BORMIO, Italy – You could tell, even with American downhill skier Bryce Bennett wearing sunglasses, there was still emotion behind those shades as he spoke with media at Stelvio Ski Centre.
Bennett had just given a memorable television interview. He teared up. That was while discussing his family. He also was coming off a respectable 13th-place showing in the men’s downhill, the first medal event of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics – and likely the final Olympic event of his career.
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The 33-year-old Bennett confirmed as much when asked about his reaction on camera. It was a combination of all those factors, he said.
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“The Olympics is just so much different than World Cup. You get so many more emotions,” said Bennett, who had competed in his third Olympics. “It just brings a lot more, I’d say, character to your race that you don’t necessarily get all the time every weekend on the regular tour.
“To use that energy as something special is what I’m honestly really enjoyed about the Olympics. It’s hard to get that all the time. It’s just heavy emotionally and mentally and physically.”
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Bennett became a father in the past year. Last March, his wife gave birth to a daughter, Kate.
While Bennett is a native Californian, his chosen career path has meant his family resides in Innsbruck, Austria. That’s not far from Bormio, where he posted a time of 1:53.45 in the Feb. 7 downhill competition, finishing second among four U.S. skiers, with his family in attendance.
Bryce Bennett of the United States during the men’s downhill skiing medal event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics Feb. 7, 2026 in Bormio, Italy.
“(My wife) has moved over here, basically,” Bennett said. “We have our little family living in Innsbruck. I go to the races and come back, just trying to keep some family together otherwise. We’re on the road 250 days a year as North Americans, and it’s difficult.”
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Bennett said he doesn’t think he’ll race again in these Olympics.
“I’m going to hang out for a few days,” he said, “and drink some Aperol Spritzes in Italy and hang out with the fam and get ready for the next World Cup.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Bryce Bennett cried after final Olympic downhill event, and what’s next
