Barney McLean

Barney McLean
Personal information
Born(1917-07-13)July 13, 1917
Lander, Wyoming, United States
DiedJuly 19, 2005(2005-07-19) (aged 87)
Denver, Colorado, United States
Sport
SportAlpine skiing

Robert "Barney" McLean (July 13, 1917 – July 19, 2005) was an American competitive skier and captain of the U.S. Olympic alpine ski team.

Raised in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado, McLean began ski jumping as a youth, winning his first title in 1933 at the age of 16 at the Western Jumping Championships. He later transitioned to alpine skiing, winning the 1942 U.S. National Downhill, Slalom, and Combined titles, as well as the Harriman Cup. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces as an instructor at the Arctic Survival School.

McLean served as team captain for the U.S. alpine squad at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, competing in the downhill, slalom, and combined events. Across a competitive career spanning nearly 30 years, he won nine national championships and was inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1959 and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.

Legacy

McLean was closely tied to the early development of Winter Park Resort in Colorado, where he helped cut early ski trails and promoted regional skiing. In 2012, Winter Park Resort honored his contributions to the area's skiing heritage with a memorial dedication.

References

  1. ↑ Lund, Morten. "Barney McLean, Hall-of-Famer". Skiing History. International Skiing History Association. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  2. ↑ Lund, Morten. "Barney McLean, Hall-of-Famer". Skiing History. International Skiing History Association. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Robert 'Barney' McLean". Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  4. ↑ IOC. "Barney Robert MCLEAN". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Barney McLean, Hall-of-Famer".
  6. ↑ Hamilton, Penny (December 24, 2025). "History Corner: Remembering legendary Grand County skier Barney McLean". Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Robert 'Barney' McLean". Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Barney McLean - Barney McLean, Hall-of-Famer | Skiing History". www.skiinghistory.org. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  9. ↑ IOC. "Barney Robert MCLEAN". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Meyer: Ski legend Barney McLean gets his due honor at Winter Park". The Denver Post. January 9, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Meyer: Ski legend Barney McLean gets his due honor at Winter Park". The Denver Post. January 9, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2026.