Meet Sammy Smith — maybe the most impressive 20‑year‑old in sports right now.
She played in the 2022 U‑17 Women’s World Cup, started for Stanford in the NCAA title game, and this month… she’s representing Team USA in cross‑country skiing at the Winter Olympics.
Soccer star. World‑class skier. Full‑time Stanford student.
She grew up in Boise playing everything — soccer, track, football, hockey, swimming, Nordic and freestyle skiing. She won multiple Gatorade Player of the Year awards, competed in two different World Cups five months apart, and even beat Jessie Diggins in a sprint heat last year.
And she’s doing all of this while studying environmental systems engineering at Stanford and running a nonprofit, GO BIG Inc., with her sisters to support underprivileged youth.
So how does she manage it all?
“Efficiency is a huge part of my life,” she says. She packs her classes tightly to create long, focused blocks for training and studying. She sets time limits, avoids distractions, and stays committed to what matters most.
“It’s hard, and you’re gonna make sacrifices. For me, what matters most is my love of sport and my love of school.”
People told her it wasn’t possible. She did it anyway.
Soccer star. Olympic skier. One athlete showing you don’t have to choose.
For more inspirational Olympic stories and messages check out Challenger Deep: Athletes Rising Above Adversity: https://www.amazon.com/Challenger-Deep-Athletes-Rising-Adversity/dp/B0CWGQNNNQ
Tami Matheny is a Mental Game Coach, Author, and Speaker. She works with athletes, teams, coaches, and parents on how to build and maintain confidence. For more information on how to book Tami contact tami@tamimatheny. For resources visit: www.tamimatheny.com/shop.