Nick Goepper

One of America's notable freestyle skiers, Nick Goepper, continues to awe audiences globally with his exceptional talent. Notably, he is a three-time Olympic medalist, having won medals at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 Winter Olympics.

Goepper was born and raised in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, a town more renowned for its whiskey distilleries than skiing. However, his aptitude for the sport quickly caught the attention of veteran Kerry Miller, leading to Goepper relocating to Oregon to train under a scholarship with Wendell's Academy. By the winter of 2010, Goepper had made his mark on the pro-level freeskiing contest circuit, participating in his first Dew Tour and Winter X Games in France. While solidifying his spot as one of the best in the world, Goepper also won multiple medals at the Winter X Games, including five gold medals.

In 2011, he won the prestigious Dumont Cup, and by late 2012, Goepper made another significant statement, scoring a 94.66 at the Winter X Games in Aspen and taking home the silver medal. A Breakthrough Athlete of the Year award followed and, in 2013, Goepper triumphantly returned to the Winter X Games, this time winning the gold medal. He added another X Games gold in 2014, along with a bronze at the winter games in Sochi.

Following the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, Goepper was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, a prestigious honor for Indiana residents. Ever since winning his third Slopestyle X Games gold in 2015, Goepper faced adversity in the form of a string of shoulder injuries. However, he bounced back to top form and continued to accumulate awards. This included a slopestyle silver at Pyeongchang 2018, a win at Red Bull PlayStreets 2019 in Austria, and most recently an emotional and long-awaited return to the top of the Winter X Games podium after winning the Ski Slopestyle at the 2021 event in Aspen.

Off the slopes, Goepper made appearances on the "Late Show with David Letterman" and featured on a Kellogg's Corn Flakes cereal box with fellow Olympians Gus Kenworthy and Joss Christensen. He was also part of the NBC Sports series "How to Raise an Olympian" as part of the P&G "Thank You, Mom" campaign. He is endorsed by several brands, including PowerBar and Red Bull, and is associated with Völkl, a ski equipment brand. Moreover, he has been involved in philanthropy, notably hosting a rail jam competition benefiting "The Cure Starts Now Foundation" and serving on the board of trustees for Wy'East Mountain Academy. Goepper has also taken steps to address his struggles with substance abuse and mental health openly, contributing to the dialogue about these issues among athletes.