How Salt Lake Community College is supporting Olympic hopefuls

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) is supporting world-class athletes as they pursue their education and Olympic and Paralympic dreams with its new Beyond the Podium program.

SLCC shared that the program includes partnerships with USA Climbing, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and U.S. Speedskating.

The institution is offering tuition-free education and career counseling, as well as flexible schedule options so athletes can pursue a degree while managing the training and travel as they compete for a spot on Team USA.

“We are honored to play a supportive role in the lives of these athletes as they strive for the ultimate goal, an Olympic medal and a chance to represent the United States on the world stage,” said SLCC President Greg Peterson.

Continuing a legacy

SLCC shared that it first partnered with US Speedskating in 2018. The school offered free education and high-performance consulting to the athletes.

The college reported that at the 2022 Winter Olympics, it was represented by 12 competing athletes and one faculty member.

Now, with its new partnerships with USA Climbing and U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the school anticipates more than a dozen athletes will end up competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics.