While other toddlers were learning to walk, sisters Sophie Caldwell '12 and Isabel Caldwell '14 were already getting their footing on skis by participating in "lollipop races," an event in which younger children completed miniature ski courses and received a lollipop prize at the finish line. The Caldwell sisters Big Green skiers who grew up in Peru, Vt. have since progressed past their days of "lollipop racing." Both sisters list a number of impressive skiing achievements and have travelled around the world for competitions.
Despite their accomplishments, however, the sisters are generally humble and are not competitive with each other, teammates said.
"In fact, they are probably each other's biggest fans," teammate Megan Killigrew '13 said.
Isabel Caldwell nicknamed "Izzy" by teammates and coaches is currently in Estonia, competing at the Junior World Championships. She said she looks up to her sister as a skier.
"She is faster than I am and it is always nice to ski behind her and see what she's doing," Isabel Caldwell said in an e-mail to The Dartmouth.
Sophie Caldwell cited her sister as a role model, saying that she loves having her younger sister at Dartmouth with her.
"She goes to bed early, always waxes her skis, does her homework on time," Sophie Caldwell said. "[She] tells me to clean my room."
Sophie Caldwell has qualified for the Under-23 Championships, and has three times qualified for the Junior World Championships.
"They were really great trips that gave me lots of international experience," she said. "I have had a couple of top 20 [finishes] at World Juniors in sprint competitions."
The older Caldwell sister earned her first trip to the podium at a national championship earlier this season, when she placed second in the skate sprint at the United States National Championships in Rumford, Maine.
"Sophie is a national-level athlete," head coach Cami Thompson said. "If she could focus on skiing only, she could be able to make the U.S. Ski Team and go to the Olympics."
Thompson also described Isabel Caldwell as a "gift to those who know her," noting that she has not yet reached her potential athletically. Thompson added that the sisters while sharing a passion for skiing have very different personalities.
"Sophie is quiet and sweet, a little more reserved," Thompson said. "Izzy has a totally different personality."
Teammate Erika Flowers '12 said that Isabel Caldwell is "the friendliest person you will ever meet."
"Isabel is super goofy, she works incredibly hard, kind of does her own thing," Flowers said. "Sophie is quieter at first, but very sweet, thoughtful and kind."
Flowers who competed with Sophie Caldwell at junior Olympics competitions and the U.S. Nationals said that she enjoys training with the sisters.
"Sophie has made me a much better skier she's super talented and fast," Flowers said. "[The Caldwell sisters] are really good at balancing training and being relaxed, and that has been really beneficial."
Both sisters said they dream of competing in the Olympic Games and would like to continue to compete after college.
"My dream goal for skiing is to win at the Olympics," Isabel Caldwell said. "Depending on how fast I am skiing, I will probably race for anywhere between two and 10 years after college."
Success is in the sisters' gene pool their grandfather and uncle both competed at the Olympics after attending Dartmouth.
Their grandfather, John Caldwell '50, traveled to the 1952 Olympic Games, served as U.S. ski team head coach from 1960 to 1972 and was inducted into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame in 1982. Their uncle, Tim Caldwell '76, competed in four winter Olympic Games and finished sixth in the 4x10 kilometer relay at the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.
Their father Sverre Caldwell '77 also competed for the Big Green. Austin Caldwell, Sophie and Isabel Caldwell's brother will join the ski team next year as a member of the incoming Class of 2015.
The ski team will next compete at the Colby Carnival on Friday and Saturday, in Farmington, Maine.
