Milan: The Winter Olympics will bring together the world’s finest athletes when the Games begin on February 6, as global stars prepare to take centre stage on snow and ice, setting the scene for high drama, historic moments and breakthrough performances on sport’s biggest winter platform.
Around 2,900 athletes from 92 National Olympic Committees will compete across 16 disciplines and 116 medal events at venues across northern Italy as Milan–Cortina hosts the Games, with some of the most recognisable names in winter sport chasing Olympic glory.
Vonn chases one last Olympic moment
Alpine skiing | United States
At 41, Lindsey Vonn’s presence alone is one of the biggest stories of the Games. Just days before the women’s downhill in Cortina, the Olympic champion revealed she had ruptured her left anterior cruciate ligament following a crash in the final World Cup race of the season. Despite being airlifted to hospital in Switzerland, Vonn has not ruled out competing in what is likely to be her fifth and final Olympics.
A four-time overall World Cup winner, Vonn retired in 2019 due to injury before returning to competition in 2024 after knee surgery. While her participation in the super-G and team events remains uncertain, she had been a strong favourite for downhill gold before her latest setback.
Shiffrin eyes Olympic redemption
Alpine skiing | United States
Mikaela Shiffrin arrives in Italy widely regarded as the greatest alpine skier of all time. The two-time Olympic champion will compete at her fourth Games and has spoken of wanting to “make peace” with the Olympics following disappointment in Beijing, alongside injury and mental health struggles.
The five-time overall World Cup winner has amassed a record 108 World Cup victories and opened the season with a run of slalom wins, underlining her status as a leading medal contender.
Malinin leads figure skating’s new era
Figure skating | United States
Ilia Malinin is the standout favourite for men’s singles gold. Known as the “Quad God”, the American remains the only skater to have landed the quadruple Axel in competition and has pushed technical boundaries with routines featuring multiple quadruple jumps.
The reigning world champion, born to former Olympic skaters Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, will make his Olympic debut after missing selection for Beijing 2022.
Emotional debut for Naumov
Figure skating | United States
Maxim Naumov’s Olympic journey carries deep personal significance. The 24-year-old will compete at his first Games less than a year after his parents, former world champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were killed in a plane crash in Washington DC.
Qualifying for the Olympics had been one of the last dreams he shared with them.
Gu remains global icon
Freestyle skiing | China
Eileen Gu returns as one of the most recognisable figures of the Winter Olympics. Born and raised in California but representing China, Gu won two gold medals and a silver at Beijing 2022 and remains a dominant force in freeski halfpipe and big air.
Away from sport, she is a global celebrity, combining elite competition with modelling commitments and academic studies at Stanford University.
New sport, new star: Emily Harrop Emerges as Medal Hope in Olympic Skimo Debut
Ski mountaineering | France
Ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut at Milan–Cortina, and France’s Emily Harrop arrives as a leading medal contender. Raised in the French Alps by English parents, Harrop dominated the 2025 World Cup season, winning all seven races and claiming both sprint and overall titles.
History on the line: Francesco Friedrich Chases Historic Olympic Treble
Bobsleigh | Germany
German pilot Francesco Friedrich is chasing history. A 16-time world champion, he aims to become the first man to win two- and four-man bobsleigh gold at three consecutive Olympic Games, continuing Germany’s dominance in the sport.
Home hopes and global appeal
Italy’s Arianna Fontana, an 11-time Olympic medallist, will compete at her sixth Games and serve as one of the host nation’s flag bearers. Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam returns as a medal favourite, while Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen could make history by delivering South America’s first Winter Olympic medal.
With NHL players returning to Olympic ice hockey for the first time since 2014 and stars such as Chloe Kim chasing a third consecutive halfpipe title, the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics promise unforgettable moments as the world’s best athletes battle for gold on snow and ice.
Source: BBC, Milano Cortina Olympics
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