[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S678-S679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING VERMONT OLYMPIANS AND MEDAL WINNERS

  Mr. WELCH. Mr. President, I join with Vermonters in celebrating the 
exceptional Vermont athletes who represented the United States at the 
2026 Winter Olympic Games. Our State's athletes competed with great 
distinction, earning seven medals. The State of Vermont has a proud 
tradition of producing world-class athletes, and the 2026 Games were a 
powerful testament to that legacy.
  Athletes with Vermont roots and connections won seven medals at the 
games, representing more than 20 percent of all medals earned by Team 
USA. Vermont's contribution to American Olympic success this year was 
historic by any measure.
  Across alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and freestyle 
disciplines, Vermont athletes competed at the highest level and 
delivered performances that will be remembered for years to come. These 
achievements did not happen overnight. They are the result of years of 
rigorous training, personal sacrifice, and an unrelenting commitment to 
excellence--supported by the world-class coaches and ski schools and 
training programs that Vermont has long been proud to call its own.
  I congratulate Ben Ogden, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Mac Forehand, Jessie 
Diggins, Paula Moltzan, and Mikaela Shiffrin for medaling. I also 
applaud Julia Kern, Jess Perlmutter, Jack Young, Sean Doherty, Margie 
Freed, Maxime Germain, Olivia Giaccio, Deedra Irwin, Lauren Jortberg, 
and Nina O'Brien for competing and making Vermont proud.
  The Winter Games are a reminder of why our winter sports and outdoor 
recreation communities are so vital to the identity and economy of our 
State. Vermont's ski areas, trails, and training programs are not only 
excellent athletic institutions, but they are also the reason 
generations of young Vermonters have grown up with a love of the 
outdoors.
  We are deeply proud of all our Vermont athletes have achieved, and we 
wish them continued success as they pursue the next chapters of their 
athletic careers and beyond. Their accomplishments will inspire young 
skiers and outdoor enthusiasts across Vermont for generations to come 
and serve as a lasting reminder of what is possible when talent and the 
spirit of the Green Mountains come together on the world's greatest 
stage.

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