The Winter Olympics have always served as a proving ground for greatness. Every four years, a select group of athletes arrives not just to compete, but to leave an imprint on sporting history.

Milano Cortina 2026 promises to be no different, with several standout competitors poised to define the Games.

Across ice, snow, and track events, these athletes represent the peak of preparation and ambition. Some are returning champions seeking to solidify a legacy, while others are emerging athletes ready to make a name for themselves on the world’s biggest winter stage.

Mikaela Shiffrin and the Evolution of Alpine Excellence

Mikaela Shiffrin, representing the U.S.A, heads into the Milano Cortina Games as one of the most closely watched athletes in alpine skiing. Competing for the United States, her performances are frequently highlighted in analyses of Olympic performance as each major event approaches. Her reputation has been built on technical consistency and an ability to deliver under the pressure of elite competition.

Cortina carries added importance in Shiffrin’s Olympic journey. When the venue hosted the 2021 World Championships, she produced one of her strongest showings, collecting four medals, including a gold in the combined event. Those results demonstrated her comfort in challenging terrain and her adaptability across disciplines.

Shiffrin’s momentum continued at the 2025 World Championships, where she secured her eighth world title and added another medal to her growing record. As attention turns toward 2026, her experience and reputation for sustained excellence ensure she remains a central figure in alpine skiing conversation.

Eileen Gu and the Future of Freestyle Competition

Eileen Gu, representing China, has carved out a unique place in freestyle skiing by combining elite performance with rapid progression at a young age. She reached the highest level of international competition while still a teenager, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about athletes in winter sports.

Her defining Olympic moment came in Beijing in 2022, where she delivered podium finishes across three separate events. Gu secured top honors in both big air and halfpipe and added a silver medal in slopestyle, a rare achievement that highlighted her ability to adapt across different freestyle formats during a single Games.

Those results reflected more than medal success. Gu demonstrated technical ambition and competitive range that set her apart from her peers, including becoming the youngest freestyle skiing Olympic champion and breaking new ground with high-difficulty tricks in competition. As she looks toward 2026, a standout performance could place her among the greatest Olympians of all time.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Nordic Dominance

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, representing Norway, arrives at the Milano Cortina Games as a central figure in modern cross-country skiing. Still in his twenties, the Norwegian athlete has already built a résumé that places him among the most successful competitors the sport has ever seen. His ability to perform across a range of race formats has made him a dominant presence on the international circuit.

Klæbo’s Olympic rise began in 2018, when he claimed three gold medals and set a new benchmark as the youngest champion in cross-country skiing. He followed that performance at the 2022 Games with additional medals, including two golds, reinforcing his reputation for delivering under Olympic pressure.

Away from the Olympics, Klæbo has amassed more than 100 World Cup wins, reflecting sustained excellence year after year. His dominance of all six men’s events at the 2025 world championships highlighted the gap he has created at the top of the field, making him the standard others will chase in 2026.

Chloe Kim and Snowboarding’s Defining Presence

Chloe Kim, representing the U.S.A, has established herself as a defining presence in elite snowboarding, competing for the United States with a level of confidence rarely seen in competitors of her age (25).

Her breakthrough came on the Olympic stage in PyeongChang, where her performances quickly captured global attention and made her one of the most recognizable athletes of the Games.

Kim’s impact was most evident in the halfpipe, where she delivered a commanding run that secured the gold medal with a score of 98.25 points. The margin of victory highlighted her dominance, and the result made her the youngest Olympic champion in the event. That moment marked the beginning of her rise as an international star.

Her achievements didn’t stop there. Kim went on to complete a rare sweep by winning major titles at the Olympics, World Championships, Youth Olympics, and X Games.

As the 2026 Winter Games approach, she continues to set the benchmark in women’s snowboarding, influencing both competition standards and the next generation of riders.

How Betting Markets Are Shaping Olympic Storylines

As anticipation builds for Milano Cortina, interest around the Games extends beyond performances on snow and ice. Many fans follow medal races and athlete form through Winter Olympics 2026 betting, where odds reflect how competitors are viewed heading into the event. These markets often mirror long-term trends rather than single-event outcomes.

Online sportsbooks typically focus on medal counts, head-to-head matchups, and discipline-specific winners. Established stars with consistent results tend to attract early attention, while rising athletes can see odds shift quickly following strong World Cup or championship performances. This movement often highlights changing expectations well before the opening ceremony.

Several factors influence betting interest across Olympic events, including:

• Recent international results and podium consistency,

• Athlete experience in Olympic or championship settings,

• Strength of national teams across multiple disciplines.

While betting markets do not predict outcomes, they offer insight into how athletes are perceived entering the Games. In that sense, wagering discussion has become another way fans engage with Olympic narratives, tracking momentum as history begins to take shape.

The Lasting Impact of Olympic Greatness

The Winter Olympics 2026 will not be defined by a single sport or nation, but by the athletes who rise to the moment. Each competitor highlighted represents a different path to excellence, shaped by discipline, adaptability, and timing.

These Games offer a chance for legacies to be reinforced and for new chapters to begin. For some athletes, Milano Cortina may mark the peak of a long journey. For others, it could be the start of something greater.

What makes the Winter Olympics unforgettable is the convergence of preparation and opportunity. Athletes arrive knowing that history is decided in seconds, meters, or by single routines.

As fans watch records challenged and careers defined, the stories emerging from 2026 will extend beyond medal counts. They will reflect resilience, ambition, and the enduring pursuit of greatness that defines the Olympic spirit.