Lindsey Vonn and Others Named "Athlete of the Year" in US Ski Team Awards
Alongside its partner Stifel, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is honoring its athletes after a big season that saw Americans pushing for a shot at Olympic glory.
The awards, which include cash courtesy of Stifel, recognize everyone from the best overall athlete in a given discipline to standout coaches. The winners, said U.S. Ski & Snowboard chief of sport Anouk Patty in a news release, "are incredibly deserving of this recognition for everything they accomplished throughout the 2025-26 season."
The Winter Olympics appeared to be a significant factor in the selection criteria.
For one, among the alpine skiers, Lindsey Vonn was named the women's athlete of the year. She had a remarkable and bittersweet season, coming back to racing in her 40s and putting on a clinic in the downhill and super-G races leading up to the Olympics.
A last-minute ACL tear called her chance at Olympic gold into question, but Vonn chose to compete anyway. Her bid on the Italian downhill course was cut short, though, as Vonn crashed hard, seriously injuring her lower body (Vonn has said her ACL wasn't responsible for the crash-instead, she clipped a gate).
Reappearing in the start gate post-retirement also made Vonn a sensible fit for another Stifel award: best comeback.
Among the freeskiing men, Mac Forehand, who took Olympic silver in Big Air, earned the best athlete title. That category's comeback award went to Hunter Hess, who dealt with a long list of injuries as he competed in Olympic halfpipe.
"This season was marked by outstanding performances across all of our teams and that success would not be possible without the dedication of the athletes, coaches and staff working behind the scenes every day," said Patty. "We're grateful to Stifel for continuing to celebrate and support the people who make these achievements possible."
Here's a look at the full list of awardees.
Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team
- Athlete of the Year: Lindsey Vonn, Ryan Cochran-Siegle
- Rookie of the Year: Elisabeth Bocock, Jevin Palmquist
- Most Improved: Mary Bocock, Kyle Negomir
- Best Comeback: Lindsey Vonn, Erik Arvidsson
- Coach of the Year: Kip Spangler
Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team
- Athlete of the Year: Jessie Diggins, Ben Ogden
- Rookie of the Year: Sammy Smith, Murphy Kimball
- Most Improved: Kendall Kramer, Zak Ketterson
- Best Comeback: Novie McCabe, Ben Ogden
- Coach of the Year: Matt Whitcomb
Stifel U.S. Freeski Team
- Athlete of the Year: Grace Henderson, Mac Forehand
- Best Comeback: Rell Harwood, Hunter Hess
- Most Improved: Avery Krumme, Konnor Ralph
- Rookie of the Year: Avery Krumme, Henry Townshend
- Coach of the Year: Ryan Wyble
Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team - aerials
- Athlete of the Year: Chris Lillis
- Rookie of the Year: Kyra Dossa
- Most Improved: Connor Curran
- Best Comeback: Winter Vinecki
- Coach of the Year: Walter Crijanovschi
Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team - moguls
- Athlete of the Year: Olivia Giaccio
- Rookie of the Year: Abby McLarnon
- Most Improved: Landon Wendler
- Best Comeback: Liz Lemley
- Coach of the Year: Bryon Wilson
Stifel U.S. Nordic Combined Team
- Athlete of the Year: Alexa Brabec, Niklas Malacinski
- Best Comeback: Tara Geraghty-Moats, Erik Lynch
- Most Improved: Alexa Brabec, Niklas Malacinski
- Coach of the Year: Emil Vilhelmsen
Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team
- Athlete of the Year: Patrick Halgren
- Rookie of the Year: Meg Gustafson
- Most Improved: Anna Soens
Stifel U.S. Ski Jumping Team
- Athlete of the Year: Annika Belshaw, Kevin Bickner
- Best Comeback: Josie Johnson, Kevin Bickner
- Most Improved: Sandra Sproch, Jason Colby
- Rookie of the Year: Josie Johnson, Jason Colby
- Coach of the Year: Karl Vegard Andersen
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 3:31 AM.