Olympics

George �鶹��Ƶ alum helped keep Team USA Safe at the Winter Olympics

Katarina Benson — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:25:08 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alum helped keep Team USA Safe at the Winter Olympics Katarina Benson Mon, 03/23/2026 - 13:25

Near the Italian town of Bormio, visitors can ride a mountain cable car to take in a breathtaking panorama from a café perched near the peak. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Special Agent Mohamed Hassan, BA Religious Studies ’20, who was a field liaison officer during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, recounts taking a break from supporting Team USA to sip a cappuccino alongside Olympians: “Everyone was really interested in what everyone's there to do…. Everyone's motivating one another.”

Hassan is both a federal law enforcement officer and a member of the Foreign Service. Photo provided

As a DSS special agent, Hassan is both a federal law enforcement officer and a member of the Foreign Service. DSS is the U.S. State Department’s law enforcement and security branch, and it led security for the U.S. presence during Milan Cortina 2026. In Bormio, Hassan coordinated with the Italian police, military, and other organizations to help create a safe environment in which U.S. athletes could focus on their competitions.

When Hassan describes the community of that mountaintop café, it echoes his days at George �鶹��Ƶ, where he made friends with people from all over the world over potlucks and soccer games. Hassan, who grew up in Fairfax, developed his talents for bringing people together as a Patriot Leader and student advisor.

He says he eventually decided to major in religious studies because of religion’s impact on everything from how people relate to each other to how governments interact. He focused on the Middle East and said his George �鶹��Ƶ cohort “knew what I wanted to do and they helped me get there.” He also credits Nathaniel Greenberg, associate professor of Arabic, for pushing him to hone his existing Arabic language skills.

Hassan knew he wanted to be a part of something important and give back to the country that welcomed his family when they emigrated from Egypt. He took advantage of George �鶹��Ƶ’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and enrolled in an internship with the U.S. State Department through the federal Pathways Internship Program, which provides students paid work experience with the possibility of a job. After graduating, Hassan successfully joined the department, and about four years later, he became a DSS special agent.

Hassan with the Olympic rings. Photo provided

While working in Bormio, Hassan said he was able to immerse himself in Italian culture, witness ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut, and even hold an Olympic medal. His favorite local Bormio dish was pizzoccheri, which consists of hearty buckwheat pasta with potatoes, cabbage, and Valtellina Casera cheese topped with garlic and melted butter.

While an Olympics assignment is a rare opportunity, Hassan says every day is different working in DSS and “the world is your oyster.” And he means it quite literally. In his eight years with the department, Hassan has traveled to more than 30 countries and is eager to see more. With DSS operating at U.S. diplomatic facilities in more than 170 countries, that should be easy. Hassan is already looking forward to a new assignment where he can use his language and culture skills.

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Ilia Malinin closes Olympic chapter with an unforgettable gala performance

blongcha — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 17:13:12 +0000

Ilia Malinin closes Olympic chapter with an unforgettable gala performance blongcha Sun, 02/22/2026 - 12:13

When Ilia Malinin stepped onto the ice for the closing exhibition gala of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, Feb. 21, the �鶹��Ƶ student wasn't skating for a score. He was skating for something bigger. Turning heartbreak into a powerful statement on mental health, grit and resilience, he closed out his winter games appearance on his own terms.

Ilia Malinin performs during a Figure Skating Exhibition Gala of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Wearing a dark sweatshirt and distressed jeans, a moodier, loose-fitting ensemble compared with his competition outfits, �鶹��Ƶ student and figure skating champion Ilia Malinin performed to “Fear” by NF with choreography that showcased a bold young man facing immense pressure, constant criticism, and high expectations, and eventually buckling under the weight of it all, falling to his knees and drawing into his hoodie to hide.

In a post-performance interview, Malinin said his intent was to show the pressure he felt to compete and succeed at the Winter Games. “This message and this program or song really spoke to me and really represented how I’ve been feeling the last year heading up to these Olympics. There’s been so much pressure, so much doubt, and everything around me—the noise, the media, the people, the environment—it’s been so overwhelming.”

A week after not medaling in the men’s individual event, Malinin posted to his Instagram, "On the world's biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside. Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by the noise.” The video accompanying the post showed Malinin going through the highest highs and lowest lows with glitches indicating competing battles. It also hinted that he would be back on Feb. 21, setting the stage for Saturday’s performance.

Ilia Malinin performs a back flip during the Olympic Skating Exhibition Gala of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games. Photo by Steve Christo/Getty Images

After landing his signature backflip—a move that was banned from competition for nearly five decades before being reinstated in 2024—Malinin became visibly emotional as the gala crowd erupted. It was a fitting bookend to an Olympic journey marked by extraordinary highs and lows—and one that revealed a young athlete of exceptional depth, both on the ice and off.

Prepping for Gold and Prepping for More

Malinin grew up in Northern Virginia, the son of two former Olympic figure skaters who later became his coaches. He enrolled at George �鶹��Ƶ as an exploratory studies major and has spent the past several years balancing his studies with elite-level training as he prepared to eventually compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Malinin, 21, arrived at the 2026 Winter Olympics as one of the most decorated figure skaters in the world—a two-time world champion, four-time U.S. champion, and the only skater in history to land a fully rotated quadruple axel in competition. His strong team performance helped deliver Team USA a team figure skating gold medal, cementing his legacy as one of the sport's most technically audacious competitors. Watch a 60-second lecture on the physics behind Malinin's quad axel jump.

But after leading the short program in the men's individual event, Malinin endured a stunning reversal in the free skate—falling twice and slipping to 8th place overall in one of this Winter Games' most shocking upsets. In the immediate aftermath, he spoke openly about feeling overwhelmed in the moment, reflecting a vulnerability that resonated far beyond the rink. Speaking with the Today Show about the performance, Malinin said, “Of course it didn’t go the way I wanted it to, all I can do is learn from my mistakes. I can take a different approach leading up to the next Games, hopefully."

Rather than recede from the spotlight, Malinin chose to use the gala as an opportunity to process his journey publicly and purposefully. He's already focused on what comes next, including the World Championships in Prague in March.

"My next goal is to have a redemption skate at the World Championships and just enjoy the stress of the Olympic season, and it will be finally over," Malinin said after the Exhibition Gala. "For the future, there's so much planned, no matter how these Olympics went. I'm really looking forward to not only being the best skater I can be but also pushing the sport and changing the sport to have a completely different view on the world.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin claims team figure skating gold

“I was around 13 when I realized that I could skate for more than just fun.”

Ilia Malinin

Read an interview with George �鶹��Ƶ student Ilia Malinin

Fueling for gold: How nutrition impacts strength, speed, and recovery in Olympic athletes

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:31:25 +0000

Fueling for gold: How nutrition impacts strength, speed, and recovery in Olympic athletes Taylor Thomas Wed, 02/18/2026 - 12:31

If our bodies are machines and food is fuel, it is safe to say that elite performance requires high-octane nutrition. As the Winter Olympics continue in Italy, the world watches as top athletes display the highest capabilities of the human body. Behind the scenes, nutritionists and dietitians are working to ensure these athletes are ready to compete at the peak level.

Allison McKay, board-certified sports dietitian, registered dietitian and Clinical Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Public Health, answers questions about the importance of nutrition in keeping athletes in top shape so they’re ready to go for gold.

Olympic athletes are competing at the highest level. How does nutrition fuel peak performance in training and competition?

Elite performance does not occur by chance; it emerges when multiple variables align to create an environment that supports adaptation, resilience, and execution at the highest level. Nutrition is foundational. During both training and competition, fueling is one of the few performance variables that can be intentionally controlled and strategically manipulated. Like a high-performance engine that cannot run without adequate fuel, the human body depends on sufficient energy availability to sustain workload, support physiological adaptation, and ultimately translate preparation into performance.

Athletes must navigate complex and often competing demands, including high training loads, rigorous travel schedules, jet lag, variable environmental conditions, sport-specific cultural norms, and interpersonal or performance-related stressors. Each of these factors influences appetite, metabolism, hydration needs, and food access. Effective sports nutrition practice requires both scientific rigor and practical adaptability. Sports dietitians must anticipate barriers, individualize strategies, and implement creative solutions to ensure that fueling plans remain feasible, evidence-based, and aligned with the athlete’s performance goals.

What does a typical day of fueling look like for an elite winter athlete, such as a skier, skater, or hockey player?

Fueling strategies for elite athletes are designed to support the full spectrum of performance demands: meeting energy requirements for training and competition, facilitating recovery, and promoting the physiological adaptations that underpin long-term improvement. Meals are intentionally structured around the demands of a given day. Total energy needs may range from 1,500 to 4,000 calories more than the average adult, depending on the athlete’s physical attributes and training schedule. Even within the same athlete, energy requirements can change in the middle of a training cycle. Accordingly, meals must be individualized and adjusted to align with sport-specific demands and performance goals. A high-volume training day will differ from a competition day in both structure and nutrient timing.

Carbohydrate intake before, during, and after exercise helps maintain blood glucose levels, preserve glycogen stores, and delay fatigue. Hydration should occur before, during, and after activity, and electrolyte replacement should be incorporated as needed to support fluid balance and neuromuscular function. Protein intake becomes particularly important in the recovery period.

The amount of nutrients required depends on body size, training intensity, and duration. Meals on a typical training day, for example, an Olympic hockey player may look like a high-carb early pre-training meal, strategic carbohydrate and fluid intake during a two- to four-hour, practice session, a carbohydrate-packed high-protein snack for recovery, and lunches and dinners packed with nutrient-dense carbohydrate sources and adequate protein distribution. This diet is carefully crafted to sustain energy, maintain hydration, and support muscle repair. Pre-competition meals are often adjusted to prioritize easily digestible foods lower in fiber and fat to reduce gastrointestinal distress while still maintaining energy availability.

What role do hydration, timing of meals, and recovery nutrition play in maximizing performance and preventing injury?

Proper hydration is fundamental to performance. In addition to normal daily fluid losses, exercise substantially increases fluid loss through sweat. Sweat plays a critical role in maintaining a stable core temperature during physical activity. When fluid losses (such as sweat) are not adequately replaced, dehydration can occur, leading to increased cardiovascular strain, elevated core temperature, and disruption of metabolic processes. Even a tiny reduction in body weight due to fluid loss can impair cognitive function, reaction time, and neuromuscular coordination, effects that are particularly concerning in sports requiring rapid decision-making and precision, such as skiing or hockey.

Nutrient timing also plays a strategic role in performance and recovery. Optimal refueling ensures that the physiological stress of training translates into adaptation rather than excessive fatigue. Recovery is essential for sustained performance. Heavy training loads can temporarily suppress immune function, increasing vulnerability to illness. Monitoring overall energy intake and micronutrient adequacy is therefore critical. Nutrients that support immune health include omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, folate, vitamins B6 and B12, and vitamin C. While these nutrients are important, excessive supplementation is not advised. The objective is to maintain health and resilience without interfering with the natural adaptive processes that drive improved performance.

How do sports dietitians individualize nutrition plans based on an athlete’s sport, body composition goals, and metabolic demands?

Sports dietitians function as integral members of a multidisciplinary performance team dedicated to optimizing athlete health and competitive outcomes. Sports dietitians anticipate logistical challenges, including identifying appropriate food options and menu availability during travel and strategies to mitigate the effects of jet lag. They translate evidence-based nutrition science into practical, feasible plans that align with competition schedules and training cycles.

Most importantly, no two athletes are identical. Nutritional strategies must be individualized to reflect differences in physiology, performance goals, tolerance, and personal context. Through personalized planning and collaborative care, the sports dietitian helps create the conditions necessary for athletes to perform at their highest potential.

For students interested in working with elite or competitive athletes, what training and skills are essential—and how?

Most organizations that employ sports nutrition professionals require credentialing as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), along with advanced board certification as a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). The RDN credential requires completion of an accredited didactic program in dietetics, a master’s level degree, supervised experiential practice, successful completion of the national registration examination, and ongoing continuing education to maintain competency. The CSSD credential represents additional specialized training and experience in sports nutrition and requires documented practice hours and passing a board certification examination. Together, these credentials signal both foundational clinical expertise and advanced competency in performance nutrition.

Beyond formal education and certification, effectiveness in elite sport environments depends on more than technical knowledge. Strong communication skills, the ability to collaborate within interdisciplinary teams, cultural humility, discretion, adaptability, and a willingness to travel are essential. Working with elite athletes requires trust, professionalism, and the capacity to translate complex science into clear, actionable guidance under high-performance pressure.

�鶹��Ƶ offers a Master of Science in Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics through the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. This program meets the academic eligibility requirements to pursue the RDN credential and prepares graduates for advanced practice opportunities, including sports nutrition. Prospective students are encouraged to connect with the department to learn more about pathways into this dynamic and impactful field.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: For reporters who wish to speak to Allison McKay about sports nutrition, please email media contact Michelle Thompson at mthomp7@gmu.edu.

Allison McKay, MS, RDN, CSSD, has been a registered dietitian for more than 25 years and has experience providing nutrition education and Medical Nutrition Therapy in hospitals, long-term care facilities and has been a research dietitian in several longitudinal research studies. Prior to working at George �鶹��Ƶ, she worked at the Cancer Research Center at the University of Hawaii and was a consulting Dietitian with Dietitian Consulting Services, LLC in Seattle, Washington. She holds an MS in Exercise, Fitness and Health Promotion from �鶹��Ƶ and is a Board Certified Sports Dietitian.

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ

�鶹��Ƶ is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., �鶹��Ƶ enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. �鶹��Ƶ has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched �鶹��Ƶ Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.

�鶹��Ƶ College of Public Health at �鶹��Ƶ

The College of Public Health at �鶹��Ƶ is the first College of Public Health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive, interprofessional, public health research, education, and practice. The college is comprised of public health disciplines, health administration and policy, informatics, nursing, nutrition, and social work. The college offers a distinct array of degrees to support research and training of professionals dedicated to ensuring health and well-being for all. The college’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan.

In This Story

Allison McKay MS, RD, CSSD

Key Takeaways

Board-certified sports dietitian Allison Mckay details the critical role of nutrition in fueling the world's top athletes.
Olympic athletes require a carefully curated diet including carbohydrates, high-quality proteins, and precise hydration to achieve peak performance.
Sports dietitians are uniquely trained to provide evidence-based guidance to help athletes achieve their goals.

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In the George

�鶹��Ƶ Nation stands behind Ilia Malinin after Olympic setback

Katarina Benson — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:27:41 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Nation stands behind Ilia Malinin after Olympic setback Katarina Benson Mon, 02/16/2026 - 13:27

�鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin’s Olympic journey hit an unexpected speed bump on Friday in the men’s individual figure skating final at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. But even as the result stunned fans worldwide, �鶹��Ƶ Nation gathered at the Johnson Center with unwavering support for one of its own.

Olympic watch party in the Johnson Center. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

A two-time reigning world champion and the overwhelming gold medal favorite, Malinin fell twice during his free skate and finished eighth overall, marking his first loss since November 2023, and his first time finishing outside the top three since March 2022. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov claimed gold, with Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Sato Shun earning silver and bronze.

“Honestly, I’m just speechless. So in shock, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Malinin told reporters afterward. “I’ve been training my whole season to get to this point and skate as best as I can, but it didn’t happen. I’m heartbroken.”

The 21-year-old Vienna native and exploratory studies major in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences had hoped to add an individual medal to the team gold he helped secure for Team USA win earlier in the games.

Like Malinin, the crowd of several hundred enthusiastic students, faculty, and staff at the Johnson Center’s Atrium were stunned, but their pride never wavered.

Kiersten Strassburg, a junior anthropology major from Chesapeake who has followed Malinin’s career for years, remained confident in his future.

“He’s only 21, and he’s still in college,” she said. “He still has his whole career ahead of him. It was disappointing, but I’m not disappointed in him.”

Malinin had entered the free skate with a five-point lead after the short program, poised to potentially become the second consecutive American Olympic champion in men’s figure skating, following Nathan Chen’s victory in Beijing in 2022. His high-risk, high-reward technical arsenal—including the quad axel, which he remains the only skater to have landed successfully in competition—seemed tailored for the Olympic stage.

But Olympic competition can be unforgiving.

“Our hearts hurt for him,” said Cassie Baker, a junior business major at the Costello College of Business.

Graduate student Kat Hines arrived early to secure a prime viewing spot in the atrium. Though the outcome wasn’t what she expected, the moment still mattered.

“It’s pretty amazing that we have an Olympian going here,” said Hines, a Fairfax native and public health major within the College of Public Health. “This gathering shows what kind of community �鶹��Ƶ has, and it’s nice to see.”

While the individual medal eluded him, Malinin will return home an Olympic champion through the team event, joining alumni David Verburg, who earned a gold medal as part of Team USA’s 4x400-meter relay squad at the 2016 Rio Summer Games, and Mike Kohn, who earned bronze as a part of USA-2 in the four-men bobsledding at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

But Malinin’s Olympic journey is not over, as he will perform in the popular exhibition gala—the final figure skating event of the games—on Saturday, February 21. He has also committed to defending his world title next month at the 2026 World Championships in Prague.

For �鶹��Ƶ Nation, Friday was about more than medals, it was about standing behind a student who has elevated the sport and the university on the world stage. And at just 21, Malinin’s story is far from finished.

George �鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin claims team figure skating gold

“I was around 13 when I realized that I could skate for more than just fun.”

Ilia Malinin

Read an interview with George �鶹��Ƶ student Ilia Malinin

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George �鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin claims Olympic gold

Katarina Benson — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:07:39 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin claims Olympic gold Katarina Benson Mon, 02/09/2026 - 14:07

On Saturday, February 7, �鶹��Ƶ student and reigning world figure skating champion Ilia Malinin helped power the United States to a team figure skating gold medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.

“This is your moment—it’s either do or die,” Malinin told reporters following his performance. “You have to go into this 100% and really know that it’s all up to you. I went in there with that mindset and really just let everything take its course.”

In his Olympic debut, Malinin, a 21-year-old exploratory studies major in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, became the first George �鶹��Ƶ student or alumni to ever claim a Winter Olympics gold medal. He’ll be a heavy favorite to add to his medal haul when the men’s singles competition gets underway on Tuesday, February 10, starting at 12:30 p.m.

Malinin and Team USA won the teams' figure skating gold medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images

To support Malinin, large TV screens have been set up in the Johnson Center atrium on the Fairfax Campus and in the lobby of Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square, giving the �鶹��Ƶ Nation the opportunity to gather and cheer one of their own.

A Vienna native and 2023 graduate of George C. Marshall High School, Malinin—nicknamed the “Quad God”—has been one of the most recognizable figures of the Olympics, known for both his charisma and his ability to push the sport forward through the extreme difficulty of his jumps. He’s the only figure skater to have successfully landed a quad axel in competition, a jump requiring four and a half revolutions.

After a solid performance in Saturday’s initial skate, Malinin upped his game in spectacular fashion the following day, executing five quad jumps to help Team USA surpass Japan for Olympic gold.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Malinin reflected on the pressure of competing as the overwhelming favorite.

“That’s something that everyone has to go through. They have to find a way to motivate themselves and keep it together during that pressure,” he said. “A lot of the times, I’m able to use that pressure and embrace it and tell myself, ‘You have all the attention, now it’s your time to go out there and do what you know how to do, and put your trust in everything you’ve worked to up to this moment.’”

“I was around 13 when I realized that I could skate for more than just fun.”

Ilia Malinin

Read an interview with George �鶹��Ƶ student Ilia Malinin

The �鶹��Ƶ Nation came together to cheer on Ilia Malinin as he competed on the Olympic stage.

Retro �鶹��Ƶ: Muzzio places fifth at the Barcelona Olympics, 1992

ckearney — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 17:32:21 +0000

Retro �鶹��Ƶ: Muzzio places fifth at the Barcelona Olympics, 1992 ckearney Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:32

Muzzio Places Fifth at the Barcelona Olympics, 1992

�鶹��Ƶ alumnus and former track star Rob Muzzio, BS ’87, finished fifth in the decathlon competition during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Although he didn’t bring home a medal, Muzzio told the Washington Post that he performed a “personal best” in the second day of the 10-event decathlon, moving from 20th place the first day to fifth place finish overall. Muzzio won the pole vault portion of the competition.

In addition to Muzzio, who was representing the United States, nine George �鶹��Ƶ athletes qualified to represent their native countries in 1992: heptathlete and long jumper Diane Guntrie and sprinters Anthony Wallace and Patrick O’Connor of Jamaica; pole-vaulter Istvan Bagyula of Hungary; middle-distance runner Abdi Bile of Somalia; sprinters John Myles-Mills, Eric Akogyiram, and Tim Hesse of Ghana; and long-distance runner Stephan Franke of Germany.

Barcelona was the second time Bile, who was the 1987 world champion in 1,500 meters, carried Somalia’s flag in the opening ceremonies. His first time was when he competed in 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Information provided by Fall 1992 Inside Patriot Circles alumni newsletter.

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Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball

lclarkg — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 16:22:29 +0000

Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball lclarkg Thu, 08/01/2024 - 12:22

Think you know a lot about �鶹��Ƶ? Let’s find out if we can stump you with this Patriot Pop Quiz.

Question:

Who was the first George �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball player to participate in the Olympics?

Illustration by Getty

Answer: Tony Skinn, BA Communication '06, head coach for George �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball.

Tony Skinn, now the head coach for George �鶹��Ƶ men's basketball, played in the London 2012 Olympics for the Nigerian team. Photo by Alamy

In 2012, Skinn was a member of the Nigerian national team that qualified for the Olympics in London. At the games, Skinn and Nigeria won their first Olympic preliminary round game, defeating Tunisia, 60–56, before finishing 10th in the tournament. Read a Q&A with Skinn leading up to his time at the Olympics.

At George �鶹��Ƶ, Skinn was a starter on the 2006 George �鶹��Ƶ Final Four team and one of the best all-around guards in program history. He returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2023.

"It's a good feeling because you represent more than just basketball," Skinn said of playing at the Olympics in 2012. "Our team gave millions of people a chance to root for something." Photo by Alamy

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�鶹��Ƶ alum Mike Seium played a key role for Team Eritrea at Beijing Winter Olympic Games

ckearney — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 15:51:47 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ alum Mike Seium played a key role for Team Eritrea at Beijing Winter Olympic Games ckearney Thu, 03/03/2022 - 10:51

In This Story

Craig R. Esherick

Photo provided

A �鶹��Ƶ graduate played a key role in the best-ever Olympic Alpine finish by an African skier during the recently completed Beijing Winter Olympic Games in China.

Mike Seium, who received a master’s degree in sport and recreation studies from �鶹��Ƶ in 2018, served as the chef de mission for Team Eritrea and successfully helped orchestrate the rare African presence in Olympic Alpine skiing.

Shannon Abeda, Eritrea’s first Winter Olympian, finished 39th in the giant slalom, the best finish ever by an African skier. And he has Seium, a former Division II soccer player whose family hails from Eritrea, to largely thank for making sure the rest of the world knew about it.

Photo provided

“It’s been a very rewarding ride,” Seium said. “It was an incredible experience. Being able to share those stories of Black athletes means a lot to me because I was a Black athlete. For me, it was a great experience.”

Seium and the rest of Team Eritrea arrived in China on Feb. 1 and stayed for 18 days, the duration of the games. As the chef de mission, Seium was responsible for all five people on Team Eritrea, including the team’s COVID-19 officer, during the games. His primary job, however, was to connect with the media to see to it that Abeda’s powerful story of overcoming injuries and battling the long odds of competing in a sport long dominated by richer and whiter countries was heard.

That wasn’t a problem for Seium, a former sports journalist for Al Jazeera who is no stranger to major international sports events. It wasn’t long before Seium had secured interviews with Abeda with the Associated Press, Reuters, CNN Africa, CNN International, Chinese TV and the Olympic Channel, among other media outlets.

Seium credited his degree and experiences from �鶹��Ƶ as being critical to both his Olympic success and his formation of a nonprofit that seeks to better promote athletes from the entire African diaspora.

“I think that having that degree helped me to network more because �鶹��Ƶ is known for that,” he said. “That was a big plus.”

Craig Esherick, an associate professor of sport management within the College of Education and Human Development, recalled Seium as always having had an interest in international events and developing sport in Eritrea.

“His appointment as chef de mission for the Olympic Games is a tremendous honor as well as an opportunity for him,” Esherick said.

In the meantime, Seium hopes to begin work on a PhD in sport management to better take advantage of his experiences.

“I’m not in it for the money,” he said. “I’m more into trying to help young people try to achieve success.”

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Olympics

George �鶹��Ƶ alum helped keep Team USA Safe at the Winter Olympics

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Ilia Malinin closes Olympic chapter with an unforgettable gala performance

Prepping for Gold and Prepping for More

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Fueling for gold: How nutrition impacts strength, speed, and recovery in Olympic athletes

Olympic athletes are competing at the highest level. How does nutrition fuel peak performance in training and competition?

What does a typical day of fueling look like for an elite winter athlete, such as a skier, skater, or hockey player?

What role do hydration, timing of meals, and recovery nutrition play in maximizing performance and preventing injury?

How do sports dietitians individualize nutrition plans based on an athlete’s sport, body composition goals, and metabolic demands?

For students interested in working with elite or competitive athletes, what training and skills are essential—and how?

In This Story

Key Takeaways

Related Stories

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�鶹��Ƶ Nation stands behind Ilia Malinin after Olympic setback

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George �鶹��Ƶ’s Ilia Malinin claims Olympic gold

Related News

Retro �鶹��Ƶ: Muzzio places fifth at the Barcelona Olympics, 1992

Muzzio Places Fifth at the Barcelona Olympics, 1992

Topics

Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball

Question:

Who was the first George �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball player to participate in the Olympics?

Answer: Tony Skinn, BA Communication '06, head coach for George �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball.

Topics

�鶹��Ƶ alum Mike Seium played a key role for Team Eritrea at Beijing Winter Olympic Games

In This Story

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