Nicole “Nikki” Stone was the first American to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport of Aerial Freestyle skiing. She did this in 1998 while competing in the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

While growing up in Park City, Utah, Nikki Stone dreamed of the day when she would participate in the Olympics. Many years of hard work, perseverance and practice helped her attain this goal.

Nikki Stone, 31, was the first Freestyle competitor from any country to have won every major title in Freestyle aerials including: Rookie of the Year, National Aerial Champion, World Cup Aerial Champion, Overall Aerial World Cup Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist in Aerial Freestyle skiing, World Champion and Overall Freestyle Grand Prix World Cup Champion.

After joining the United States Freestyle Ski Team in 1991, Nikki won 4 United States Championships, 11 World Cup competitions, a World Championship gold, 2 Grand Prix World Cup Aerial titles, the Overall Freestyle World Cup Grand Prix Title, and in 1998, an Olympic Gold Medal.

She retired from competition in 1999. Nikki, a 1997 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Union College, resides in Park City, Utah with her husband, Michael. Here she runs Podium Enterprises, a motivational speaking company, devoting much of her time doing volunteer work for organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Olympic Aid and the United States Olympic Committee.

Nicole “Nikki” L. Stone was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 2002.