Colin Hilton, the president and CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and a driving force behind Utah's Olympic legacy, died on Friday, August 21, 2026, at his home. He was 58. The cause of death has not been made public. Hilton's death prompted tributes from Utah's Olympic community, with leaders crediting him for preserving and revitalizing the venues built for the 2002 Winter Games.

A steward of Utah's Olympic legacy

Hilton led the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation for more than two decades, overseeing the nonprofit's operation of the Utah Olympic Park, Utah Olympic Oval, and Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. The foundation, created after the 2002 Winter Olympics, manages venues that Hilton helped ensure remained active long after the Games concluded.

The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation released a statement Saturday describing Hilton as a man who dedicated his life and career to ensuring that the legacy of Utah's 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games remained "not only alive but thriving." The statement also noted that Hilton "believed the measure of these venues was not simply that they were preserved, but that they continued to be used by athletes, coaches, families and communities."

Hilton moved to Utah in 1999 to work with the Games. In 2017, he articulated his philosophy: "These Olympic venues serve a variety of types of athletes. There are a lot of hours in the day. ... Our whole philosophy is all ages, all abilities."

Under Hilton's leadership, the venues transformed into year-round training centers that hosted international events and youth programs, according to reports. He also helped form Park City Ski & Snowboard by bringing eight local ski clubs together.

Tributes from Olympic leaders

Fraser Bullock, president and executive chair of Utah 2034, remembered Hilton as "a dear friend for 27 years" and said he played a key role in helping Utah win the bid for the 2034 Games. Bullock added, "His legacy work is unparalleled in the world." He noted that Hilton brought together national and international winter sports leaders, strengthening the Utah 2034 team.

Brad Wilson, CEO of Utah 2034, said Hilton "gave decades of his life to Utah's Olympic movement and helped turn the legacy of the 2002 Games into something that continues to serve athletes and communities everyday." Wilson also said, "His knowledge, energy, and commitment made our work better."

Natalie Gochnour, chair of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation Board, said, "He more than anyone else ensured that Utah's Olympic imprint remained active, relevant, future-oriented and connected to the communities it serves." She also praised his "remarkable leadership" in serving as "a steward of Utah's living Olympic legacy."

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams said that Hilton understood "that the Olympic legacy is about inspiring future generations, supporting athletes and strengthening our communities."

Calum Clark, the foundation's chief operating officer, said, "I learned an enormous amount from him." Clark has been appointed acting CEO and president by the board, according to the foundation.

A career spanning Olympics, World Cup

Before arriving in Utah, Hilton worked on the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. His career in Utah began in 1999 and included serving on the Utah 2034 Executive Committee, where he helped shape the venue and winter-sports plans behind the successful bid to bring the Games back to Salt Lake City. Many of the same venues Hilton preserved after 2002 are set to host the 2034 Games again.

In 2025, Hilton received the S.J. Quinney Award for Visionary Leadership.

Financial challenges at the foundation

Hilton's tenure was not without challenges. Reports indicate that the foundation faced an annual deficit of roughly $2 million to $3 million before his death. The Legacy Fund dropped from $76 million to about $42 million by 2025, and Hilton had warned about its future. A 2017 state audit estimated the venues needed about $39 million in improvements, and insurance costs jumped from roughly $300,000 a year when Hilton became CEO in 2006 to about $1.2 million.

Additionally, Hilton supported development plans for housing, a hotel and other development around Utah Olympic Park, which drew criticism. Despite these financial pressures, tributes from Olympic leaders focused on Hilton's vision and the lasting impact of his work.