2026 Winter Olympics: Top Global Stars & Historic Performances

Alpine Skiing: Shiffrin and Vonn Lead the Way

• Mikaela Shiffrin (USA): Already the most decorated alpine skier in history with 86+ World Cup victories, Shiffrin added to her legacy in Milan with a gold medal in the women’s slalom.
• Lindsey Vonn (USA): The 41-year-old icon made a highly anticipated return for her fifth Olympic appearance, remaining one of the biggest attractions on the slopes.
• Marco Odermatt (Switzerland): The Swiss superstar and undisputed king of the World Cup circuit secured two hard-fought silver medals in Italy.

Figure Skating: The Era of the “Quad God”

• Ilia Malinin (USA): Known for being the only skater to land a quadruple axel in competition, Malinin continued to push physical limits, capturing gold in the team event.
• Alysa Liu (USA): Completing a remarkable comeback, the 20-year-old prodigy secured a gold medal in the women’s single event.
• Yuma Kagiyama (Japan): A top challenger to Malinin, Kagiyama led Japan to a silver medal in the team event, notably besting Malinin’s short program score.

Ice Hockey: NHL Superstars Debut

• Connor McDavid (Canada): Widely considered the best player in the world, McDavid made his long-awaited Olympic debut, leading Canada to a silver medal.
• Marie-Philip Poulin (Canada): The veteran known as “Captain Clutch” continued her dominance, having previously scored gold-winning goals in three separate Olympic finals.
• Auston Matthews (USA): Led a powerhouse Team USA to capture the gold medal in a thrilling men’s tournament final against Canada.

Speed Skating: Record Breakers

• Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (Norway): Set a monumental record for the most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics, securing six golds across various cross-country skiing events.
• Jordan Stolz (USA): The 21-year-old phenom dominated the oval, setting Olympic records and winning gold in both the men’s 500m and 1000m events.
• Jutta Leerdam (Netherlands): A global sensation on and off the ice, Leerdam backed up her massive profile by capturing gold and silver medals.

Freestyle Skiing & Snowboarding

• Eileen Gu (China): The “main character” of the Games, Gu became the most decorated freeskier in Olympic history by defending her halfpipe gold and adding two silvers.
• Chloe Kim (USA): The face of snowboarding secured a hard-fought silver in the halfpipe, further cementing her status as a legend in the sport.