By Allie Brawley
Nick Baumgartner, an Olympic snowboarder from Iron River, Michigan, is no stranger to perseverance, hard work and hometown pride. Growing up in the rugged landscape of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Baumgartner’s journey to Olympic glory began with a love for the outdoors and an unshakable determination. His roots in the U.P. shaped him into the world-class athlete he is today, resulting in a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in the mixed snowboard cross event. Nick’s story is not only one of athletic triumph but of grit, community and the power of never giving up.
Baumgartner’s Olympic journey began with his desire to feel included with his three older brothers – and then an even stronger desire to beat them in sports. This sibling rivalry fostered his competitive spirit and set him on the path to elite snowboarding.
“They set the bar so high that it pushed me to a new level of competition,” says Baumgartner, who credits his brothers and younger sister as his biggest supporters.
Despite his humble beginnings training on the relatively small mountains of Iron Mountain, with only a 500-foot vertical drop, Baumgartner built a name for himself. He was often referred to as a "blue-collar Olympian," a label he proudly embraced. While his competition trained in the Swiss Alps, Baumgartner worked tirelessly in the U.P., honing his skills and developing a work ethic that would define his success.
His career, marked by competing in four Winter Olympics—Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018 and finally Beijing 2022—culminated in a historic gold medal at the age of 40. Baumgartner, who partnered with Lindsey Jacobellis, became one of the oldest snowboarders to win Olympic gold. For him, that victory was not just a personal triumph but a win for every small-town athlete chasing big dreams.
"You have to be willing to outwork everyone," Baumgartner says. "When things don’t go your way, you can’t make excuses.”
After falling short in Sochi in 2014, he didn’t blame the poor conditions. Instead, he took responsibility and committed to working harder.
In his book Gold from Iron, Baumgartner reflects on how his upbringing in Iron River helped forge his strength and resilience. He details the struggles, setbacks and triumphs that shaped him, focusing on the importance of never giving up even when the odds seem insurmountable.
“Sports teach you how to fight through adversity, how to lose and how to win, and take responsibility seriously,” Baumgartner shares, adding that accountability is key to success.
Baumgartner emphasizes the importance of goal-setting and hard work. His dedication is clear in his off-season training regimen, which includes 70-minute gym sessions four times a week plus several three to four-hour mountain bike rides weekly. Mountain biking, he says, keeps him fresh, simulates jumps and pushes him outside his comfort zone.
"Dreams don’t work unless you do," he says, emphasizing the importance of setting goals, writing them down and looking at them daily.
Despite his Olympic success, Baumgartner remains deeply connected to his roots. In the months following his gold-medal win, he visited more than 50 schools across the U.P., speaking with students about perseverance, work ethic and the importance of setting goals.
“Don’t ever give up on your dreams,” Baumgartner told Cloverland Electric Cooperative employees when he spoke at their annual appreciation luncheon in May 2024. His story resonates with the region’s values of resilience, pride and heart.
Baumgartner’s message, both in his book and his public speaking engagements, is simple yet powerful: greatness can come from the most unlikely places. It’s a message that speaks to the spirit of the Upper Peninsula, reminding us all that determination and community support can transform challenges into triumphs.