Hilary Knight ’07 Skates Onto TIME100

On April 15, 2026, TIME revealed the 2026 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. From EMMY Award-winning actor Sterling K. Brown to GRAMMY Award-winning musician Coco Jones, the annual celebration of visionaries, decision-makers, and gamechangers was full of notable names, but one name, in particular, may stand out to those of the blue and gold community — Hilary Knight ’07.

After winning yet another gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games and becoming the all-time leading scorer in USA Women’s Olympic Hockey history, the two-time NCAA National Champion has added yet another accolade to her resume. She is joined by a star-studded collection of athletes featured in this annual issue from TIME, including Scottie Scheffler, Chloe Kim, Lando Norris, Noah Lyles, and Alysa Liu.

"We are inspired by the heroics of Olympians on this year’s list, including Alysa Liu, Hilary Knight, and Chloe Kim—as we are by the genius of doctors like Kiran Musunuru and Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas," TIME Editor-In-Chief Sam Jacobs said in a press release. "Influence, as we often say, has no age requirement."

Hilary's rise to stardom did not happen overnight, but it is not surprising, especially to those who know her best.

“She put her puck under her pillow when she was 5 and told her grandmother, ‘I’m going to the Olympics.’ And she wrote a book in second grade about a little girl with a magical hockey stick who went to the Olympics,” Hilary's mother, Cynthia P’07, told Eye on Sun Valley in 2018.

The young girl who put a hockey puck under her pillow would go on to help the Choate Girls' Varsity Hockey Team win a Founders League Championship in 2004 and a NEPSAC Division 1 Girls' Ice Hockey Championship in 2007. After graduating from Choate, Hilary would go on to win two NCAA Division I Women's Hockey National Championships and score a record-breaking 143 goals in four seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also took time off during her college career to compete with Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, playing alongside Angela Ruggiero '98, Julie Chu '01, and Hotchkiss School graduate Caitlin Cahow. The experience Hilary gained as a member of Team USA in 2010 would be extremely valuable once her playing days at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were done. As a professional, she's appeared in five Winter Olympic Games and 15 IIHF Women’s World Championships, winning a combined 12 gold medals.

"I am so grateful to have had the honor of representing the United States in [5] Olympic Games," Hilary wrote in an Instagram post prior to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. "From the memories, relationships built along the way, and all the support- it’s been the greatest honor of my career."

Off the ice, the hockey star has been just as successful and influential. Whether it's addressing the Class of 2018 at Commencement or fighting for equitable pay in women's hockey, she has fearlessly fought to ensure the next generation of girls and women in sports have the tools they need to succeed.

Alongside other notable figures featured in TIME, Knight's work was honored at the 20th annual TIME100 Gala in New York, NY. Hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, the event featured musical performances by Luke Combs and Coco Jones, as well as remarks from actor Zoe Saldaña, Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, actor and producer Alan Cumming, among others.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Melissa Katz of the USA Hockey National Office

Editorial Credit: Ryan Shepard '14 is the Manager of Editorial Services at Choate Rosemary Hall, bringing 10+ years of experience in reporting, copywriting, and content strategy.