For those who have been in Salt Lake City the last few months, it is hard not to notice the fact that the 2034 Winter Olympics will be upon us in eight years.
Signs at the airport, parades downtown, and numerous Instagram posts are reminders that Salt Lake City will be hosting one of the biggest sporting events in the world, for the second time.
While the Olympics coming to town is big news for SLC and the rest of Utah, it isn’t the first time. 2002 was the first Winter Olympic Games held in the city, and since then, Westminster University has been tied to the event.
In 2002, the university was tasked with housing security personnel for the Winter Olympic Games. In the wake of 9/11 and being the first major international sporting event after the tragedy, security was at the forefront of many people’s minds.
“All of the security staffing for the Olympics stayed here, this was their home base,” said Sheila Rappazzo Yorkin, chief communications officer for Westminster University.
In addition to housing the security teams in the apartments on campus, “Students had a break for the two weeks during the Olympics,” Yorkin said.
This allowed for the mass amounts of security staff to have easy housing access and Westminster students to have a break in order to participate and spectate the games.
After the 2002 games, “We established a relationship that would provide free tuition for athletes on the A, B, and C teams,” Yorkin said.
This move forever linked the Winter Olympics with Westminster University (college at the time) and began a partnership which spanned into the late 2010’s.
“I think Sochi is the Olympics where we had the most athletes and the most medals,” said Yorkin. Sochi was a big event for both the United States and Westminster University.
After a brief hold on the partnership, The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team and Westminster University announced a new program for Olympic athletes in the fall of 2025.
Since 2010, there have been 71 Olympic athletes that have attended Westminster University. There were also athletes prior to 2010, that have attended the university and competed in the Winter Games.
Westminster Griffins at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics
Former Griffin, Alex Ferreira, took home the gold medal in the men’s halfpipe final, with current student, Nick Geopper, finishing in fourth place.
Ryan Cochran-Seigle placed second in the men’s super-g racing event, with Jacqueline Wiles, former Griffin, placing third in the women’s team combined downhill racing event alongside teammate Paula Moltzan.
In addition to these athletes, Bryce Bennett and Faye Gulini Thelen competed in men’s racing events and women’s snowboard racing events respectively.
Furthermore, the university is sending two alumni, Mikey O’Hearn and Andrew Haraghey to the Paralympic alpine skiing events which are in March.
Former Griffins also worked in broadcasting during the 2026 Olympics: Devin Logan and Seamus O’Connor.
Devin Logan graduated from Westminster in 2023 with a communication degree while competing at three different Olympic Games: 2014 Sochi – Silver medal, Women’s Ski Halfpipe, 2018 PyeongChang – Halfpipe and Slopestyle, and 2022 Beijing – Halfpipe.
Devin now works with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundation, raising money to help athletes get paid.
“We’re the only country that doesn’t fund our Olympic athletes through the government, so we rely on private donors,” Logan said.
Using both her Westminster degree and athletic history, Logan was able to transition into a broadcasting role at this year’s Olympics.
“They wanted more athletes in the commentary booth because we’ve lived it and can explain what’s happening,” said Logan.
“The support I received being very new to Westminster was astonishing to me,” said Logan, “Westminster already had that background of having Olympic athletes there, so I felt very connected and understood.”
Logan continued to reflect on the support she received from her professors at Westminster University, and how their support allowed her to thrive both competitively and professionally.
Since graduating, Logan runs her own private chef business in Park City and works with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundations program.
As Logan looks ahead to the 2034 Olympics she mentioned a major goal she has.
“To give out the women’s ski slopestyle medals…it would be the 20-year anniversary of my medal,” said Logan.
As for 2034, there are both positives to look forward to, as well as concerns that must be addressed immediately.
Addressing The Environment
“It could become a public health disaster… right next to a major metropolitan area,” said Dr. Bonnie Baxter, Director of the Great Salt Lake Institute & biology professor at Westminster University for 29 years.
“4,198 feet is a healthy level for the lake to sustain the ecosystem,” said Baxter, also sharing that the lake currently sits at 4,192 feet. 4,198 feet is the GSL 2034 water level plan, a plan which has been selected by a team of scientists working in and around the lake.
While this may seem like a very close number already, “We have to gain more than three feet of water each year just to break even,” said Baxter.
With this being a dry winter for SLC and the Wasatch Mountains, Baxter shared that we are likely looking at maybe half a foot of water, making this year’s evaporation/gain level come out to something closer to -2.5 feet.
The lake is partially responsible for the amount of snow and snow quality in Salt Lake City.
“About 10 to 15 percent of our storms are actually lake effect,” said Drew Hooker, an atmospheric science major at the University of Utah.
With eight years to go until the 2034 Winter Games, Westminster University is once again poised to play a role on the Olympic stage.
From helping to produce elite athletes to fostering academic and professional opportunities, the university’s Olympic ties continue to evolve.
At the same time, environmental concerns surrounding the Great Salt Lake remain a critical factor in the region’s Olympic future.
Students, scientists, and athletes alike will play a part in shaping what the games look like in Salt Lake City.
As preparations continue, Westminster’s legacy appears set to grow alongside the 2034 Olympic games.
