Olympic silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle in training for World Cup circuit, with goal of Olympic gold
An alpine ski racer from Vermont who won silver in the 2022 Winter Olympics is preparing for another season, hoping to return to the Olympic stage and secure gold for Team USA at the upcoming Winter Games in Milan-Cortina.
"Just enjoying the time that we have here at home is special to me, and I try to take advantage of that," Ryan Cochran-Siegle said in an interview with , conducted in Vermont ahead of his departure for a training camp on the glaciers of Austria.
Cochran-Siegle has ski racing in his blood. His grandparents built a community destination in Richmond called Cochran's, where countless kids have learned to ski, and he learned to love ski racing. It's also the home base for their famous family of Olympians.
Cochran-Siegle's mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, won slalom gold in 1972. She is one of six Cochrans to compete in the Olympic Games.
Cochran-Siegle visits Cochran’s in the off-season to mountain bike, hike, and spend time with his dog, Wrigley. The peace and calm he finds in the outdoors will soon become a rare commodity, with the alpine ski racer about to begin his climb to a third Winter Olympics.
"The race season is right around the corner," said Cochran-Siegle, who won silver at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing in the Super G.
Super G is the ski racing discipline that combines downhill speed with the precise turns of giant slalom. Cochran-Siegle said a gold medal in Milan-Cortina is his biggest goal for the upcoming ski racing season.
"It's lofty in certain terms, but I think you have to believe, especially this point in the season, going into it, that's what I'm shooting for. So, we'll see," Cochran-Siegle added.
Cochran-Siegle said he is working hard to put himself in the best position possible to make that goal attainable. He is keeping up with strength workouts and traveled to training camps this summer in South America, he said.
Cochran-Siegle’s World Cup race season starts on Thanksgiving, with a competition in Colorado.
“Our schedule gets pretty busy, especially leading up to the Olympics,” Cochran-Siegle said. “It's exciting, but it's a little bit stressful, too.”
The athlete went on to say that despite the grueling travel and training schedule, he truly enjoys the life of a competitive ski racer.
“Every day, I do try to find joy and happiness, because, ultimately, that is what's driving me,” Cochran-Siegle said. “But there's challenging days, too, and days that don't go well, so finding ways to learn from those and grow from those are always important.”
Team USA is expected to announce its Olympic team in January 2026, according to Cochran-Siegle. During the World Cup season and all his training runs to come, he said he will always carry a piece of Vermont with him: The Untapped line of pure Vermont maple syrup for all-natural energy on the mountain.
“When I travel, it's nice to have that taste of home,” Cochran-Siegle said, adding that he is “fueled by maple, absolutely.”
The opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina are scheduled for Feb. 6, 2026.
