On Friday, Feb. 6, Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the 2026 Winter Olympic Games open, and with that, for the first time in Olympic Winter Games’ history, two cauldrons were lit. For 16 days, the cauldrons, one in Milan and another in Cortina, will stay ablaze, marking the celebration of sport and excellence. Over 2,900 athletes from 92 different countries will compete in this year’s Games, each with the hopes to stand on one of the 116 medal event podiums.
The opening ceremony of the Games was a star-studded affair, with performances from the great and powerful Andrea Bocelli and the queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey. But the real stars of the opening ceremony were the volunteers and the people behind the scenes. An army of 1,250 volunteer performers, 500 musicians, 70 hair dressers and 110 makeup artists all contributed to the spectacular ceremony in the San Siro stadium in Milan. After the performances ended, the Parade of Nations followed, but it may well have been just another fashion show in Milan. Team USA donned white Ralph Lauren wool coats, Team Mongolia sported Goyol Cashmere outfits inspired by the Great Mongol Empire of the 13th to 15th centuries and Team France wore sleek blue snowsuits with cream-colored puffer jackets.
Leading the way for Team USA was speed skater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca, who were selected as flag bearers via a vote by fellow Team USA athletes. Jackson is competing in her third Olympic Games, and is looking to defend her historic 2022 gold medal, where she became the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Games. Vice President J.D. Vance looked on from the audience as the Team USA delegation marched, but when his picture was shown in the stadium, he was met with staunch jeers.
Perhaps one of the most compelling storylines of this Olympic Games is the fearless return of 41-year-old American skier Lindsey Vonn. Last year, The Miscellany News published an article about Vonn’s brave return to skiing after myriad battles with injuries. The gold medalist has always taken a bold approach to the slopes, claiming an unprecedented number of world championship titles and being one of six women to win world championship titles in all five major alpine skiing events. But for her bravery, she has also suffered. Leading up to her highly anticipated return to her fifth Olympic Games, Vonn suffered a fully torn left ACL during a training session. She crashed on a practice course in Crans Montana, Switzerland, but was still able to slowly ski down the mountain, eventually getting airlifted to receive medical attention nearby.
Hours later, Vonn announced via Instagram, “I know what my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today, but I know there’s still a chance and as long as there’s a chance, I will try.” For most individuals, returning to unsupported walking after a complete tear of the ACL would require months of recovery and physical therapy. For Vonn, a return to gold in perhaps her last chance at Olympic glory would require a knee brace and grit.
Early on Sunday, Feb. 8, Vonn stood atop the race course, amped up and ready to attack. She pushed out of the gates and met the course on Olympia delle Tofane in Cortina d’Ampezzo with her trademark fervor. On the opening turn of the course, Vonn cut too tight, clipping an early gate on the run and spinning out onto the snow. This time, she could not get up and finish the run. Racing was halted, and Vonn was dramatically airlifted out via helicopter minutes later. Vonn went into surgery shortly thereafter.
Whether or not this will be the end of Vonn’s turbulent career is yet to be known. But one thing is for sure: If Vonn hangs up the skis, she will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest and most resilient competitors to ever hit the slopes.
In the halfpipe, Chloe Kim of Team USA enters this Olympic Games looking to accomplish a feat no snowboarder has yet to pull off: three consecutive halfpipe gold medals. In 2018, at the PyeongChang Games, Kim shook the world, winning a gold medal at just 17 years old. Four years later, she did it again. Now, the 25-year-old snowboarder will be holding off a strong field in her third consecutive Olympic Games as she vies for another gold.
On the ice, men’s and women’s hockey will feature scorching competition. After a fiery 4 Nations Face-Off just last year, men’s hockey will have all the drama you could hope for in Team USA and Canada’s highly anticipated rematch.
And the stories go on.
The United States sets the global precedent for sports competition. Individuals across state lines scorn one another for the baseball cap they wear or the jersey they don on Sundays, but for two weeks every two years, the nation unites. We learn the rules to curling and decide on our favorite bobsledder. We might not be familiar with the sport, but does this matter? No. If they have the stars and stripes on, they have our support.
Between Feb. 6 and Feb. 22, over 90 countries will ski, sled and skate in hopes of snagging the hundreds of medals up for grabs. Four years ago in Beijing, the Netherlands took home the highest number of medals with 37, including 16 gold medals. Germany finished second, while the host nation China followed in third. As the Games heat up and medal counts rise, athletes as young as 15 and as old as 50 will unite around a common cause: channeling years of training for moments as short as 60 seconds. Do not forget to tune in!