Colin Hilton, the longtime president and Chief Executive Officer of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, has died at 58, the foundation announced on Aug. 22. He was one of Utah’s most influential figures in snow sports, leading the foundation in overseeing the Utah Olympic Park, the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, and the Utah Olympic Oval for over 20 years.
Hilton passed away in his Park City-area home, and his family has asked for privacy at this time.
“Colin’s remarkable leadership benefited our entire state as he served as a steward of Utah’s living Olympic legacy,” Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation Board Chair Natalie Gochnour said in a statement. “He more than anyone else ensured that Utah’s Olympic imprint remained active, relevant, future-oriented, and connected to the communities it serves.”
Hilton began his Utah Olympic journey as a member of the organizing committee that brought the Olympics to Salt Lake City in 2002. During the Games, he oversaw the Park City area Olympic venues, which included the Utah Olympic Park.
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Following the 2002 Games, Hilton worked a four-year stint in economic development for the Park City municipal government. But in 2006, he decided to return to the world of snow sports, taking the lead at the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation.
With the foundation, Hilton helped revamp and maintain the Utah Olympic Park — home to the 2002 Olympics’ bobsledding, luge, skeleton and ski jumping venues — as it worked through increased operational costs and other financial issues. One of those upgrades included the development of the Residences at Utah Olympic Park, which offers subsidized housing for athletes, coaches, and foundation members. Hilton also worked with the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns and the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, where the biathlon and cross-country skiing events were held.
In recent years, Hilton and the foundation played a major role in opening the venues for both Utah residents and for competitions — like the synchronized skating national championships, which were held at the Olympic Oval back in March.
Now, thanks to Hilton’s preservation of these venues, they will make their second Olympic appearances. Utah 2034, the organizing group for Utah’s next Olympics, previously announced plans to reuse the Olympic Oval, the Olympic Park, and Soldier Hollow for their respective events.
Hilton also played a part in bringing the Olympics back to Utah, serving as a member of Utah 2034’s executive committee.
“He played a key role in helping us win the bid for the 2034 Games,” Utah 2034 President and Executive Chair Fraser Bullock said. “But where he really excelled was in elevating our legacy and bringing real value to communities. His legacy work is unparalleled in the world.”
Hilton’s legacy will go down as one of passion for the Utah and winter sports community. He devoted his career to ensuring that Utahns and winter sports athletes around the world had a place to train and compete, and he worked tirelessly to bring the biggest stage in sports back to Utah. He left a profound impact on many of his colleagues, and his work with the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation “helped turn the legacy of the 2002 Games into something that continues to serve athletes and communities every day,” Utah 2034 CEO Brad Wilson said.
The foundation’s chief operating officer, Calum Clark, has been named the acting president and CEO. And for Clark and the rest of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, Hilton’s work leaves them inspired and ready to continue the legacy of the Olympics in Utah.
“He was my colleague, my leader and most importantly my friend,” Calum said. “Colin was a longtime mentor before he became my boss. I learned an enormous amount from him, and I know I’m only one of many people whose lives and careers are better because Colin was part of them.”
Colin Hilton played a role in helping bring the Olympics back to Utah in 2034. | Credit: Utah 2034