An action-packed two weeks is underway: The 2026 Winter Olympics kick off from Milano Cortina

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This year, the Olympic Winter Games are taking place in Milano Cortina, Italy. Although not as heralded as the Summer Games, the Winter Olympics still feature 16 action-packed athletic competitions with the greatest athletes in their discipline.

Although there are no RedHawks participating in the games, there are still a variety of United States athletes who will provide compelling storylines.

The public focal point of the games will undoubtedly be the men’s hockey competition. Without Russia participating in the games due to sanctions, the United States and Canada appear to be the obvious favorites in the competition. Historically speaking, teams like Sweden and Finland are difficult challenges to overcome as well; however, all eyes will be on a different set of geographic neighbors.

Last year, the National Hockey League (NHL) introduced the 4 Nations Face-Off, where the U.S.-Canada rivalry took center stage. Tensions were high throughout the competition, and the matchup in Milano Cortina should have a similar, if not an increased, level of animosity between the two favorites.

Due to injury concerns, Matthew Tkachuk may not feature in the games. His brother, Brady Tkachuk, will be a fan favorite for the stars and stripes. Brady plays an aggressive style of hockey, considered a bruiser by many, and he is not afraid to get physical and rile up the crowd.

Captain Auston Matthews is another hockey star to keep an eye on. Although this is the first Olympics for NHL players since 2014, Matthews was a prominent offensive focal point of the 4 Nations Face-Off for the U.S.

The 2026 games will be the swan song for one of the greatest women's hockey players in U.S. history: Hilary Knight. She has medaled in four different games and has already broken the U.S. Olympic women's goals record with 14.

Staying on the ice, 21-year-old Jordan Stolz enters the speed skating competition with a variety of records under his belt. The U.S.’s fastest man on ice has the opportunity to be the first to win multiple medals at a single Winter Olympics since 2006. Stolz will compete individually in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m races on Feb. 11–22 and will likely be featured in the team pursuit event.

There is more to skating than speed and power, and the tandem of Madison Chock and Evan Bates dazzled the audience with their control and finesse in the figure skating competition. The married couple has won seven national titles as well as an Olympic gold medal. The couple finished the competition with the silver medal on Feb. 11.

Moving to the slopes, one of the athletes on the Mount Rushmore of alpine skiing, Lindsay Vonn, was unsuccessful in her return for the 2026 games. Vonn has earned three Olympic medals in what has been an injury-riddled career for the 41-year-old skier. For Vonn, the injury problems continued when she tore her ACL just weeks before the competition.

Vonn arrived in Milano Cortina and still planned to ski, but she suffered a broken tibia in the women's downhill final. It looks to be an unfortunate end to the career of one of the true stars of the modern Winter Olympics.

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Vonn would likely be the undisputed greatest alpine skier of all time if it was not for Mikaela Shiffrin — the most accomplished alpine skier of all time has 164 World Cup podiums, as well as two gold and one silver medal in three Olympic appearances. Shiffrin will compete in a variety of events from Feb. 11-18.

Red Gerard, the youngest-ever Olympic snowboard champion, is looking to reconquer the slopes in Italy. The Cleveland native competes in the Slope Style and Big Air events and enters the competition in top form as the back-to-back X Games champion.

On the halfpipe, Chloe Kim has dominated the competition for the past two games. Looking to be the first Olympic snowboarder to win gold three-straight times, she competes in the women's halfpipe final on Feb. 12. Unfortunately, Kim suffered a shoulder injury in early January and will not be cleared to practice again until just days before the competition is scheduled. The injury has not derailed her medal bid yet, as she qualified for the final round.

Beyond the stars in the public eye, new cult heroes will emerge as the world once again is captivated by the 2026 Winter Games. Beyond the sports discussed and the athletes covered, true die-hard fans will discover the exciting sports of biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, luge, skeleton and ski jumping.

For RedHawks looking for the captivating content from Milano Cortina, NBC and their affiliate Peacock will be the home of the coverage. The competitions will conclude on Feb. 22, and the Paralympics will follow on March 6.

@themeneghetti

meneghcj@miamioh.edu