Novie McCabe

Quick Facts

• Specialty: Women's Cross-Country Skiing (Sprint and Distance)
• Mother Laura McCabe is a two-time Olympian (1994 and 1998); younger sister Dashe
• University of Utah graduate
• Outdoor enthusiast who enjoys camping, backpacking and exploring new trails when not training

Biographical Information

Novie McCabe grew up in Winthrop, Washington, a small mountain community in the North Cascades known for producing Olympic athletes. Skiing has been part of her life from the earliest age, with her mother Laura—a two-time Olympian who competed in 1994 and 1998—introducing her to the sport. In third grade, McCabe wrote that she wanted to ski in the Olympics, setting her sights on a goal she would pursue with determination. She honed her skills on the Methow Trails, the largest cross-country skiing area in the country, developing the foundation for her elite career.

McCabe graduated from Liberty Bell High School, where she led the team to three straight WIAA state championships from 2016 to 2018. She earned selection to the U.S. Development Team and competed at the junior world championships, where she and teammate Sydney Palmer-Leger claimed silver in the relay, marking the highest finish by an American Under-20 quartet since the event was added to the competition schedule in 2001. 

McCabe enrolled at the University of Utah and immediately made an impact on the collegiate circuit. In her junior season, she swept the 2023 NCAA Championships in Lake Placid, New York, winning both the 5-kilometer freestyle and 20-kilometer classic races. Her three NCAA individual titles showcased her versatility across distances and techniques. She made her Olympic debut at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, competing in three events and helping Team USA finish sixth in the relay. Her world cup breakthrough came at the 2022 Tour de Ski, where she finished seventh in the final hill climb stage, one of the most challenging races on the circuit.

Since graduating from Utah, McCabe has continued to develop as a professional athlete while training with the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center. She has earned multiple top 30 FIS World Cup results and secured an 11th-place finish in the 20-kilometer skate in Falun, Sweden, establishing herself as a consistent presence in international competition. Her mother's influence remains important, though Laura now attends races as a supportive parent rather than a coach, allowing Novie to chart her own path in the sport.

Outside of skiing, McCabe enjoys camping, backpacking and exploring the outdoors, maintaining the active lifestyle that has defined her upbringing in the mountains of Washington. 

Olympic Experience

• 1-time Olympian
  • Olympic Games Beijing 2022, 6th (4 x 5km Relay - Women), 18th (30km Freestyle - Women), 24th (10km Classic Style - Women)