American snowboarder Nick Baumgartner is considering competing in the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, his words were quoted by Reuters.
During a press conference in Livigno, Italy, 44-year-old Baumgartner said that his main sporting goal is to end his career at the home Games in the United States in ten years.
“I think it would be great to have the opportunity to finish my career on home soil. We all know what that means — 2034, Salt Lake City. Will I be able to get there? I have no idea. Will we find out? Absolutely,” the snowboarder said.
The specificity of snowboard cross, unlike acrobatic snowboarding disciplines like big air or halfpipe, allows athletes to remain competitive into adulthood. Baumgartner stressed that his longevity in the sport should serve as an example to others.
Commenting on his motivation and age threshold in professional sports, the American added:
“If I’m 52 in 2034 and I’m still doing this, you’ll have no excuses not to follow your dream. Absolutely none.”
Nick Baumgartner is currently preparing to compete in the 2026 Olympic Games in Livigno, his fifth of his professional career. The men's snowboard cross competition will take place on Thursday, February 12.
At the 2026 Games, at the age of 52, Austrian Claudia Rigler became the oldest snowboarder in history at this level, competing in the parallel giant slalom.
Nick Baumgartner: what is known about the athlete
- 44-year-old American snowboarder, four-time Olympic champion.
- Two-time bronze medalist at the World Border Cross Championships (2009, 2015); winner and medalist at the X-Games.
- World Cup stage winner (11 podiums on his account).
- At the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, at the age of 40, he won a gold medal in the mixed team snowboard cross event with Lindsey Jacobellis, becoming the oldest Olympic champion in this discipline.