The Olympics bring athletes and audiences together from around the world, creating a rare space for people across continents to unite. While the world may seem divided, this iconic gathering reminds us that we are better together. It is a symbol of unity, showing how people from all around the world can join hands peacefully through sports.
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games take place from February 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The games run for 16 days, and events include alpine skiing, figure skating, and ice hockey. Team USA has 232 members, with 30 members listing a hometown in Colorado. Here’s a list of some of the athletes to keep an eye out for this year.
1.)
Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey comes from Vail, Colorado, and is competing for alpine skiing. Vonn retired in 2019 and underwent partial titanium knee replacement surgery in 2024 but is back and ready to compete this year. With 84 career wins, she is the oldest female winner in World Cup history. She is an icon and legend when it comes to Colorado ski culture and even has a run named after her at Vail Mountain.
2.)
Mikaela Shiffrin
Mikaela is from Edwards, Colorado, and is also competing in alpine skiing. She is known for dominating in events such as slalom and giant slalom. Shiffrin is the most successful alpine skier in history, winning her first World Cup podium at just 16 years old. She is a three-time Olympic medalist, winning gold in slalom, gold in giant slalom, and silver in alpine combined.
3.)
Jaccob Slavin
Jaccob is an Erie native and will be competing for the USA ice hockey team. He plays for the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and is known for his skills on defense and sportsmanlike approach to the game. He holds the franchise record for the Carolina Hurricanes for all-time points and assists for a defenseman. Slavin is also a two-time winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, becoming only the second defenseman in NHL history to earn this award more than once.
4.)
Red Gerard
Red is from Silverthorne, Colorado, and is competing in snowboarding. He won Olympic gold at just 17 years old at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, becoming the youngest slopestyle gold medalist in Olympic history. Gerard is also a two-time X Games champion. In addition to his competition, he has starred in a few backcountry short films, including one titled “Short & Sweet.”
5.)
Landon Wendler
Landon is from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and he competes for Team USA’s freestyle skiing team. He began skiing when he was 5 years old and achieved his first World Cup medal in dual moguls in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in March 2024. Outside of skiing, Wendler is also an EDM DJ and plays hockey.
Along with these athletes, eight players from the Colorado Avalanche will be competing in this year’s games. Not all of them are on Team USA, but they still represent Colorado in hockey. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews are playing for Team Canada. Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Kiviranta will compete for Team Finland. Gabriel Landeskog is representing Team Sweden, Martin Nečas will play for Czechia and Brock Nelson will compete for Team USA.
The opening ceremony will be held on Thursday, February 6, at 12 p.m. MT at Milan’s San Siro Stadium, marking the start of two weeks of competition and connection. You can find schedules of competition at nbcolympics.com and tune in live on NBCUniversal’s platforms, including the NBC Broadcast Network, its cable channels and the streaming platform Peacock.
Natalie Montoya
Events Manager/ Bucket List Community News
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