Durham Native on Her Way to the Olympics in Italy

  • Posted February 3, 2026
A magazine cover showing Grace in her ski outfit wearing a helmet and goggles.

Courtesy of the Henderson family.

Story originally published in the Town of Durham's Friday Updates - January 30, 2026.

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Hometown standout Grace Henderson has earned a spot on Team USA and will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina this February.

Grace, 24, has been chasing her Olympic dream since childhood. She began skiing at a young age and has been a member of the U.S. Freeski Team since just 15 years old. A proud product of Moharimet Elementary School and ORMS, Grace went on to attend Waterville Valley Ski Academy to pursue her passion for competitive skiing.

Grace is a 2024 graduate of the University of Utah, where she earned a degree in Psychology, balancing academic success with the demands of elite international competition. For the past eight years, she has competed on the World Cup circuit in Slopestyle and Big Air—two of freeskiing’s most exciting and technically demanding events.

Slopestyle challenges athletes to navigate a course filled with rails and jumps, where creativity, style, and technical skill are on full display. Big Air features a single massive jump—often exceeding 60 feet—where athletes are judged on difficulty, execution, grabs, and amplitude.

The 2025–26 season marked an Olympic qualification year, and Grace rose to the occasion. Strong performances, including a 6th-place finish in Stubai, Austria, and a 9th-place finish in Aspen, Colorado, earned her enough points to rank among the top four U.S. women selected to represent Team USA in Italy.

Grace now trains full time in Park City, Utah, at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team’s Center of Excellence. She shares that journey with her brother, Hunter Henderson, who is also a member of the U.S. Freeski Team. Hunter has been named the men’s Team USA first alternate and plans to travel to Italy to cheer on his sister while remaining ready to compete if called upon.

From local slopes to the world’s biggest stage, Grace Henderson’s Olympic selection is a point of pride for her family, coaches, and hometown community—and a testament to years of dedication, perseverance, and passion.