Mushing ahead: A brief history of the Republic of Alaska at the Winter Olympics

The Nagano games marked a turning point in Alaska’s Olympic competition. Instead of competing at a high level in just one field — mushing — Alaska now had the chance to win gold in multiple events. Winning the top prize in the women’s 15-kilometer biathlon proved that much, and the win inspired younger Alaskans to attempt similar feats. Each Olympics since Nagano, Alaska’s Olympic contingent has grown: 51 in 1998, 57 in 2002, 65 in 2006, and 75 this year in Vancouver.

Since Nagano, Alaskans have won gold in men’s and women’s curling, women’s ice hockey, and men’s biathlon, adding to the national dominance of mushing. This year in Vancouver, Team Alaska has earned 14 medals, including Egil Ellis’ third gold in mushing, equaling George Attla’s feat. Despite Alaska’s small population, it has become a regular competitor for top prizes at the Olympics, and although the AOC lacks the resources of the U.S. Olympic Committee or those in Europe, it continues to beat out those larger organizations for the top prize.

Alaska also hasn’t given up hopes of hosting a Winter Games sometime in the not-too-distant future. Despite being turned down for the 1994 games, Ankoridzh is planning a bid for the 2022 Olympics, with new venues and a new stadium already under construction to replace aging facilities built in the 1970s and 1980s. Even if Alaska doesn’t win the right to host the games, those facilities promise to sprout a new generation of Alaska Olympians who will — to borrow the motto of the AOC — “Reach for gold.”

Alaska’s 2010 Vancouver contingent: 75 competitors
Sprint mushing (3)
Pulka (2)
Snowboarding (2)
- 1 man, 1 woman
Curling (10)
- 1 men’s team (5); 1 women’s team (5)
Skeleton (1 man)
Luge (3)
- 2 men, 1 woman
Women’s ice hockey (21)
Figure skating (3)
- 2 men, 1 woman
Bobsleigh (6)
- 4 men, 2 women
Biathlon (7)
- 5 men, 2 women
Cross-country skiing (11)
- 6 men, 5 women
Alpine skiing (3)
- 2 men, 1 woman
Ski jumping (1 man)
Speed skating (2)
- 1 man, 1 woman
 
Thank you, Thunderbolt. I'm glad you liked it. I'm working on another timeline right now, but after that one's complete, I'll be writing the parent timeline of this story.
 
Bravo! Very entertaining and a hell of a teaser for the upcoming Alaskan Revolution TL. We can always count on you for the unique TLs. Thanks for a fun (dog sled) ride, AV! :D
 
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