Littleton Native To Make Second Appearance In Olympics

LITTLETON, CO — A Littleton-born women's hockey goalie is one of 23 Coloradan athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics. This will mark her second Olympic appearance.

Competition for the Games began on Wednesday, though the opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday. This is the second Olympics to be held during the pandemic, and spectator numbers are extremely limited.

The 27-year-old, Littleton-born hockey player, Nicole Hensley, started playing hockey in 2009 and went on to quickly craft a full resume. She won her high school state championship in 2012. The same year, she was named CHA rookie of the year, and earned second-and then first-team all-CHA honors the following two years. In 2015, Hensley was inducted into the Colorado Sportswomen of the Year Hall of Fame, according to Team USA.

She has medaled in three World Championships, winning the gold in both 2016 and 2017, and silver in 2021.

In the 2018 Olympic Games — her Olympic debut — Hensley won the gold medal in a 5-0 shutout game against Russia, preventing 13 goals in the process.

In 2021, Hensley was one of 27 women — and the only Coloradan — selected to participate in the U.S. Women's National Team Residency Program, a program that works as a lead-up to the Olympics.