Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey first-year forward Jade Barbirati is representing Team France at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
To celebrate and support her journey, Quinnipiac’s Office of International Students & Scholars hosted a campus watch party as Barbirati competed.
Many of her Quinnipiac teammates filled the room, cheering her on and celebrating the milestone together.
“This is a really cool opportunity for our team,” senior goaltender Calli Hogarth said. “One of our best friends is playing and (the watch party) is a good opportunity to show support.”
Originally from Savoie, France, Barbirati’s watch party was also meant to highlight French culture as she represented her home country.
Sarah Driscoll, director of International Students & Scholars, organized the event to ensure Barbirati’s roots were recognized and celebrated.
“This allows our community to come together and celebrate our students and where they come from, where they call home,” Driscoll said. “Even just featuring foods from Jade’s home country, it’s just a nice way to come together as a community.”
French-inspired snacks, such as croissants and French meats and cheeses were set out for spectators to enjoy, adding to the celebratory atmosphere of the morning. The room was decorated with French flags alongside flags from other countries, reflecting both Barbirati’s roots and the diverse international community on campus.
“It’s super cool she’s been able to make such an impact on our team this season and now she gets the opportunity to do it for her country,” junior defender Brynne West said.
The strength and support from the Quinnipiac community was evident throughout the event, creating an atmosphere of togetherness and pride. While the Olympics are an athletic competition, they are also a moment for communities to rally behind the ones they care about, even from across the world.
“I hope she feels proud and recognized,” senior goaltender Tatum Blacker said. “This is such a cool opportunity and it’s so rare for someone, especially her age, to be making it to the Olympics. I hope she knows we have her back and are supporting her from Hamden, Connecticut.”
Barbirati’s achievements on the Olympic ice highlight the pride and support the Quinnipiac family has for one another — a sense of Bobcat spirit that echoes even from across the world.
