Armstrong Alum Luci Anderson Competes in Biathlon at Winter Olympics
Imagine skiing at max capacity, then suddenly holding your breath to hit a target the size of a golf ball from 50 meters away.
That is the biathlon, a sport that Armstrong High School grad and Golden Valley native Luci Anderson will compete in at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy.
“I’ve been on skis for as long as I can remember,” said Anderson.
Skiing since age 3, the road to the Olympics started early for Anderson.
“Every Sunday, I do remember we would go out and ski at Theodore Wirth, me and my siblings would be doing some kids groups while my mom would be out skiing,” said Anderson.
Anderson’s love of skiing led her to join Armstrong High School’s Nordic ski team where she experienced success, twice winning as a team at state.
“Skiing for Armstrong just made me fall more in love with the sport and realize how much fun that I have outside, just getting out there and active with my friends,” said Anderson.
But her cross country ski journey was about to take a turn.
While attending the University of New Hampshire, she tried a different snow sport.
“I’m never looking back. I love biathlon. It’s so fun. It’s so addicting,” said Anderson.
That sport combined her love of skiing with target shooting. The transition, however, was met with challenges.
“I didn’t grow up hunting at all, or doing anything with rifles,” said Anderson.
But she received help along the way with Anderson saying “the best of the best” taught her how to rifle shoot.
“I’ve gone from seeing her really struggling to hit the target and be really slow to now watch her on the World Cup and she’s really holding her own,” said Emma Stertz, Anderson’s Minnesota ski teammate and Minnesota Biathlon member.
Emma Stertz talks to CCX News at Elm Creek Park Reserve.
Stertz said the sport is extremely challenging.
“It’s been described before as like running up a flight of stairs and then immediately trying to thread a needle,” said Stertz.
Stertz is excited for the attention Anderson is bringing to biathlon.
“It brings a little more recognition to biathlon here in the state and hopefully we can grow it, get more people interested and involved and trying out this awesome sport,” said Stertz.
The world’s eyes will be on Anderson as she lives out her Olympic dreams.
“I would say to young women and young athletes in general, just to make sure you are having fun. Like that is the main priority in sport. Yes, be competitive, yes, do your best, but always have fun,” said Stertz.
Luci’s parents and sister are at the Olympics to cheer her on.
Luci’s other aspirations are to study pre-med or do cancer research.
Click here to follow Luci’s progress at 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
NOTE: Biathlon video during parts of story courtesy Minnesota Biathlon
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