Alumnus and Olympic bobsledder Hunter Powell will be University-wide Commencement speaker
Published: March 30, 2026 12:34 PM
Contact for reporters:
Allison Sylte
Cell: 720-849-1907
[email protected]
Hunter Powell had dreamed of being an Olympian for as long as he could remember. But he had no idea the thousands of hours he spent training for the decathlon on Colorado State University’s Jack Christiansen Memorial Track would propel him to a career launching himself down a radically different type of track at 90 miles per hour.
“Becoming a bobsledder was certainly a pivot, but I don’t think the dream ever changed,” Powell said in an interview when he stopped by campus last week. “My goal was to be an Olympian, and that meant becoming the type of man who chases excellence in everything he does, regardless of the discipline.”
Powell, who grew up in Fort Collins, was a member of Team USA in the four-man bobsled during February’s 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. Now, he will share lessons from his unconventional Olympic journey at CSU’s University-wide Commencement, set for 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, at Canvas Stadium.
The University-wide Commencement brings together graduates from all colleges to celebrate their academic achievements and their transition into alumni in one large, tradition-filled ceremony at Canvas Stadium.
CSU President Amy Parsons said Powell’s story about chasing his dreams and committing himself to a life of hard work is the perfect message for new graduates.
“As a Fort Collins local and proud CSU alum, Hunter Powell embodies the spirit of the Ram community,” Parsons said. “His journey – from multi-sport standout and conference champion to Team USA Olympic bobsledder – shows the determination and adaptability required to pursue bold goals. We’re thrilled he’ll inspire our graduates as they begin their next chapter.”
Relentless drive leads to winning CSU track career
Powell competed in cross country, wrestling and track and field at Fort Collins High School, but didn’t run for the varsity team until he was a senior. He didn’t receive a single letter offering him a spot on a collegiate athletics team. But that didn’t stop him from pursuing his Olympic dream, and he later walked on to track teams at both Western State and Baylor universities.
Powell did not find his athletic home until he returned to Fort Collins and enrolled at CSU, where he forged a connection with then-Coach Ryan Baily and began devoting himself to the decathlon. This meant endless laps around the track to build his speed and grueling sled-pull workouts to increase his power.
“I’m the first to say I’m not the most talented, but I like to think I’m the hardest working guy in the room,” Powell said.
That hard work paid off. He became the Mountain West champion in both the indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon during his senior year, 2019. Then, his national championship dreams were derailed by an injury that forced him to withdraw from the meet after competing in just one event.
Still, that didn’t stop Powell for long. After graduating from CSU with a physics degree, he continued to train for the decathlon and worked as a volunteer track coach at CSU.
Powell was still trying to make the summer Olympics up until 2024, when his now-fiancee Kaysha Love persuaded him to put his unique combination of speed and power to the test at a bobsled combine event.
Love was a former track star herself at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She found a new direction in racing the monobob, a female-only bobsled event in which one person handles all aspects of the run. She won the world championship in 2025, and had already punched her own ticket to Italy for the 2026 Olympics with hopes that Powell would join her.
“She knew what she was talking about, and as usual, she was right,” Powell said.
An Olympic career, but not the one he expected
Powell followed his then-girlfriend’s advice and competed in the 2024 Salt Lake City bobsled combine alongside 150 other athletes. The top three attended a rookie camp in Lake Placid, New York, and Powell outperformed everyone during a series of tests to see how he could adapt his athleticism to bobsled’s unique demands.
Just a few weeks later, he was named to the U.S. national team, a notable development considering he didn’t compete in a single winter sport back in Colorado.
“I mean, I like it now because I don’t really have a choice, but I’ve always hated the cold! I’m definitely a summer sports type of person,” Powell said.
Even so, Powell found he had a talent for bobsled – the first time he experienced such a natural fit. In his role – as brakeman – he propels a 450-pound sled as quickly as possible down an icy track before jumping in, staying still and aerodynamic, and doing everything possible to avoid a potentially catastrophic crash.
“My first time in a bobsled was terrifying. It’s like being on a combination of the scariest rollercoaster you’ve ever been on in your life as well as stuck inside of a washing machine,” he said. “It’s also exhilarating and very addicting.”
His four-man bobsled team finished 11th in the 2026 Olympics, and Powell said he already has his eyes set on wearing the red, white and blue in the 2030 games. Before that, he’s looking forward to adopting a giant Schnauzer puppy, a wedding and, of course, delivering a commencement address to thousands of fellow Rams and their families at Canvas Stadium.
“I’m proud to be someone who on paper shouldn’t have ever been able to make it to the Olympic Games, but was able to prove everyone who doubted me wrong,” Powell said. “None of this would have been possible without CSU. We have the best coaches, the best people, and they’ve made me the best version of myself. I want to give back to this community because it has done so much for me.”
Commencement info
- University-wide Commencement will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at Canvas Stadium on the Colorado State University campus.
- The university-wide event is accompanied by 20 recognition ceremonies hosted by colleges and academic units on Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16. At the recognition ceremonies, graduates cross the stage, names are read and diploma covers are distributed. Recognition ceremonies are ticketed events.
- All students eligible to participate in University-wide Commencement and recognition ceremonies must RSVP through RAMweb no later than May 8.
University-wide Commencement does not require tickets, and campus parking will be free and open to guests throughout commencement events.