Waltham’s Julia Kern reflects on ‘really cool’ Olympic experience 

A dozen-plus familiar faces greeted Julia Kern all four times she finished a race at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, a welcome contrast to the absence of fans at her COVID-impacted Olympic debut four years ago.

The 2015 Waltham High School graduate hurdled the fence upon finishing, finding her support circle first, then seeing young skiers from her old club and her Team USA peers’ circles. 

“Being able to connect with them right after those special moments was really cool,” Kern said. 

Kern, 28, represented the United States across four events at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Val di Fiemme, Italy. 

Here are Kern’s event dates, event titles and finishes: 

• Feb. 7, 20 km skiathlon, 24th place
• Feb. 10, sprint skate, 6th place
• Feb. 14, 4×7.5 km relay, Team USA finished 5th overall with Kern racing the first leg 
• Feb. 18, team sprint with Wakefield resident Jessie Diggins, 5th place

Kern qualified for every event and declined two to save her energy for the relay and team sprint, events she felt had more medal potential. 

“I had any opportunity I wanted to race,” she said.

Four years ago Kern competed in two events at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games—sprint freestyle, in which she placed 18th, and skiathlon, in which she placed 53rd. She improved her final standing in the latter event by nearly 30 spots at this year’s Olympics. 

Not only did Kern improve her performance, she enjoyed the experience much more. COVID-19 restrictions limited social interactions at the 2022 Beijing Games, robbing athletes of the full Olympic experience. At the Milano Cortina Games, Kern was able to spend ample time mingling with fellow Olympians and hanging out with her loved ones. The weather cooperated, leaving time for leisurely walks with the people who matter. 

“It meant everything,” Kern said. “My parents had just as much, if not more, fun than I did … It was just really special to share those moments with the people who put so much in to support me and helped me get there and have an Olympic experience as well.” 

After attending the closing ceremonies, Kern went right back to the World Cup circuit, staying up for 36 hours after the final day due to travel needs. She spoke to the Waltham Times from Sweden, where she raced this weekend, and then she will compete in Finland and Norway before finishing in Lake Placid, New York for the finals. 

It’s not an easy transition. 

“It’s like a race hangover without any of the alcohol,” Kern said. “You have this buildup for four years to this big moment, and The Olympics are physically [and] emotionally exhausting. You put everything into it.” 

The French Alps region will host the next Winter Games in 2030. Kern hopes to be there.

“Body’s got to cooperate,” she said. “It’s got to be fun. You’ve got to qualify, but right now it’s definitely in the cards.”