An Olympic pin more precious than gold celebrates the late halfpipe pioneer, Sarah Burke

At the Milan Cortina Winter Games, a small red pin bearing the name “Sarah” has become one of the most coveted Olympic souvenirs, representing the profound legacy of a woman who never had the chance to compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Canada’s Sarah Burke was a pioneering force in women’s freeskiing, particularly in the halfpipe discipline. When she began her career, the sport was dominated almost exclusively by men. Through her extraordinary talent, advocacy, and magnetic personality, Burke not only carved out space for female athletes but also played a pivotal role in getting freestyle skiing halfpipe included in the Olympic program.

Tragically, Burke died at age 29 in a training accident in 2012, just two years before freestyle skiing halfpipe made its Olympic debut at the Sochi Games. Her absence left an indelible void in the sport that continues to be felt today.

To honor her memory and ensure her contribution is never forgotten, Canadian coach Trennon Paynter commissioned 200 commemorative pins featuring “Sarah” in red script—designed to match the stickers that many skiers placed on their helmets during those first Olympic halfpipe competitions in Sochi.

“She got women into the sport, period,” Paynter explained on Friday. “And then she was a huge driver of getting the sport into the Games by actively attending International Ski Federation events when a lot of people didn’t know that was the pathway into the Olympics.”

The pins have offered a way around the strict Olympic rules that prohibit personal memorials on competition gear. At a pre-competition meeting earlier this week, Paynter addressed athletes about Burke’s impact and introduced the pins. Word spread rapidly through the snowpark community, and his initial supply was exhausted within hours.

“Everyone in this sport, not only this sport but action sport in general, is still really paying tribute to Sarah and her legacy,” said Paynter, who plans to produce more pins to sell, with proceeds benefiting Burke’s charitable foundation.

The timing of this tribute feels particularly poignant. On Sunday—delayed a day due to weather conditions—Chinese-American superstar Eileen Gu will attempt to defend her Olympic halfpipe gold medal. In a remarkable coincidence, Gu shares a birthday with Burke: September 3.

Perhaps the most emotional moment in the sport’s Olympic history remains its first women’s competition in Sochi, where Burke’s parents and husband watched as course workers descended the halfpipe in a heart formation as a tribute to the fallen pioneer. In a deeply personal gesture, Paynter scattered some of Burke’s ashes above that Russian halfpipe.

French skier Marie Martinod, who claimed silver that night, had a particularly moving connection to Burke. After retiring from the sport and becoming a mother, Martinod received a personal visit from Burke, who encouraged her to return to competition specifically to elevate the caliber of women’s skiing for its Olympic introduction. During her medal-winning run, Martinod wore snowflake nail art matching a tattoo Burke had on her foot.

“I think I didn’t say goodbye to Sarah yet and I still have to do it, and now I feel I’m able to do it because I did what she asked me to do,” Martinod said after receiving her medal in Sochi.

Twelve years after Burke’s passing, the number of active competitors who knew her personally has dwindled, but her influence remains stronger than ever. During Friday’s qualifying rounds, American skier Nick Goepper proudly wore the commemorative pin, even pointing to it while awaiting his scores.

“She was a commanding personality and force to legitimize halfpipe skiing for both men and women,” Goepper said. “She gave a lot of inspiration for a lot of young girls.”

As the Milan Cortina Games continue, these modest pins have become powerful symbols—not just of what was lost, but of how one athlete’s passion and advocacy can transform an entire sporting landscape, creating opportunities that will benefit generations of athletes to come.