American Samoa has one athlete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China.
He is Nathan Ikon Crumpton, whom the American Samoa National Olympic Committee describes as “an accomplished international skeleton racer.”
Nathan finished the season ranked 26th in the World, including a 5th place overall finish on the Intercontinental Cup Tour, and qualified for the Olympics with a higher IBSF ranking than perennial winter sport powerhouses Switzerland, Canada, and the USA.
“I’m honored to have qualified for the Winter Olympics and to represent American Samoa, as well as a region of the world that does not often participate in the Winter Games,” Nathan said. “This has been a long journey, over a decade in the making, with many setbacks, financial constraints, and injuries along the way. But I’m excited to see it through to the finish line.”
American Samoa last competed in the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Games with a 2-Man Bobsled Team.
He was previously a member of the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Federation, as well as an All-Ivy League Track & Field star at Princeton University, and is now the first athlete to represent American Samoa in both the Summer Olympics (Athletics, Tokyo 2020) and Winter Olympics (Skeleton, Beijing 2022).
Samoa’s international award winning photojournalist, Barry Markowitz, who is credentialed to attend the Beijing Olympics, is fascinated by Nathan’s courage, “Nathan will approach speeds of 80 mph with his face 1/2″ above the ice on a curvy 1 mile run. Like the fans cheering on site, our South Pacific families will be screaming with island pride. Nathan is going to rock!”
Nathan’s multi-ethnic background of Polynesian, Chinese, and European heritage, along with the fact that he was born in Kenya and raised primarily in Africa, embodies many of the ideals of Olympism, including the aspirations for diversity, inclusivity, and human solidarity.
Ethan Lake, ASNOC Secretary General, said, “Nathan is a proud islander who serves as a pioneer for our Samoan heritage to compete in non-conventional island sport. With inspiration from Nathan’s Olympic appearances, our young men and women who may live in snowy Colorado, Utah, Alaska, or even Washington State may couple their physical prowess with coaching to expand American Samoa’s positive presence on the world sporting stage.”
ASNOC President Ed Imo praised Nathan’s athletic achievements and efforts to serve, “Nathan is not just about Nathan. Here in the Territory Nathan continues to work with the youth and the community at large to impart a positive vision of achievement in their daily lives.”
Hawaii-based award winning photojournalist Barry Markowitz who is credentialed to attend the Beijing Olympics, is fascinated by Nathan’s courage. “Nathan will approach speeds of 80 mph with his face 1/2″ above the ice on a curvy 1 mile run. Like the fans cheering on site, our South Pacific families will be screaming with island pride. Nathan is going to rock!”
