Redding resident qualifies for 2026 Winter Olympics

A longtime Redding resident will be competing in this year’s Winter Olympics. 

Troy Samuel Chang will represent Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) in alpine ski racing in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games being held in Cortina d’Ampezzo and Milan, Italy. He holds dual citizenship with the U.S. and Taiwan, according to a press release announcing his Olympic qualification. 

Chang attended Redding School of the Arts and Shasta High School, and raced for the Mt. Shasta Ski Club and Shasta High School ski teams. He’s a graduate of Sugar Bowl Academy in Lake Tahoe, a premier ski racing academy, and currently attends the University of California San Diego with a major in international business. 

In the press release he said that it’s an honor to have qualified for the Olympics “while carrying the support of Taiwan and my hometown in Redding, my coaches, teammates, and family.” 

Chang said he had a late start to the “high-performance sport,” which he began at age 10. The press release stated that he has competed extensively in FIS-sanctioned events in North America, Asia and Europe, “securing Olympic qualification in one of the most competitive disciplines in winter sport despite competing at a statistically young age, 20 years old versus the median age of 26 for the rest of the field.” 

“His Olympic appearance also highlights the growing global reach of alpine skiing in Asia and the emergence of athletes representing nations beyond traditional winter-sport favorites,” the press release explained. 

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place from Feb. 6 to 22 at multiple locations in northern Italy. 

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