The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games unfolded as a kaleidoscope of color, from the iconic Olympic rings to the vibrant national uniforms sported by athletes from around the globe. Woven into that international display was a distinct thread of maroon as five Colgate alumnae, four on the ice and one behind the camera, made their mark on the world stage.
Colgate’s presence spanned both competition and coverage. Cate Gropper ’14, a line producer for NBC News, helped bring the 2026 Games to audiences around the world, while four women’s ice hockey players — Kayle Osborne ’24 for Team Canada and Team Czechia’s Kristýna Kaltounková ’24, Noemi Neubauerová ’22, and incoming first-year Linda Vocetková — competed under the Olympic spotlight. Canada finished with the silver medal, while Czechia placed fifth.
For Osborne, Kaltounková, and Neubauerová, Milan marked another milestone in already accomplished careers. Kaltounková entered the games fresh off being drafted No. 1 overall by the New York Sirens in the 2025 PWHL Draft, while Osborne, a standout goaltender for the Raiders, now starts in net for the same franchise. Neubauerová, meanwhile, returned for her second Olympics after debuting in Beijing in 2022, when the COVID-19 pandemic was still limiting fan turnout.
“This year’s games were really different,” Neubauerová says. “At Milan, the stands were full of people, which was an extremely cool experience.”
That energy extended beyond the rink. In one surreal moment, Neubauerová crossed paths with hockey legend Sidney Crosby in the dining hall, serving as a reminder of the rare, shared space the games create among the world’s best athletes. Still, for Neubauerová, the true meaning of the Olympics runs much deeper.
“We put so much emphasis on this tournament because it means so much to represent all the people who believed in you and helped you to get where you are now,” Neubauerová says. “It’s also an opportunity to represent yourself and all your hard work.”
For Kaltounková, that same sense of responsibility defines every time she steps out onto the ice. “No matter what tournament it is, whenever I put on that beautiful jersey, I focus on being the best version of me on and off the ice because I am always representing my country and the people there,” Kaltounková says.
Vocetková, the youngest member of Team Czechia who is set to arrive at Colgate this fall, experienced the games with a mix of nerves and determination. However, uncertainty quickly gave way to focus when the reality of the moment set in. “I really wanted to help my team as much as I could,” Vocetková says. “Whether cheering them on or being on the ice fighting for them, I was locked in.”
Vocetková actually learned about Colgate through Neubauerová — who had once coached her at a summer camp before becoming her teammate — and Kaltounková, as an ideal place to grow as a player and a student.
“Linda is one of my closest friends on the team,” Kaltounková says. “Colgate is getting an amazing human being who is incredibly good at hockey and will better the already wonderful, tight-knit community in Hamilton. I am looking forward to seeing how great she does and cannot wait to support her through it all.”