Margie Freed has always been in it for the fun.
The “about me” section on her bio on the US Biathlon website opens with the phrase “Hey Sports Fans!”
Highland Park’s Erin Moening, left, and Eastview’s Margie Freed, who finished respectively second and first, share a laugh after the girls race of the 2016 State Nordic Ski Racing Meet at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn. on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)
The Eastview alum – who won an individual Nordic state title in 2016 – first joined cross country skiing because her friends were in it. She first reached the state meet as an eighth grader, “which was a sign I had talent,” she noted. Her motivation for continued success was “so I could continue to go on ski trips with friends.”
Freed recalls going to an event at Mall of America that featured skiing stars Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall. She didn’t follow skiing much at the time, but took a photo with Diggins “because everyone else was doing it.”
“Now, it’s a great memory,” Freed noted.
Because the Apple Valley native is now an Olympian in her own right, as part of the U.S. Biathlon contingent. Biathlon competition opens Sunday morning in Italy with the mixed relay, as Freed and Co. look to secure the United States’ first ever medal in the sport at some point in these games.
“My dream would be for it to be in a relay,” Freed said, “so we can all share in the excitement.”
That’s what sports have always been about for her. Freed seems to possess an idyllically healthy relationship with competition.
It’s not out of the question, either. Freed was part of a US relay that placed fourth in a World Cup mixed relay race just two weeks ago, a performance that tied a fourth-place finish in 2015 for the country’s best-ever finish in a World Cup event
A star skier at Vermont, Freed’s interest in the biathlon was primarily fueled by a chance “to do something new.” That initial dabbling didn’t come with Olympic aspirations.
“I was more interested in hanging out with teammates and friends on the range,” Freed said.
She’d never even shot a gun prior to that point. Suddenly, she was pulling the trigger as sport. An initially steep learning curve flattened as she discovered the basics. As she’s fine-tuned her abilities, Freed noted improvements are “less noticeable,” while added she probably figured shooting out quickly compared to some.
Freed said picking up a new sport just a couple years ago has served as a “good learning process,” while also testing her ability to keep a smile on her face every day. Many of her original sports-playing friends have since retired from skiing, which has taken away from Freed’s experience in training and racing.
Margie Freed of Team United States looks on during a training session on day minus two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Anterselva Biathlon Arena on February 04, 2026 in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
But she’s still been able to draw on support from those close to her, and enjoys hobbies away from the sport such as sewing, line dancing and birding.
Anything to maintain the joy. It’s been a primary motivator for Freed since she got into sports as a kid. Yes, she skied in the winter and did some offseason training in the summer, but she ran cross country and track in the fall and spring, respectively, and played on a club soccer team throughout the year. She kept up with all of them until she graduated high school.
Freed said being a versatile athlete kept her injury free and excited for whatever practice was next.
“I credit a lot of my success to the instillation of fun in the sport,” Freed said.
She won’t let that go – not even under the Olympic lights.
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