I know of only a handful of fraternity men and women who are competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics. Additions (or corrections) to this list are very welcomed as it isn’t always easy to find this information. To see the list of fraternity men who have won Olympic medals at previous Winter Olympic games, see http://wp.me/p20I1i-1q5.
Figure skater Meryl Davis, a University of Michigan Tri Delta, won a Silver medal in 2010, and Gold medal in in 2014 for ice dancing. Brita Sigourney, a Pi Beta Phi from the chapter at the University of California-Davis, will compete as a freeskier. Sophie Caldwell, a Tri Delta from Dartmouth, will compete in cross country skiing.
Julia Marino, Alpha Chi Omega (University of Colorado-Boulder), is skiing the Salomon as Paraguay’s first Winter Olympic athlete. She’s also the flag bearer for Paraguay.
Cory Butner, (UC-Riverside), will pilot one of three two-man bobsleds for the United States. Look for him during the bobsleigh competition currently scheduled to air on February 16 & 17! (read more at http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/20326)
Luke Steyn, Chi Psi (University of Colorado) is Zimbabwe’s first Winter Olympics athlete. He is competing in the slalom and giant slalom.
Tatyana McFadden, a Phi Sigma Sigma, will compete at the Paralympic games in March. She will compete in Nordic skiing. She has won several medals at the summer Olympics.
Other members of Greek-letter organizations on the ground in Sochi include:
Brian Alkire, Alpha Tau Omega (DePauw University), NBC intern.
George Bauernfeind, Sigma Nu, Director of Olympic Strategy, Sponsorship and Marketing for BP.
John Benton, Beta Theta Phi, Curling analyst (he was a member of the 2010 U.S. Men’s Curling team).
Drew Boggs, Sigma Nu (Ball State University). He’s part of Ball State University at the Games, 40 student journalists covering the games.
Allyson Burger, Pi Beta Phi (Ball State University), is also part of Ball State University at the Games.
Alex Flanagan, Gamma Phi Beta,(University of Arizona), commentator.
Tom Hammond, Kappa Alpha Order (University of Kentucky), commentator.
Todd Hays, Pi Kappa Alpha, coach of the USA Women’s Bobsled team.
Dan Hicks, Sigma Phi Epsilon (University of Arizona), commentator.
Bailey Lipschultz, Phi Delta Theta (Syracuse University). NBC intern.
Al Michaels, Sigma Nu (San Diego State University), commentator.
Jonathan Teich, Sigma Phi Epsilon (Bradley University), NBC intern.
And then there is Phi Delta Theta Robie Vaughn, who fought to bring the skeleton back to the Olympics. See http://www.phideltatheta.org/2014/02/robie-vaughn-phi-fought-bring-skeleton-back-olympic-games/
Sorority women who have won medals at previous Winter Olympics:
Meryl Davis, Delta Delta Delta (University of Michigan), Ice Dancing, Silver medal, 2010.
Vonetta Flowers, another Alpha Kappa Alpha Honorary member, is the first African American Olympic Gold medalist in bobsledding. She earned that honor at the 2002 winter games.
Jean Saubert, Alpha Chi Omega (Oregon State University) Skiing, Slalom, Bronze medal, 1964, Giant slalom, Silver medal, 1964.
Debi Thomas, now an orthopaedic surgeon, was a student at Stanford Univiersity when she won a Bronze medal in figure skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics. During her sophomore year at Stanford, she lived in the Alpha Sigma Phi house, at a time when it was accepting women as boarders, according to a 2000 interview. Thomas is an Honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Past female winter Olympic competitors who are members of a sorority include:
Anne Abernathy, Delta Delta Delta, Luge, U.S. Virgin Islands. She is known in luge circles as “Grandma Luge.” She is the oldest female athlete to compete in the Winter Olympics. The 2006 Winter Olympics were her sixth. In 2008, she was named a Delta Delta Delta Woman of Achievement.
Lucille Ash (Klee), Kappa Alpha Theta. U.S. Women’s Figure Skating team, 1956.
Bev Anderson Brockway, Kappa Alpha Theta (University of Washington), U.S. Women’s Ski team, 1960.
Rachael Flatt, Alpha Phi (Stanford University), U.S. Women’s Figure Skating team, 2010.
Dodie Post Gann, Kappa Alpha Theta (University of Nevada). She earned a spot on the 1948 ski team, but broke her ankle in practice. She went on to serve as manager of the 1956 U.S. Women’s Ski team.
Barbara Lockhart, Kappa Alpha Theta, U.S. Speed Skating team, 1960 (the first year women were allowed to compete in Speed Skating) and 1964.
Lorrie Reed Parker, Kappa Alpha Theta. Team Manager for the 2010 Olympic Figure Skating team.
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2014. All Rights Reserved.
