MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Nick Baumgartner is obviously a world-class athlete, having competed in five Winter Olympics and winning a gold medal in Snowboard Cross at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. At the age of 40,
“It’s not like normal sports where you just hit a ball or catch a ball. You get to use your style and everything, and put that into there so you can express yourself. And every person rides a little bit differently. And that’s the cool thing about snowboarding,” explained Olympic gold medalist Nick Baumgartner.
Baumgartner is part athlete, part motivational speaker, part role model, and all Yooper.
“I like being able to represent this community, and I take it very seriously. I go out there, and I try to do the best that I can, and I try to leave a lasting memory with people, and then I invite them back. You want to see what it’s like up here? Come see us. Been to 40 countries. Lake Superior, still the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Baumgartner.
Since competing in his last Olympics, Nick has been training hard with teammates half his age and touring the U.P., speaking to school kids about what it takes to succeed.
“Maybe this story or my presentation is what they need to go up and give them that motivation and that push,” said Baumgartner.
Nick likes to show off his many Olympic outfits from his 16 years as a stalwart member of the US Olympic team.
in the world of snowboarding. It doesn’t get any bigger than Nick Baumgartner, but this role model to so many is still just that kid from Iron River.
“It’s wild, right? To go full circle from when I started this journey, first Olympics, no one really knew who I was, and now everyone knows who I am. I’m the most famous guy at the local grocery store,” joked Baumgartner.
Nick has no plans of slowing down. He leaves tomorrow to join his teammates in Colorado to start training for the next Olympics.
