Top 26 International Olympians to Watch at Milan Cortina 2026

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 2, 2026 8:41 AM ET

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are set to commence soon, showcasing elite athletes across 16 disciplines, including new events like ski mountaineering. With 116 medal events scheduled, nearly 3,000 participants are gearing up for intense competition. Here are 26 international Olympians to watch during the Games.

Top 26 International Olympians to Watch at Milan Cortina 2026

Alpine Skiing

Federica Brignone (Italy) – A three-time Olympic medalist, she is recovering from a leg injury and has shown strong performances in recent competitions.
Marco Odermatt (Switzerland) – The defending Olympic champion in giant slalom will be a top contender for multiple gold medals.

Biathlon

Quentin Fillon Maillet (France) – The five-time Olympic medalist is anticipated to excel, defending his golds from the previous Olympics.
Julia Simon (France) – Amid controversy, she remains a strong competitor and recently achieved four golds at the world championships.

Curling

Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner (Italy) – This mixed doubles team is undefeated in significant competitions, making them a pair to watch.
Bruce Mouat (Great Britain) – Leading the British curling team, he comes with experience from previous Olympic and world competitions.

Freestyle Skiing

Eileen Gu (China) – This Olympic star has previously captured two golds and a silver and aims for more in 2026.
Mikaël Kingsbury (Canada) – A legend in moguls, he’s a favorite for the upcoming events after numerous Olympic and world championship medals.

Short Track Speedskating

William Dandjinou (Canada) – A two-time defending World Tour champion, he has dominated this season.
Courtney Sarault (Canada) – With numerous titles, Sarault is expected to contend for medals in all short track distances.

Snowboarding

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (New Zealand) – A standout performer who has achieved historic feats in recent competitions.

Speedskating

Miho Takagi (Japan) – An accomplished athlete with numerous Olympic and world championship medals, she leads in the 1,500m distance.
Femke Kok (Netherlands) – The top performer at this season’s World Cup will aim for medals in her events.

Ski Jumping

Domen and Nika Prevc (Slovenia) – Both siblings are leading their tours and have garnered multiple medals in prior championships.

Skeleton

Matt Weston (Great Britain) – A recent world titleholder, he is a strong favorite in the men’s skeleton events.

Luge

Max Langenhan and Felix Loch (Germany) – Two distinguished athletes with a history of world titles, expected to perform at high levels in Cortina.

Conclusion

As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, these athletes will be focal points in their respective sports. Fans can anticipate thrilling events and possibly historic achievements as these Olympians take the stage in Milan Cortina.