Macuga sisters insist dream to signify Team USA at an Olympic Games is just not over

The Macuga sisters didn’t make it to the 2026 Winter Olympics, and that is OK with them, nicely, type of. 

After dominating the world stage of their respective disciplines — Alli, 22, competes in mogul; Lauren, 23, in ski alpine; and Sam, 24, who competes in ski jumps — they grew to become hopefuls for the Milano Cortina Games. But the dream of all three sisters competing in 2026 was swiftly crushed when Alli and Sam weren’t chosen for Team USA.

There was nonetheless an opportunity for Lauren, who took first place within the Super-G at St. Anton am Arlberg in January 2025, making her the primary American girl to win the occasion on the venue and the youngest since Lindsey Vonn to win an Alpine World Cup occasion. Weeks later, Lauren, who competed within the 2020 Youth Winter Olympics, gained bronze within the Super-G on the Alpine World Ski Championships. 

But in late November, she fell throughout a coaching run and tore her proper ACL, ending her season and hopes of competing in Italy.

“It was not even a good crash,” Lauren stated.

She instantly stood up after the autumn and did not really feel a lot ache till she went to take a step. 

“It’s heartbreaking,” she stated, “I had to call my mom riding down the gondola and that was one of the hardest things.”

Lauren instructed her to not fly out for the occasion, however her mother packed up the automobile and confirmed up anyway.

“I was really bummed for her, just knowing all the effort she put in and where she stood,” stated their father, Dan Macuga. “But we’ve got to just move on. She is an amazing skier. She’s going to be back stronger than ever,” he stated.

Dan additionally stated the important thing to Lauren’s success is that “she is always smiling,” which is one thing he performed an element in. 

“It was more about them enjoying what they were doing, than us trying to get them to be these elite athletes,” he stated about his daughters.

Holding onto that pleasure has been crucial a part of Lauren’s restoration. Her sisters saved issues gentle, joking about Lauren’s struggles to get down the steps on her crutches. Now, she’s making small features again within the gymnasium, already making ready for 2030. 

“You have to keep looking for the silver linings,” she stated.

And when requested if we might see her and her sisters competing 4 years from now, she gave a really Macuga-coded reply: “Definitely.”