Choose between football and skiing? Sammy Smith can do both

The Olympic Games officially begin on Friday, February 6. And although football logically belongs in the summer games, it is also represented here, even though you might not expect it. Sammy Smith represents the United States in cross-country skiing. In addition to her ski suit, she also wears a Stanford jersey. 

It is not uncommon for female football players to be involved in other sports, either currently or in the past. Stina Blackstenius and Fridolina Rolfö played handball, Leah Williamson was a gymnast, and Jackie Groenen is even the Dutch judo champion in the under-15 and under-17 categories. 

On the other hand, the world's best floorball player, Maja Viström, used to play football and even represented Sweden in youth categories before deciding to devote herself to floorball. However, most of them had to choose at a certain age which sport they wanted to focus on. 

Once-in-a-generation athlete

But not Sammy Smith, who is part of the Stamford soccer team in the NCAA league and has even represented the United States national team in the under-17 and under-20 categories. Now Smith has a completely different mission ahead of her: she will represent the US at the Olympics in Milan and Cortina in cross-country skiing.

The US Ski Federation describes her as a once-in-a-generation athlete. And they are right. Playing football at such a high level while also qualifying for the Olympic Games, which is the peak that many athletes try to reach for four long years, is extremely rare. This makes the story of Sammy Smith, a girl from Idaho who skied in the winter and played football in the warmer months, all the more remarkable.