With the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics approaching, Team USA is gearing up for the 25th edition of the winter games. Everything from an NHL all-star lineup to a 41-year-old skiing legend coming out of retirement will headline this Olympics for the Americans.
The American snowboarding team is led by two-time Olympic gold medalist in halfpipe, Chloe Kim, who is poised to make history with a chance at a third gold medal in a row. Hopefully, a recent shoulder dislocation will not prevent her from capturing more medals in Milan. On the men’s side, Red Gerard leads the way. Gerard is trying to rebound after not making the podium in 2022.
Team USA’s men’s hockey team is stacked with NHL All-Stars. They are bringing back the same key players from the 4 Nations Face-Off from a year ago. The roster features one of the best goalies in the world in Connor Hellebuyck, in addition to the Tkachuk brothers and Auston Matthews leading the way offensively. Gold is in play for this team, as they will be looking for revenge against Canada after their loss a year ago.
The U.S. Alpine Skiing team is also very strong. Headlined by the return of 41-year-old Lindsay Vonn making her comeback by winning multiple World Cup events this year in downhill and in super-G, she will be a dark horse for a medal. Mikaela Shiffrin will be competing in slalom and in giant slalom as one of the most decorated U.S. skiers ever. She will be looking to rebound from the last Olympics after not picking up a medal in Beijing. As for the men’s side, the veteran Ryan Cochran-Siegle is looking to improve upon his silver medal performance from 2022, but the men will need production from Ryan Sarchett and River Radamus to grasp their first Olympic medals in slalom and giant slalom in order to stay competitive in the Alpine discipline.
In freestyle skiing, the U.S. has a strong chance to make a podium finish with Alex Ferreira in half pipe. He has medaled in every Olympics he has competed in. In slopestyle, the Americans have the 2022 Beijing Olympic gold medalist in Alex Hall hoping to repeat his success. A potential breakout star could be Troy Podmilsak, an Olympics rookie who took gold at the X-Games in Aspen. For the women, Rell Harwood and Grace Henderson will be contenders in big air and slopestyle for Team USA.
In cross-country skiing, the Americans have Jessie Diggins, a three-time Olympic medalist. The Veteran will be looking for her first individual gold after winning the team gold in Pyeongchang 2018.
U.S. Figure Skating looks to be sending one of its strongest Olympic teams in years to Milan. The team will be headlined by Illia Malinin, who is a premier contender to pick up a gold for the men. The trio of Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito could challenge for podium spots on the women’s side. In ice dancing, which is a discipline of figure skating, Team USA is led by the 2022 Olympic Team Event gold medalists, Evan Bates and Madison Chock, in what will probably be their final Olympic Games. As world champions in 2025, they are a favorite to capture the gold ice dancing medal this time around.
The U.S. Speed Skating team features three-time world champion Jordan Stolz, who could compete in as many as five events. On the women’s side, Brittany Bowe and Erin Jackson, veteran olympians, will lead the charge, with young stars Greta Myers and Giorgia Bireland making their debuts on the Olympic stage.
All in all, it looks like the Milano Cortina Olympics will be an exciting couple of weeks to cheer on the Americans.
