The 2026 Winter Olympics are just weeks away, and the stage is set for pure magic in the stunning Italian Alps! From February 6–22, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will jointly host over 3,000 athletes battling across 116 events in 16 snowy sports—think high-speed alpine skiing, gravity-defying snowboarding, elegant figure skating, thunderous bobsled runs, soaring ski jumps, and intense ice hockey showdowns.
After the last Winter Games in Beijing four years ago, the world is ready for this breathtaking Italian edition. The U.S. is bringing serious firepower, but global stars from every corner are ready to challenge for gold, silver, and bronze.
Here are 17 athletes guaranteed to light up the slopes, ice, and tracks—starting with the biggest storyline of all:
Lindsey Vonn (USA) – The Legendary Comeback Queen
At 41, the downhill icon is back from retirement and partial knee replacement surgery, chasing one final Olympic chapter. With three career medals already and fresh World Cup podiums this season, Vonn is defying age and injury to write the perfect ending.
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)
The undisputed GOAT of alpine skiing heads to her fourth Olympics at age 30 with a jaw-dropping 107 World Cup victories (including a record 70 in slalom). After a gold in Sochi 2014 (youngest woman ever), double medals in PyeongChang 2018 (gold in GS, silver in combined), and a medal-less Beijing 2022, Shiffrin is laser-focused and hungry. Fresh off recent podiums, she’s primed to add more hardware in Cortina.
Other must-watch stars include (but aren’t limited to):
Norwegian phenoms dominating cross-country and biathlon
Swiss and German technical skiing powerhouses
Rising U.S. snowboarders and freestyle aerialists
Figure skating royalty from Japan, Russia, and the U.S.
Speed demons in short track and long track
Bobsled and skeleton sliders gunning for glory
With the Italian mountains providing an epic backdrop, expect drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments. The 2026 Games are shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet—who’s your pick for the biggest story?
