2 Vail mogul skiers named to 2026 U.S. Olympic team
Liz Lemley will make her debut in Milano Cortina while Tess Johnson qualified for her second Olympic team.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP photo
Tess Johnson and Liz Lemley are headed to the 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina next month.
The former Ski and Snowboard Club Vail mogul skiers were named to the U.S. roster after the World Cup competition on Jan. 16 at Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire. Lemley claimed her second-straight runner-up finish while Johnson placed eighth.
“I’m feeling pretty awesome,” Lemley told U.S. Ski and Snowboard. “I’ve dreamed of it since I was a kid, like everybody. And it feels great after a lot of work this summer. I’m just super proud of myself.”
Lemley burst onto the scene when she placed fourth in her World Cup debut as a 15-year-old. Later that year, she went on to win two medals, including a gold, at the 2022 Junior World Ski Championships. The 19-year-old also claimed three World Cup podiums in 2023 and won a pair of Youth Olympic gold medals in 2024. Lemley started working with former SSCV moguls program director John Dowling in advance of the 2024-25 season, but she did not make a start after suffering a season-ending injury prior to the World Cup opener in Ruka, Finland.
Johnson made her first Olympic team in 2018 but missed out in 2022, despite being ranked fifth in the overall standings at the time. She enjoyed her best season ever in 2025 — claiming her first World Cup win in seven years and following it up with a dual moguls silver medal at the world championships in March. The string of performances was made all the more impressive considering Johnson had spinal surgery in April 2023.
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But her 2026 campaign has been even better.
The 25-year-old won the season opener and has claimed three podiums in five events this year. She also has a fourth-place finish and is currently second in the overall cup standings.
Jaelin Kauf already qualified for the U.S. moguls team based winning the overall crystal globe last season. The fourth and final slot will be determined on or before Jan. 20.
The women’s Olympic moguls finals is slated for Feb. 10, with the duals following on Feb. 14.
