They’ve become a fixture, a vital part of our community, and now they are being rewarded for their performances both on and off the mountainsides, ski slopes and ice sheets of Utah. Hundreds of Olympic Winter Games hopefuls live and train along the Wasatch Front, looking forward to the future with dreams that also involve education.
Salt Lake Community College has launched its Beyond the Podium Program, supporting world-class athletes as they train. The school is now partnered with US Speedskating, who SLCC has worked with for years, along with USA Climbing and U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Working with the national governing bodies for all three sports is designed to help both current and future athletes pursue excellence in the classroom as well as in their sports.
To support these athletes, SLCC is offering tuition-free education and career counseling, made possible through the generosity of donors. The college’s flexible class schedules allow them to pursue a degree while managing the demands of intense training and frequent travel as they compete for a spot on Team USA. Through the College’s Exercise Science Program, these athletes also have access to nutrition guidance and high-performance testing to gather real-time data to optimize their performance.
“We are honored to play a supportive role in the lives of these athletes as they strive for the ultimate goal: an Olympic medal and a chance to represent the United States on the world stage,” SLCC President Greg Peterson said in a school release. “Their dedication is inspiring, and we are proud to help them reach their Olympic dreams without having to sacrifice their educational and career aspirations.”
SLCC first partnered with US Speedskating in the fall of 2018, offering free education and high-performance consulting to athletes. This has included 14 Olympians and five Olympic medalists, including Erin Jackson, who became the first Black woman to win a Winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport.
“My experience at SLCC has been wonderful,” Jackson said after competing at the ISU Long Track Speedskating World Cup 1 event on Nov. 16 at the Utah Olympic Oval. “We all know the value of preparation as athletes, and that includes what comes next. Education is important, and this program helps us in that.”
The college said at the 2022 Winter Olympics, SLCC was represented by 12 competing athletes and one faculty member, making it one of the largest collegiate delegations, matched only by the University of Minnesota. SLCC’s collaboration with Utah’s national governing bodies aligns perfectly with the Winter Olympic Games in Italy this upcoming February and the Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028. There are currently 19 athletes from the three Utah-based NGBs enrolled at SLCC.
“We anticipate more than a dozen will end up competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics,” said Chris Needham, the new director of SLCC’s Beyond the Podium program and a former US Speedskating national team member. “We envision a program that supports around 100 athletes in the lead-up to 2034.”
The Beyond the Podium program, including Needham’s new role, has been made possible through a generous gift from Utah philanthropists Jeff and Helen Cardon.
“We saw a critical need to help athletes navigate life after years of intense competition,” said Helen Cardon. “For many, their identity is deeply tied to decades of training and performing, making the transition to new pursuits especially challenging — particularly from a mental health perspective.”
Jeff Cardon added, “This is an ongoing need, and we hope others will join us in supporting these athletes who dedicate their lives to representing America on the world stage.”