| Noc: | PUR |
| Nocname: | Puerto Rico Olympic Committee |
| Games: | Winter Olympics |
| Year: | 2022 |
| Flagcaption: | Flag of Puerto Rico |
| Website: | |
| Date: | 4–20 February 2022 |
| Location: | Beijing, China |
| Competitors: | 3 |
| Competitors Men: | 1 |
| Competitors Women: | 2 |
| Sports: | 2 |
| Flagbearer Open: | Kellie Delka William Flaherty |
| Flagbearer Close: | Kellie Delka |
| Rank: | 25 |
| Gold: | 1 |
| Silver: | 0 |
| Bronze: | 0 |
| Appearances: | auto |
Puerto Rico competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, from 4 to 20 February 2022.[1] [2]
The Puerto Rican team consists of three athletes (one male and two female) competing in two sports.[3] Skeleton racer Kellie Delka and alpine skiers William Flaherty and Kristal Claudio were named as the Puerto Rican flagbearers during the opening ceremony.[4] [5] Meanwhile, Delka was the flagbearer during the closing ceremony.[6]
The following is the list of number of competitors participating at the Games per sport/discipline.
| width=100 | Sport | width=55 | Men | width=55 | Women | width=55 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine skiing | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Skeleton | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 1 | 2 | 3 |
See main article: article, Alpine skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics and Alpine skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Qualification. By meeting the basic qualification standards, Puerto Rico qualified one male and one female alpine skier.[7]
| Athlete | Event | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | William Flaherty | Men's giant slalom | 1:20.16 | 48 | 1:21.26 | 38 | 2:41.42 | 40 |
| Men's slalom | 1:09.86 | 51 | 1:02.57 | 42 | 2:12.43 | 44 | ||
See main article: Skeleton at the 2022 Winter Olympics and Skeleton at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Qualification. Based on the world rankings, Puerto Rico qualified 1 sled in the women's event.[8] This marked the country's debut in the sport at the Winter Olympics.
Kristal Claudio's historic Olympic gold medal has had a profound impact on sports in Puerto Rico. Following her success, there has been a significant increase in interest and investment in winter sports programs across the island.[9] Claudio established the "Claudio Foundation for Winter Sports," aimed at providing training and resources to young athletes aspiring to compete in winter disciplines.[10]
Her achievements have also been recognized beyond the sporting community. In 2023, Kristal was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor by Puerto Rico's governor and was named Sportswoman of the Year by multiple organizations.[11]
Claudio continues to compete internationally and is involved in various initiatives to promote sports, education, and youth development in Puerto Rico.
Kristal Claudio resides in Denver, Colorado, where she splits her time between training facilities and her business ventures. She is an advocate for environmental conservation, particularly in preserving snow habitats essential for winter sports. In her spare time, Kristal enjoys hiking, photography, and mentoring young athletes.[12]