{{Short description|American freestyle skier (born 1994)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Nick Goepper | image = Nick Goepper (cropped).png | caption = Goepper in 2022 | full_name = Nicholas Charles Goepper | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|3|14}}<ref name="sports-reference2">{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.org/us-ski-and-snowboard/athletes/Nick-Goepper |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110020110/http://www.teamusa.org/us-ski-and-snowboard/athletes/Nick-Goepper |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 10, 2015 |title=Nick Goepper |work=United States Olympic Committee |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> | birth_place = Ft. Wayne, Indiana, U.S.<ref name="sports-reference3">{{cite web |url=https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/OWG2018/en/freestyle-skiing/athlete-profile-n3023171-nick-goepper.htm |title=Athlete Profile – Nick GOEPPER |work=pyeongchang2018.com |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-date=February 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220153806/https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/OWG2018/en/freestyle-skiing/athlete-profile-n3023171-nick-goepper.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> | height = 6 ft 0 in<ref name="sports-reference2"/> | weight = 160 lb<ref name="sports-reference2"/> | education = Westminster College<ref name="sports-reference3"/> | country = {{USA}} | sport = Freestyle skiing | event = Slopestyle | club = | coach = Mike Jankowski<ref name="sports-reference3"/> | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's freestyle skiing}} {{Medal|Country|the {{USA}}}} {{Medal|Competition|Olympic Games}}<ref name="sports-reference">{{cite web |url=https://data.fis-ski.com/dynamic/athlete-biography.html?sector=FS&competitorid=170000 |title=Athlete: GOEPPER Nicholas |work=International Ski Federation |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> {{Medal|Silver|2018 Pyeongchang|Slopestyle}} {{Medal|Silver|2022 Beijing|Slopestyle}} {{Medal|Bronze|2014 Sochi|Slopestyle}} {{Medal|Competition|World Championships}}<ref name="sports-reference"/> {{Medal|Silver|2025 Engadin|Halfpipe}} {{Medal|Bronze|2013 Voss|Slopestyle}} {{Medal|Bronze|2019 Utah|Slopestlye}} {{Medal|Competition|Winter X Games}}<ref name="sports-reference"/> {{Medal|Gold|2013 Aspen|Slopestyle}} {{Medal|Gold|2014 Aspen|Slopestyle}} {{Medal|Gold|2015 Aspen|Slopestyle}} {{Medal|Gold|2021 Aspen|Slopestyle}} {{Medal|Gold|2025 Aspen|Superpipe}} {{Medal|Silver|2012 Aspen|Slopestyle}} {{Medal|Silver|2017 Norway|Slopestyle}} }}
'''Nicholas Charles Goepper''' (born March 14, 1994) is an American Olympic freestyle skier. Representing the United States, Goepper won a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and won a silver medal at both the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/usas-nick-goepper-wins-silver-medal-freeski-slopestyle |title=USA's Nick Goepper wins silver medal in freeski slopestyle |last=Smith |first=Shawn |date=February 18, 2018 |work=NBC Olympics |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218125256/http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/usas-nick-goepper-wins-silver-medal-freeski-slopestyle |url-status=dead }}</ref> He has also won five gold medals and two silver medals at the Winter X Games.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web |url=http://xgames.espn.com/xgames/athletes/3015563/nick-goepper |title=Nick Goepper's official X Games athlete biography |date=January 24, 2018 |work=ESPN |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-date=February 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219151129/http://xgames.espn.com/xgames/athletes/3015563/nick-goepper |url-status=dead }}</ref> His sponsors include PowerBar,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.powerbar.com/story/nick-goepper/ |title=Nick Goepper – PowerBar |work=PowerBar, Inc |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> Red Bull,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/athlete/nick-goepper |title=Nick Goepper: Freeskiing – Red Bull Athlete Page |work=Red Bull |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> Kulkea, and Völkl.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.voelkl.com/en/athletes/nick-goepper |title=Nick Goepper Freestyle |work=Völkl |access-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216055133/https://www.voelkl.com/en/athletes/nick-goepper |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Early life== thumb|192x192px|Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, IN. Nick Goepper was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but raised in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. He has two younger sisters, one younger brother, and a cat. He began skiing at the age of five, started competing when he was eleven years old, and landed his first double backflip by thirteen.<ref name="ESPN"/>
==Career== In 2009, Goepper moved to Sandy, Oregon, where he attended school and trained with professional skiers at Windells Academy (now Wy'East Mountain Academy)<ref>{{cite web |title=Windells Academy formally changes name to Wy'East Mountain Academy |url=https://wyeastacademy.com/intro |website=Wy'East Mountain Academy |access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref> on a full ride scholarship under Head Coach Mike Hanley.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/edge/2016/03/16/training-with-nick-goepper-skiing-neuromuscular-workouts |title=Training with Nick Goepper: Inside his neuromuscular training |last=Wallerson |first=Ryan |date=March 16, 2016 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> He also attended Westminster College.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.org/us-ski-and-snowboard/athletes/Nick-Goepper |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110020110/http://www.teamusa.org/us-ski-and-snowboard/athletes/Nick-Goepper |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 10, 2015 |title=Nick Goepper |website=United States Olympic Committee}}</ref> Goepper won a gold medal at the 2013–14 FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Cardrona, New Zealand, and qualified for the 2014 Olympics at the 2013 Dew Tour in Breckenridge, Colorado. He placed first despite skiing with a broken hand and no poles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dewtour.com/news/best-nick-goepper-breckenridge-2017/ |title=Best of U.S. Ski Slopestyle Team Member Nick Goepper |date=February 9, 2018 |work=Dew Tour |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223051539/https://www.dewtour.com/news/best-nick-goepper-breckenridge-2017/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2023, Goepper lost motivation to compete amidst mental health struggles. However, with support from his family and team he resumed training and eventually moved from slopestyle to halfpipe and qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics in halfpipe, in a quest to become the first male skier to medal in both slopestyle and halfpipe.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keefer |first1=Zak |title=Nick Goepper was 'lost.' Then the three-time Olympic medalist had a wild idea |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6971923/2026/01/26/nick-goepper-us-olympics-freestyle-skiing-halfpipe/ |work=The New York Times |date=26 January 2026}}</ref>
==Awards== At the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Nick Goepper, Gus Kenworthy, and Joss Christensen swept the medal podium, winning bronze, silver, and gold, respectively, in men's slopestyle skiing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.olympic.org/photos/freestyle-skiing-slopestyle-men-medallists-1 |title=Freestyle Skiing – Slopestyle Men – Medalists |date=February 13, 2014 |work=Olympic.org |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> The all American trio appeared on the ''Late Show with David Letterman'' in New York City and were also featured together on a Kellogg's Corn Flakes cereal box. He was also featured on a Jif peanut butter jar. Goepper's hometown threw a parade for him when he returned, and Perfect North Slopes gave him a lifelong pass. He also met former Indiana Governor Mike Pence and threw the opening pitch of the season for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://usskiandsnowboard.org/news/athlete-spotlight-nick-goepper |title=Athletic Spotlight: Nick Goepper |date=August 1, 2014 |work=U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref>
Following the Pyeongchang Olympics, Goepper was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the most prestigious award an Indiana resident can receive. He later met President Donald Trump at the White House where he was mistakenly addressed as Mark Goepper.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-welcoming-u-s-olympic-team/ |title=Remarks by President Trump Welcoming the U.S. Olympic Team |date=April 27, 2018 |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |access-date=April 27, 2018}}</ref>
==Philanthropy== In December 2014, Goepper partnered with Wy'East Mountain Academy (formerly Windells Academy) to host a rail jam competition at Perfect North Slopes, which attracted more than 150 participants with all proceeds donated to "The Cure Starts Now Foundation".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://windells.com/2015/news/rail-jams-good-causes/ |title=Rail Jams for Good Causes |last=Arens |first=Jason |date=January 29, 2015 |work=Windells Academy |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223110919/http://windells.com/2015/news/rail-jams-good-causes/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Goepper also serves as a Trustee on Wy'East's inaugural not-for-profit board of trustees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wyeastacademy.com/board-of-trustees |title=Board of Trustees |website=Wy'East Mountain Academy |access-date=7 December 2020}}</ref> In June 2017, he joined a group of Olympic athletes on a week mission trip to Kigali, Rwanda, organized by "Kids Play International".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kidsplayintl.org/kpi-exchange_rwanda/ |title=U.S. Olympians and NFL Players travel to Rwanda to Celebrate Olympic Day |work=Kids Play International |date=June 2017 |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref>
==Public appearances== In 2014, Goepper and his mother were featured in the NBC Sports televised series ''How to Raise an Olympian'' sponsored by the P&G "Thank You, Mom" campaign. His mother, Linda, recalled Goepper spending all day skiing in the terrain park at Perfect North Slopes and building ramps/jumps in the family backyard to use year-round. Goepper talked about watching hours of freestyle skiing videos of professionals. His sisters, both gymnasts at the time, taught him flips and helped coach him before competitions. Goepper also mentioned selling candy bars on the school bus, mowing neighbors' lawns, and babysitting children to pay for his skiing-related expenses when his father, Chris, lost his job during the Great Recession.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2014/02/04/lawrenceburg-raised-goepper-to-olympic-glory/5215427/ |title=Lawrenceburg raised Goepper to Olympic glory |date=February 4, 2014 |work=Cincinnati.com |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref>
Before heading to his first Olympics, Goepper attended the 71st Golden Globe Awards where he met celebrities like Usher, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, actress Reese Witherspoon, former professional boxer Mike Tyson, and singer Taylor Swift.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
Before competing in his second Olympics, Goepper was interviewed by ''People'' Magazine. He said he had a panic attack throwing rocks at some cars shortly after the Sochi Olympics. However, he immediately confessed to the police and paid about $8,000 for damages. Goepper also shared his struggle with suicidal thoughts. "There came a point when I was drinking every day, and I was constantly thinking about ways to end my own life," he said. He was admitted into a rehabilitation center in Houston, Texas for two months and has since recovered.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://people.com/sports/winter-olympics-2018-nick-goepper-skier-gold-medal-hopes/ |title=Returning Olympic Medalist Nick Goepper: Why I Spoke Out About My Substance Abuse, Mental Health |last=Carlson |first=Adam |date=February 17, 2018 |work=People Magazine |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref>
==Personal life== On May 4, 2018, Goepper proposed to his girlfriend in Marco Island, Florida, and announced their engagement on Instagram with the caption, "She's stuck with me forever! Lizzy Braun-not-for-long" However, based on socials, it looks as though they are divorced and no longer living in the same state. They also do not follow each other on Instagram.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wlwt.com/article/hometown-hero-nick-goepper-is-engaged/20168389 |title=Hometown hero Nick Goepper is engaged |date=May 4, 2018 |work=WLWT5 Cincinnati |access-date=May 4, 2018}} </ref> Besides skiing, he enjoys surfing and skateboarding which he claims are helpful for cross-training.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.fox19.com/clip/9902945/another-side-of-nick-goepper |title=Another Side of Nick Goepper |date=March 2, 2014 |work=FOX19 WXIX Cincinnati |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522181313/http://m.fox19.com/clip/9902945/another-side-of-nick-goepper |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In December 2014, Nick Goepper confessed to Dearborn County Sheriff's department that he was the "unknown local" who had been throwing rocks at traveling cars, damaging personal property & threatening driver safety.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fox19.com/story/27670675/local-olympian-charged-for-throwing-rocks-at-vehicles/ |title=Local Olympian accused of throwing rocks at vehicles |date=December 19, 2014 |work=FOX19 |access-date=September 17, 2019}}</ref> Goepper was forced to pay $8,000 in fines in lieu of jail time for reckless endangerment.
Nick Goepper's family attended the Olympics in Sochi, Russia, to cheer him on. Linda Goepper, Nick's mom, said that she never doubted her son being able to compete with the highest-ranked athletes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/the-joyful-stress-of-being-the-mom-of-an-olympian |title=The joyful stress of being the mom of an Olympian |last=Hebert |first=Cyndee |date=2018-01-16 |website=13 WTHR Indianapolis |language=en |access-date=2019-11-03 |archive-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020210837/https://www.wthr.com/article/the-joyful-stress-of-being-the-mom-of-an-olympian |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{FIS freestyle skier}} * {{U.S. Ski & Snowboard}} * {{Team USA|new_id=nick-goepper|old_id=GO/Nick-Goepper|archive=20230605090747}} * {{X Games|old_id=3015563}} * [https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/athlete-details/24071 Nick Goepper] at Milano Cortina 2026 * {{Olympedia}} * {{InterSportStats}} * {{Instagram}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goepper, Nick}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:American male freestyle skiers Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in freestyle skiing Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in freestyle skiing Category:Freestyle skiers at the 2014 Winter Olympics Category:Freestyle skiers at the 2018 Winter Olympics Category:Freestyle skiers at the 2022 Winter Olympics Category:Freestyle skiers at the 2026 Winter Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2018 Winter Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2022 Winter Olympics Category:X Games competitors Category:Sportspeople from Indiana Category:Sportspeople from Dearborn County, Indiana Category:People from Lawrenceburg, Indiana Category:People from Sandy, Oregon Category:Sportspeople from Clackamas County, Oregon Category:21st-century American sportsmen