For most Dartmouth students, balancing academics and extracurriculars is already challenging enough. Still, for Sam Macuga ’23, a U.S. Ski Jumping Team member, “busy” takes on a whole new meaning. Macuga, who grew up in Park City, Utah, is training for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics while pursuing a Dartmouth degree. Her unique ability to manage being both a professional athlete and an Ivy League student has defined her time as an undergraduate.
Sam isn’t the only impressive Macuga. Her family has garnered national media attention for their athleticism: her sisters Lauren and Alli are also vying for spots at the next winter Olympics in alpine and freestyle skiing. Her brother, Daniel, 19, is also a competitive skier.
Macuga balances her life here at the College with her professional training schedule by only being on for one term of the year. Most of Macuga’s time during a traditional school year is spent training as a pro-ski jumper.
How did you get into skiing?
SM: My family moved to Park City when I was in first grade. As kids, we got involved in a foundation called Youth Sports Alliance. They work with any elementary school kid, so they could try a winter sport even if they can’t afford to. One day a week after school, I’d go skiing or snowboarding, and that’s how I learned. There [are] very few places like it. Park City has a lot of skiing, snowboarding and winter Olympic history there.
Tell me more about how your family shaped your relationship to athletics.
SM: Growing up, our parents were supportive and just wanted us to do a sport. So we were able to find our own [sports], which I liked because it can be tough being in the same space and competing for the same accomplishments. It’s also cool to hear from my siblings about what they’re doing because they’ve done that in their own niches.
What does your current training schedule look like as you gear up for the Olympic Trials?
SM: Actually, Olympic qualifiers have started already — we’re a year into qualifying for Olympic spots. We have four spots, so I have a spot as of right now in the Olympics.
What are your goals as you hopefully head into the Olympics?
SM: For ski jumping, in the last Olympics, we only were able to start one athlete as a national team. This time, our goal has been to qualify for four spots and send a full team, which would be great. The Olympics are definitely on my mind — [it’s] a lot of pressure because it’s realistic. It’s crazy to talk about the Olympics as a future goal.
How does your training schedule affect your D-Plan? Do you still feel connected to the Dartmouth community when you are away from campus?
SM: Normally, Olympic skiers are on a 12-year plan, where you take classes for one term a year. I’m only in person in the spring. But I started in the spring of 2020, and since it was online because of COVID, I did five terms online, so I’m actually on an 8-year plan and will graduate in 2027. I think it’s really interesting. I don’t feel as connected as most people, but my problem is that every year, a bunch of the people I know graduate. But, there are a bunch of skiers that also go through the same thing. Also, I’m affiliated with Kappa Delta sorority, so I’m still connected to people that way. It’s nice because I don’t have to go out of my way to find them. So it’s not like I feel out of place.
