Simi Hamilton ’09, three-time U.S. Olympian, retires from competitive skiing

Earlier this month, Simi Hamilton ’09, a three-time U.S. Olympian, retired from competitive cross-country skiing. The decision marks the end of a successful professional career, albeit one marked by an unfortunate ending.

As Hamilton geared up to compete in his final World Cup races in Switzerland, his wife and teammate Sophie Caldwell Hamilton tested positive for Covid-19 on their way to the host country. As a close contact, Hamilton was separated from his wife and placed in 10-day quarantine.

Even though Simi Hamilton received four subsequent negative Covid-19 test results, he was required to quarantine through the competition. Despite this disappointing development, the Colorado native maintained a positive attitude, not allowing the situation to overshadow the overall success of his competitive career.

“I knew that I needed to get over it and focus on my long and successful career before this,” Hamilton said.

Growing up in Aspen as the son of two cross-country skiers, Hamilton took up skiing at the age of two and started competing at a young age. When he raced at Middlebury, he won three NCAA Championships in four years.

Encouraged by his coaches to pursue racing after college, Hamilton had a successful first professional season in 2009-2010, which earned him a spot on the U.S. Olympic team ahead of the 2010 Vancouver games.

After his first Olympics, Hamilton continued to train as a member of the U.S. National Team with the Stratton Mountain School club, competing in six World Championships and two more Olympics in 2014 and 2018.

Hamilton originally intended to retire alongside his wife after the 2019-2020 season. However, after a discouraging season rocked by injuries, he decided to delay his retirement.

“If I’d hung up my skis after last year, I know I would have felt empty and unfulfilled,” Hamilton said.

This season, after an unconventional summer training program disrupted by the pandemic, Hamilton competed in a final circuit of races in Europe. Despite scheduling uncertainties, he stayed in Europe with the rest of the U.S. team for the entire season due to the effective operation run by the International Ski Federation.

Though his celebratory exit from the world of competitive skiing was upended, Hamilton said he remains pleased with his final season. Looking forward, he’s excited to move back to Colorado with his wife where he plans to begin the next chapter of his life.

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