20
Boise, ID
Samantha "Sammy" Smith's introduction to Nordic skiing came through following her older sister Logan into the sport. Homeschooled in Sun Valley during winter months to maximize training time, Smith developed her skills in multiple winter disciplines before focusing on cross-country skiing after a tibial fracture made mogul skiing too impactful.
Smith made her world cup debut in Norway in March 2023 as the youngest woman in the field by two years. In just her third career world cup race, she advanced to the quarterfinals of a sprint, competing against reigning Olympic gold medalist Jonna Sundling and the season's top overall skier. At the 2024 FIS Ski Junior World Championships in Planica, Slovenia, Smith captured silver in the freestyle sprint, marking the best-ever sprint result for any American at the junior world championships, and only the second silver medal the American women have historically won at the championships.
Smith's rapid ascent continued as she was promoted to the U.S. Ski Team A Team for the 2024-25 season, becoming one of the youngest American skiers to reach the top tier. She has recorded multiple top 30 FIS World Cup finishes and earned the U.S. Nordic Olympic Women Gold Rush Award, which recognizes grit and grace beyond race results. The award acknowledged not only her athletic achievements but also her ability to balance skiing, soccer and academics while remaining a supportive teammate. In January 2025, after just one week on snow following Stanford's soccer season, Smith won the U.S. national championship in the classic sprint.
Smith's soccer credentials are equally impressive. She represented the United States at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India, scoring two goals in group play. She served as a captain for the U.S. team at the 2023 Pan American Games, where the squad earned bronze. At Stanford, she has helped the Cardinal reach the NCAA tournament semifinals and College Cup, competing alongside her sister Logan on one of the nation's premier programs.
Beyond her athletic pursuits, Smith has demonstrated a commitment to service through GO BIG Inc., a nonprofit she co-founded with her siblings and mother. The organization's name stands for "Giving Opportunity By Inspiring Gratitude," and it provides underprivileged youth in the Boise community with mentorship, educational resources and athletic equipment. Through book drives, swim clinics and other initiatives, GO BIG aims to create opportunities for young people who lack the resources and comforts that Smith and her siblings enjoyed growing up. Her coaches at both Stanford and Sun Valley have praised not only her exceptional athletic abilities but also her character, work ethic and dedication to helping others. Whether representing the United States on snow or grass, Smith exemplifies the values of perseverance, gratitude and giving back to the community.
Cross-country skiing was held in 1924 at the first Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, France. Men competed 18-kilometer and 50-kilometer races, and the Scandinavian countries dominated until the Soviet Union entered the playing field at the 1956 Winter ...
The 2025 national champion in the classic sprint race is seeking a roster spot for Milano-Cortina 2026.
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It is a golden opportunity for more than 1,800 teenage athletes from 78 countries to gain invaluable life experience and further their athletic pursuits, all of which may serve as a launching pad to greater sporting endeavors as they compete at the Win...
