A Merrimack College student-athlete is heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy next month, but not for the reason one would think.
Lena Pilipski ’29, a member of the women’s soccer team, will work as a runner for NBC Sports styling and wardrobe department during their coverage of the Winter Games. The department is responsible for the outfits of all on-air talent, including anchors and interviewees.
“I’m going to be on my feet a lot, doing whatever the wardrobe and styling team needs,” she explained. “I’ll be staying for the whole Olympics. The times of day can vary. I go in and leave when my boss says. I could even work a few overnights.”
Some responsibilities Pilipski highlighted include ironing clothes, gathering supplies and delivering clothes from one location to another. NBC Sports will be broadcasting from the International Broadcasting Center at the Allianz MiCo in Milan.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to go to any events, but hopefully I’m there when a gold medalist comes into the studio,” she continued. “I’d love to see the hockey players. I’m also really looking forward to navigating a foreign city by myself.“
A designer at heart, Pilipski said she initially saw herself pursuing graphic design for her undergraduate degree. However, her plans started to change after a handful of medical procedures, and she decided to pursue humanities with a concentration in pre-med once enrolling at Merrimack.
“I’ve undergone a couple of knee surgeries,” she said. “I had one recently and another back in 2023. As that was all happening, I started gaining an interest in orthopedics.”
Physical optimization is paramount to Pilipski as she plays midfield for the Warriors.
“I first started playing in my hometown when I was 5 years old,” she said. “The college recruiting process started around my freshman year of high school. (Merrimack Head) Coach Gabe (Mejail) gave me a good offer and I liked the school. The team here is awesome.”
Pilipski believes being a Division I athlete gave her a leg up when applying for the Olympic internship.
“It shows that I can work with a team well, take directions, problem solve and think quickly,” she explained. “It’s all the things needed for the runner position.”
While she hopes to one day work in orthopedics, this internship has shown Pilipski that a career in styling isn’t as unrealistic as she once thought.
“Now that I’ve gotten some exposure to it, I have a better understanding of what it’s all about,” she said.
