Southington will celebrate hometown Olympian Austin Florian with a community homecoming event on Friday, February 27, at Mount Southington, the ski area where his athletic career began.
State Representative Chris Poulos is organizing the celebration, which begins at 6 p.m. at 396 Mount Vernon Road in Plantsville. The event will feature a display of Florian's Olympic helmet, speed suit, and bib, along with photo opportunities and an autograph signing, according to Patch.
Florian, 31, competed in skeleton — a winter sliding sport in which athletes race headfirst down an icy track on a small sled — at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. He finished 12th in the men's individual event, the top result among American competitors, and placed 7th in the mixed-team event alongside teammate Mystique Ro, NBC Connecticut reported.
From Southington's Slopes to the Olympic Stage
Florian grew up in Southington and is a graduate of Southington High School. He learned to ski at Mount Southington before transitioning to skeleton racing and joining the USA Bobsled-Skeleton team. The 2026 Games marked his first Olympic appearance at age 31, after he narrowly missed qualifying for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
At Milano Cortina, Florian made an immediate impression. In his first two runs of the men's skeleton competition, he set start records with times of 4.49 seconds and 4.48 seconds, demonstrating the explosive acceleration that drew attention from national sports outlets, according to NBC Connecticut.
His 12th-place finish in the individual event placed him ahead of all other American men in the field. In the mixed-team event, Florian and Ro posted a combined time of 2:00.39 — just 1.03 seconds behind the gold medal time set by Great Britain's Tabitha Stoecker and Matt Weston, NBC Connecticut reported.
Community Rallied During Olympics
Southington residents followed Florian's Olympic runs closely. Local watch parties were held at Mulberry Gardens and The Orchards during his competition, NBC Connecticut reported. The homecoming event on Friday continues that community support.
Poulos organized the celebration to recognize Florian's "dedication, perseverance, and work ethic" in the sport, according to the Patch report. Former coaches, state officials, family, friends, and local youth athletes are expected to attend.
The event is open to the public. Fans are encouraged to bring cameras and memorabilia for autographs.