The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics: A Complete Guide
Team USA Dominates Early with World-Best Performance
The 2026 Winter Olympics got off to an electrifying start as American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates delivered a show-stopping performance that set a new world record. Skating to a rock-and-roll routine inspired by music legend Lenny Kravitz, the three-time world champions earned an impressive 91.06 points in the rhythm dance during Friday’s team competition. Their performance not only secured the maximum 10 points for Team USA but also sent a powerful message to their competitors about their intentions for these Games. The duo skated before an enthusiastic crowd that included some high-profile American dignitaries, including Vice President JD Vance with his family and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who witnessed firsthand this spectacular display of athletic artistry.
Chock and Bates entered these Olympics as the favorites to claim individual gold later in the Games, and their opening performance certainly lived up to the expectations. Their chemistry on the ice, honed through years of partnership, was evident in every movement as they seamlessly blended technical precision with artistic expression. The Lenny Kravitz-inspired program showcased their ability to interpret contemporary music while maintaining the technical requirements of competitive ice dancing. This early success has set the tone for what Team USA hopes will be a medal-rich Olympics, and it demonstrates the depth of talent that American figure skating brings to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Understanding AIN: The Individual Neutral Athletes at the 2026 Games
One of the more complex aspects of the 2026 Winter Olympics involves the participation of athletes competing under the designation “AIN,” which stands for “Athlètes Individuels Neutres” in French, or “Individual Neutral Athletes” in English. This designation represents at least a dozen competitors who have ties to Russia and Belarus, countries whose flags will not be present at these Games due to ongoing controversies. Russia faces continued sanctions following a series of doping scandals that have plagued international sports for years, while both Russia and Belarus have been banned from competing under their national flags due to their involvement in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The AIN designation allows individual athletes from these nations to compete in the Olympics without representing their countries officially. This compromise attempts to balance the Olympic ideal of individual athletic achievement with the need to maintain political and ethical standards in international sport. These athletes will not hear their national anthems if they win medals, nor will they see their national flags raised during victory ceremonies. Instead, they compete as neutral individuals, representing only themselves and their dedication to their sport. This situation highlights the complex intersection of politics and athletics in modern Olympic competition, where the actions of governments can significantly impact the dreams and careers of individual athletes who may have trained their entire lives for this moment.
Team USA’s Unprecedented Representation Across American States
The United States is making history at the 2026 Winter Olympics by sending its largest-ever Winter Games delegation, with 232 Olympic athletes representing 32 different states across the nation. This massive team demonstrates the growing popularity and accessibility of winter sports throughout America, even in regions not traditionally associated with snow and ice. Analysis by CBS News reveals fascinating patterns in where America’s winter sports athletes come from, with Colorado leading the way with 30 athletes, followed by Minnesota with 24 competitors, and California with 19. These numbers reflect not only the climate and terrain advantages these states enjoy but also their investment in winter sports infrastructure and development programs.
The geographic diversity of Team USA tells an interesting story about American winter sports. While it’s unsurprising that states with mountainous terrain and cold climates like Colorado and Minnesota produce many Olympic athletes, the presence of competitors from states like Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota, and Washington D.C.—each with just one athlete—shows that Olympic dreams can flourish anywhere with sufficient dedication and resources. However, the data also reveals disparities, with 18 states having no representatives on the team at all. This distribution highlights both the achievements of winter sports development programs across the country and the challenges that remain in making these sports accessible to talented young athletes in regions where winter sports facilities are limited or non-existent.
The Olympic Torch Journey and Ceremony Preparations
The iconic Olympic torch has been on an extraordinary journey leading up to the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. First lit in its traditional birthplace of Olympia, Greece, on November 26, 2025, the flame arrived in Italy on December 5 and has since traveled throughout every region of the country, building excitement and anticipation for the Winter Games. On Thursday evening, the torch made its highly anticipated arrival in Milan, where it was carried through the city’s historic streets as residents and visitors alike gathered to witness this powerful Olympic symbol pass through their community.
The torch relay featured several notable participants, including Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who serves as a senior advisor for AC Milan, and Prima Ballerina Nicoletta Manni, demonstrating how the Olympics bring together excellence from all fields of human achievement. Today, the torch is making its final journey through Milan before reaching its ultimate destination at the legendary San Siro Stadium, where it will be used to light the Olympic flame during the Opening Ceremony. This flame will burn throughout the Games, serving as a constant reminder of the Olympic spirit that unites athletes and spectators from around the world in celebration of human achievement, perseverance, and international friendship.
Team USA’s Historic Flagbearers Lead the American Delegation
In a selection that perfectly captures the diversity and values of American Olympic competition, speedskater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca have been chosen to carry the United States flag during the Opening Ceremony. Their selection by their fellow Olympians represents more than just an honor—it tells a story about modern American athletics and the Olympic spirit. Jackson made history as the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympics, breaking barriers and inspiring a new generation of athletes from underrepresented communities to pursue winter sports. Her achievement represents years of dedication to her sport and serves as a powerful symbol of progress in winter athletics.
Del Duca brings his own compelling story to the role, serving as a sergeant in the U.S. Army while pursuing his Olympic dreams in bobsled. His deep Italian roots add special significance to his selection as flagbearer for these particular Games, creating a personal connection between the American team and the host nation. According to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Jackson will become the eighth American speedskater to carry the flag into an Olympics, continuing a proud tradition in that sport. Meanwhile, Del Duca will make history as the first bobsledder to carry the American flag at an opening ceremony in 70 years. Together, they represent the military service, athletic excellence, barrier-breaking achievement, and international connections that define the American Olympic experience.
Schedule, Mascots, and Lindsey Vonn’s Inspiring Return
The 2026 Milano Cortina Games officially began on February 4 with training sessions and preliminary rounds in multiple disciplines, including curling, ice hockey, and snowboarding. The first medals of the Games are scheduled to be awarded on Saturday, February 7, across five different events: men’s downhill alpine skiing, women’s 10k + 10k skiathlon in cross country skiing, women’s normal hill individual ski jumping, men’s big air snowboarding, and women’s 3000m speed skating. The Games will run through February 22, followed by the Paralympics from March 6 to March 15, showcasing 116 events across eight sports and 16 disciplines, including the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering, known as “skimo.”
Adding charm to these Games are the official mascots, Tina and Milo, two stoats designed by students from the Istituto Comprensivo of Taverna. These adorable characters, accompanied by six snowdrop flowers called “The Flo,” embody the Italian spirit and provide a whimsical face for the Games. Meanwhile, one of the most inspiring stories of these Olympics involves American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, who participated in her first official Olympic training event on Friday despite having ruptured her left ACL just a week earlier during a World Cup race in Switzerland. Vonn completed the downhill training run without apparent issues, demonstrating the incredible determination that has defined her legendary career. Her scheduled competitive event, the women’s downhill, is set for Sunday, and her participation despite injury serves as a powerful reminder of the Olympic spirit—the drive to compete at the highest level regardless of obstacles. The Opening Ceremony will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com at 2 p.m. ET, with an enhanced encore presentation at 8 p.m. ET, officially launching what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of winter sports in the heart of Italy.
