Meet Team USA's Star Athletes at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics will see around 2,900 top athletes from various countries competing in 116 events. Team USA, with a history of 330 Winter Olympic medals, is sending approximately 230 athletes to the games. Among the American athletes to watch are freestyle skier Alex Ferreira, who has won silver and bronze medals in previous Olympics and specializes in the halfpipe discipline. Ferreira also competes under the alter ego Hotdog Hans and has a successful track record in world cups and X Games events.
Another athlete to watch is freestyle skier Alex Hall, who won gold in slopestyle in Beijing 2022 and has a diverse skill set in various disciplines. Figure skater Alysa Liu, known for her comeback from a surprise retirement, is heading to her second Olympics after winning the women's singles world title at the 2025 World Championships. Amber Glenn, a figure skater and advocate for mental health awareness and the LGBTQ+ community, will be making her first Olympic appearance.
Speedskater Brittany Bowe, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, emphasizes the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome. Ice hockey player Caroline Harvey, known for her early prediction of making the U.S. Olympic team, has already earned a silver medal in Beijing. Deedra Irwin, a biathlete, achieved the best finish for an American in an individual biathlon event at the Olympics in 2022.
Gold medalist speedskater Erin Jackson, the first Black woman to win gold in an individual event at the Winter Olympics, will lead Team USA as a flagbearer. Ice hockey player Hilary Knight, a four-time Olympian, has medaled in each of her previous appearances. Figure skater Ilia Malinin, known as the "Quad God," is set to make his Olympic debut after winning gold at the ISU Figure Skating World Championships.
Freestyle skier Jaelin Kauf, a silver medalist specializing in moguls and dual moguls, is excited about the debut of dual moguls at the Olympics. Speed skater Jordan Stolz, a world champion in multiple categories, aims to raise awareness of speed skating in the U.S. Ice hockey player Kendall Coyne Schofield, a four-time Olympian, looks forward to her first Olympics as a mom. Curler Korey Dropkin, a lifelong curler, is fulfilling his dream of competing at the Olympics.
Speedskater Kristen Santos-Griswold, determined to make her Olympic journey worthwhile after a heartbreaking fall in 2022, emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey. Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, despite a recent injury, is set to compete in her fifth Olympics and remains determined to pursue her Olympic dream. Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, partners on and off the ice, have achieved success at the Olympics and World Figure Skating Championships.
Figure skater Maxim Naumov, motivated by the memory of his late parents, is working hard to fulfill his Olympic dream. Skier Mikaela Shiffrin, a two-time gold medalist, is known for her achievements in various alpine skiing disciplines. Skeleton racer Mystique Ro, transitioning from track & field to skeleton racing, is gearing up for her first Olympic appearance. The upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Olympics promise to showcase the talent and dedication of these remarkable American athletes.