A Rare Look at Kentucky’s Winter Olympic History

When you think of Kentucky sports, basketball or horse racing probably come to mind first. But the Bluegrass State has a few surprising ties to the Winter Olympics. It’s rare, but Kentucky athletes have made their mark on icy slopes and snowy tracks.

Oksana Masters - Louisville’s Paralympic Powerhouse

Oksana Masters grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and went to Atherton High School. She has competed in multiple Winter Paralympics for Team USA, winning gold and silver medals in cross-country skiing and biathlon. Masters is one of the most decorated U.S. adaptive athletes in winter sports history.

Tamara McKinney - Lexington’s Alpine Star

Tamara McKinney was born in Lexington, Kentucky and grew up skiing. She competed for the U.S. in three Winter Olympics: 1980, 1984, and 1988. While she didn’t win an Olympic medal, McKinney was a star on the World Cup circuit. She won 18 World Cup races and became the first American woman to claim the overall World Cup title in 1983.

Dallas Robinson - From Kentucky Tracks to the Bobsled

Dallas Robinson grew up in Buckner, Kentucky, graduated from Oldham County High School, and went to Eastern Kentucky University. He started as a sprinter before turning to bobsledding. Robinson competed in both the two-man and four-man bobsled at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, showing that Kentucky athletes can compete on the snowy Olympic stage too.

Kentucky’s Winter Olympic Legacy

It’s not a long list, but McKinney, Robinson, and Masters prove Kentucky can leave its mark on winter sports. From the slopes to the bobsled track and snowy trails, these athletes show the Bluegrass State has its own rare Winter Olympic history.

by Austin Stuckey, The Stable