Milano Cortina, Italy is about to witness one of the most anticipated U.S. winter teams in years. On January 22, 2026, U.S. Ski & Snowboard unveiled its powerhouse 97-athlete roster for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games (February 6-22), headlined by legendary comebacks and medal-hungry icons: Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Chloe Kim.
This trio alone brings five Olympic gold medals, countless World Cup victories, and unbreakable star power to the slopes and halfpipes. Their selection has sent shockwaves through the winter sports world—especially Vonn’s improbable return at age 41.
Lindsey Vonn’s Miraculous Revival
The downhill queen, who retired in 2019 after a storied career (including 2010 Olympic gold and 84 World Cup wins), stunned everyone by coming back last season following a partial knee replacement. She’s been unstoppable this year, claiming two World Cup downhill victories and podiums in five races. Vonn will chase medals in the speed events (downhill and super-G) and could team up with Shiffrin in the new Olympic team combined. “Olympics, here we come!” she declared after qualifying—marking her fifth (and self-proclaimed final) Games.
Mikaela Shiffrin: The Greatest Alpine Skier Ever
At 30, Shiffrin heads to her fourth Olympics as the most decorated alpine skier in history. With two golds (Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018) and a record-breaking medal haul already, she’s poised to add more hardware across slalom, giant slalom, and potentially combined events. Her consistency and dominance make her a perennial favorite.
Chloe Kim’s Bid for History
The snowboarding sensation and two-time Olympic halfpipe champion (2018, 2022) is chasing an unprecedented three-peat. At just 25, Kim remains the youngest snowboarding gold medalist ever—but she’s dealing with a recent shoulder injury from training. If healthy, she’s the clear favorite to make history as the first snowboarder to win three straight golds in the same event.
The 97-member squad blends veteran firepower with fresh talent: 48 first-time Olympians make up nearly half the team, including young standouts in freeski and snowboard. Other notables include cross-country star Jessie Diggins, freeski medalists like Alex Ferreira and Nick Goepper, and snowboard veterans like Red Gerard.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard officials called it one of the strongest teams ever sent to the Games. At Beijing 2022, American skiers and snowboarders captured 15 of Team USA’s 25 medals—expectations are sky-high for Milano Cortina.
With Vonn’s grit, Shiffrin’s precision, and Kim’s flair leading the charge, Team USA is loaded for gold-rush glory. The countdown to the Opening Ceremony is on—winter sports fans, get ready for fireworks on snow and ice! 🇺🇸⛷️🏂
