Melanie Palenik

Melanie Palenik competed in freestyle skiing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Palenik competed in all three events – moguls, aerials, and ballet (later called acroskiing) – winning the aerials event. At the 1989 World Championships Palenik won the combined gold medal and won a silver medal in aerials. She also competed at the 1991 Worlds, placing eighth in moguls.

Palenik attended the University of Windsor (Ontario) where she met her future husband, Chris Simboli. She later became a freestyle ski instructor in Boise, Idaho, and ran summer camps for kids.