Princeton University Athletics
O'Blia at the Olympics: Dale O'Blia Runs Leg of Olympic Torch Relay in Italy for Milano Cortina 2026
February 06, 2026 | Wrestling
BERGAMO, Italy – Princeton wrestling's Dale O'Blia participated in the Olympic torch relay in Bergamo, Italy, on Monday, in preparation for the beginning of the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina this week.
O'Blia, a first-year on the wrestling team, was chosen to run a leg of the relay in Bergamo through his connection to the Daniels Fund and the Utah 2034 committee.
The Olympic torch relay, a tradition beginning from the 1936 Berlin Games, follows the symbolic journey of the Olympic flame from Olympia to the host city to ring in the start of the games and promote peace.
This year's torch traveled 7,500 miles over 63 days with hundreds serving as torch-bearers, with O'Blia just one of them.
On Monday, O'Blia ran the torch from the city's main church to the city center.
O'Blia, a native of Denver, Colo., was chosen through his connection to the Daniels Fund, a Denver based organization that supports young people through education and athletics.
As the next host city, Utah 2034 was given a selection of torch relay slots, offering one to the Daniels Fund. O'Blia, a recipient of the Daniels Fund scholarship, was chosen by the organization to represent them in the relay.
Running through the streets of Bergamo, O'Blia used the opportunity to highlight the role that wrestling plays in his life. He said the sport teaches him how to become a strong, independent person, and to be really disciplined in everything that (he does).
O'Blia, a 2024 David Schultz award winner, was a four-time Colorado State champion, a Reno TOC finalist and an NHSCA finalist before coming to Princeton.
This season, he's taken to the mat for the Tigers, most recently picking up a win in Princeton's dual against Brown last Sunday.
Now returned from his trip to Italy, O'Blia and the Tigers will take to the mat again tomorrow as they host Ivy rival Cornell at 8 p.m.
Players Mentioned
