every competitor’s ultimate aspiration.“It’s every athlete’s dream to represent their country,” he says. “It’s very fulfilling to see Emma achieve her dream.”
Gatcliffe was one of an extraordinary 11 Laurentians—including athletes, coaches, and team executives—who participated in the Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games while representing five nations across Alpine skiing, hockey, skeleton, and Nordic skiing.
Women’s hockey once again showcased St. Lawrence’s international reach. Julia Gosling ’24 helped represent Canada, while Kristen Guerriero ’22 and Justine Reyes ’19 skated for Italy. Incoming first-year Barbora Juříčková ’30 competed for Czechia, with Britni Smith ’10 serving as an assistant coach for Canada and Gina Kingsbury ’04 leading the program as general manager.
James Gatcliffe ’26 joined his sister in Italy as a coach for Trinidad and Tobago’s Alpine skiing team, while Kelly Curtis M’14 made her second Olympic appearance for Team USA in skeleton, finishing 12th after becoming the first Black athlete to represent the United States in the sport at the previous Winter Games. Leslie Stratton ’14 served as a skeleton coach for Czechia, and three-time Paralympic medalist Sydney Peterson ’24 returned to the Paralympic stage in Nordic skiing.
The remarkable Laurentian contingent also drew national attention to St. Lawrence. U.S. News & World Report recognized the University among the nation’s leaders in Winter Olympian representation, while NBC Sports, NCAA.com, NBC10 Philadelphia, WWNY-TV, North Country Now, NNY360, and other outlets highlighted the accomplishments of Laurentian athletes and coaches throughout the Winter Olympic Games.
The Milano Cortina Olympic Games offered another reminder that Laurentian ambition knows no geographic boundaries. Whether competing on the slopes, behind the bench, or helping lead national teams, the Saints once again demonstrated that Olympic excellence—and global impact—can begin in Canton.
