PITTSFORD, N.Y. — With the 2026 Winter Olympics just a week away and Pittsford native Chris Lillis, a gold medalist, is preparing to head to Italy. The aerial skier is excited to compete in front of fans, something he missed during the 2022 Olympics in Beijing due to COVID-19.
Lillis won gold in the aerial freestyle skiing team event in Beijing. He’s been training with Team USA in Lake Placid, a familiar location for the New Yorker who has spent much of his life training and competing there. He mentioned that the extreme cold and snow have made it challenging to get the mountain conditions just right for the athletes.
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“Just trying to push and really just, you know, clean up last-minute details before we get over there,” Lillis said. “These last few weeks at Olympic training camp can be really important just to, you know, hone in on some fine-tuning and, you know, just make sure everything’s ready as far as game plan and strategy.”
Lillis and the team plan to drive to Montreal next Wednesday, Feb. 4, and fly to the games from there.
“You’d be surprised how normal we feel. I’m a competitive athlete. I’ve been doing it all my life,” Lillis said. “Honestly, it’s like everything feels a little bit, you know, kind of overwhelming sometimes until we actually get out on the hill and then everything feels pretty normal. And, it’s just a competition,” he added.
Reflecting on his journey from childhood to his second Winter Games, Lillis expressed gratitude and fulfillment.
“Sometimes it’s, you know, I can’t believe it’s actually here. And I get to live this dream every single day,” Lillis said. “Other times it’s, you know, kind of feels like where I was always meant to be. And, you know, when you start training for something since you’re a little kid and dreaming of these moments, since you’re a little kid. Honestly, most of the time when I get here, it kind of just feels like the natural culmination of where I’m supposed to be. Based on how I’ve lived my life,” he said.
Skiing is a family affair for the Lillis’. Chris Lillis was inspired by his older brother, Jon, who is also an Olympian.
“For me, one of my greatest resorts, is being my older brother John. We trained and competed with each other for years. He competed on the World Cup tour. He competed in world championships. He competed in the Olympics. We did that together for a while,’ he said. “And so, you know, “When I’m kind of going through things where I just need a sounding board and someone to bounce things off of, he’s just a great resource for me, not only just being my brother and someone who’s, you know, wants the best for me and is supporting me through this, but also as an athlete who knows what he’s talking about,” Lillis added.
He is also looking forward to participating in the opening games ceremony and spending time in the Olympic Village. “I’m planning on, you know, soaking up every minute of this Olympic experience until they kick me out of the village, basically,” he said.
Skiers will compete at Livigno Aerials and Moguls Park near the Swiss border, about 150 miles north of Milan. More about the park can be found here. His family will also be traveling to Italy to support him. You can see their interview here.
News10NBC is your home for the Winter Olympics, which kick off after the opening ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6. Make sure to follow our coverage during the games.
Local gold medalist prepares for second Olympic Games WHEC.com.
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