.png&type=webp)
University of New Hampshire Athletics
Photo by: UNH Athletics
Nancy Gustafson '88 Inducted Into U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame
5/19/2026 2:36:00 PM | Skiing
With the honor, Gustafson became the first female UNH alum to join the Hall of Fame.
DURHAM, N.H. — Former University of New Hampshire skier Nancy Gustafson was inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame on April 11, becoming the eighth UNH alum to earn the honor and the first Wildcat to be inducted in 50 years.
Gustafson's career was marked with early successes, achieving podium finishes at the Junior 3 Eastern Regional Championships when she was 13 years old before securing a second-place finish at Junior 2 Nationals and third place finishes in both the slalom and giant slalom events at the 1983 Junior 1 National Championships.
The Pittsfield, Mass., native continued her career at UNH, skiing for the Wildcats during her freshman and sophomore seasons before an accident during practice at the 1985 NCAA Championships left her with paralysis in her left arm and hand.
Despite the injury, Gustafson returned to competition through adaptive ski racing and competed during her senior season before advancing to the 1986 World Disabled Ski Championships, where she won four gold medals. Gustafson added another five gold medals at the 1990 World Championships before taking home two bronze medals at the 1996 World Championships.
Gustafson's success carried into the Paralympic Winter Games, where she won a silver medal in downhill in 1988 before capturing three gold medals in downhill, giant slalom, and slalom in 1992 and four more in downhill, giant slalom, slalom, and super-G in 1994.
Before retiring from competition at age 32, Gustafson totaled 33 gold medals, six silver medals, and one bronze across U.S. and Canadian National Championships, while being named the Colorado Amateur Sports Athlete of the Year in 1989 and the United States Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year in both 1989 and 1993.
Gustafson was inducted into the UNH Hall of Fame in 1999.
Follow the UNH Ski Team
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unhskiteam
X - https://x.com/unhskiing
Gustafson's career was marked with early successes, achieving podium finishes at the Junior 3 Eastern Regional Championships when she was 13 years old before securing a second-place finish at Junior 2 Nationals and third place finishes in both the slalom and giant slalom events at the 1983 Junior 1 National Championships.
The Pittsfield, Mass., native continued her career at UNH, skiing for the Wildcats during her freshman and sophomore seasons before an accident during practice at the 1985 NCAA Championships left her with paralysis in her left arm and hand.
Despite the injury, Gustafson returned to competition through adaptive ski racing and competed during her senior season before advancing to the 1986 World Disabled Ski Championships, where she won four gold medals. Gustafson added another five gold medals at the 1990 World Championships before taking home two bronze medals at the 1996 World Championships.
Gustafson's success carried into the Paralympic Winter Games, where she won a silver medal in downhill in 1988 before capturing three gold medals in downhill, giant slalom, and slalom in 1992 and four more in downhill, giant slalom, slalom, and super-G in 1994.
Before retiring from competition at age 32, Gustafson totaled 33 gold medals, six silver medals, and one bronze across U.S. and Canadian National Championships, while being named the Colorado Amateur Sports Athlete of the Year in 1989 and the United States Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year in both 1989 and 1993.
Gustafson was inducted into the UNH Hall of Fame in 1999.
Follow the UNH Ski Team
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unhskiteam
X - https://x.com/unhskiing
UNH Gymnastics vs George Washington/LIU/North Carolina
Thursday, May 14
2026 Todd Walker Presentation
Wednesday, May 06
2026 WESPYs
Tuesday, May 05
Sean Goldrich - Forged in Durham
Monday, May 04