Alaska’s most dynamic rugby player embarks on 3rd Olympic journey

EAGLE RIVER, Alaska (KTUU) - A lot can happen in a decade. And for Eagle River’s Alev Kelter, that statement rings more true than ever.

Once a star on both the ice and the pitch for Chugiak High School, the former Mustang has seen her athletic career in rugby go international. Now after competing in both the 2016 Rio and 2021 Tokyo Olympic Summer Games, Kelter is set to make another trip — this time to Paris, France.

“There’s no words to properly describe being a three-time Olympic athlete,” Kelter said. “I’m grateful. I’m humbled by just how fast the game has grown ... just to have fans be back in the stands is going to be unbelievable.”

The Americans’ quest for an elusive gold medal begins early Sunday with three matches in two days. At 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday, the U.S. squares off against Japan and Brazil, respectively. Pool play wraps up on Monday with the U.S. taking on host country France.

The medal round kicks off on Tuesday.

To date, Kelter has competed in England’s Premiership Women’s Rugby, the top level of the sport in the country. She’s also traveled to Toronto for the 2015 Pan American Games, New Zealand for the 2021 Rugby World Cup, and many more.

But all this exploration and success on the pitch wouldn’t have been possible if not for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Kelter grew up in the 49th State playing both soccer and ice hockey, performing so well in both that she would compete on the all-male rosters as a team defenseman.

“I played with the boys growing up, and you can check in boys hockey,” Kelter said. “I didn’t have it as easy as I need or being spoon-fed. So, it was a lot of hard work.”

That work helped lead her to the Wisconsin Badgers, where she continued to excel in both sports. She was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2009 and 2010 for soccer, while also earning a selection to the 2010-11 Frozen Four All-Tournament team en route to a national title in hockey.

This, combined with her talents in the sport from back in the Last Frontier, pushed her to pursue a spot on the U.S. national team prior to the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Unfortunately for Kelter, she failed to make the team.

“I tried really hard to make that hockey team, but I think they were still little wary that I was playing both soccer and hockey,” Kelter said in 2016.

But as she told Alaska’s News Source, God would have other plans. As Kelter began to wonder what was next, Team USA would come knocking again — but this time, the sport was new.

“They were looking what they call cross-over athletes, so shortly after that, Ric Suggitt — who has passed away since, he’s a huge motivation for me to keep going — he called me and said, ‘I know you’re a hockey player and might have a loose screw, but I think you’d be a great rugby player,’” Kelter said. “I was greeted with the most welcome arms you could imagine.”

That call occurred two weeks after Kelter’s initial release from USA Hockey. It’s a conversation that changed the course of her life and an opportunity she says she is forever grateful for.

“It was a great transition,” Kelter said. “I think I’ve learned that lesson that people find later in life. It’s one of those moments that you look back and you’re like, I’d never do it any different.”

Acknowledging that this may be her last appearance on the Olympic stage, Kelter said she is looking forward to the ride and the chance to bring home a podium finish.

“I really want to cherish every moment. Soak it up with the girls, we’ve been training for the last six years together and really create some amazing memories,” Kelter said. “We’re sitting in fourth or third place right now, and we have a huge opportunity to be in a medal contention spot.”

Although she’ll be occupied with the games until August, Kelter is hoping she can be as approachable as she has been inspiring.

“For me as an Alaskan role model, I’m just grateful. I want to be accessible,” Kelter said. “I would love for people to reach out. I have an Instagram that’s public and if people have questions or they want answers to training regimens or even just simple mindfulness techniques, I’ve got a lot of information up here that I’d love to share. I think you’re the best when you’re giving your gifts away. I think we can all share and be better as a community if we give our gifts away and have the act of giving versus just taking.”

This story was published on June 25 and updated on July 26 with additional information.

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