A MILAN REASONS TO WATCH
"The Olympics is not about the colors of the medals. It’s about the colors of the human spirit." — Unknown
When: Opening Ceremonies - Friday, February 6
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday, February 22
Where: Milan, Italy (along with Cortina dʼAmpezzo & the Dolomites)
Who: 2,900 - 3,500 athletes representing approximately 90 countries
The countdown to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has officially entered its final stretch. While the Italian Alps are preparing for a celebration of "Harmony," Team USA is preparing for something else: a dominant return to the podium.
From legendary comebacks to the "Quad God" of the ice, here are the American storylines you need to follow.
The Legends: Vonn and Shiffrin Lead the Charge
The biggest headline in Alpine skiing is the return of the GOAT. Lindsey Vonn, 41, has stunned the sporting world by coming out of retirement and officially qualifying for her fifth Olympics. After a successful early-season run on the World Cup circuit, Vonn is set to become the oldest American skier in Olympic history.
Meanwhile, Mikaela Shiffrin is looking for redemption. After a challenging run in Beijing, she has dominated the 2025 season, clinching her Olympic spot early with a series of historic slalom victories. She enters these Games not just as a favorite, but as the most decorated Alpine skier of all time.
The "Quad God" and the New Guard
With Nathan Chen stepping away to pursue a career in medicine, the spotlight in figure skating has shifted entirely to Ilia Malinin. Known as the "Quad God," Malinin is the only person to ever land a quadruple Axel in competition. Heading into 2026, he is the undisputed gold-medal favorite, recently breaking his own world records with programs that feature an unheard-of seven quadruple jumps.
Ice Hockey: The NHL Returns
For the first time since 2014, the best players in the world are heading to the Olympics. The U.S. Men’s roster will feature NHL superstars like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and the Tkachuk brothers. On the women's side, veteran leader Kendall Coyne Schofield will look to guide Team USA back to the top of the podium after a hard-fought world title win over Canada in 2025.
Snowboarding’s Triple Threat
Chloe Kim is back and chasing history. Having already secured her spot, she aims to "three-peat" in the women’s halfpipe. Joining her is Red Gerard, the creative powerhouse of slopestyle, who is hungry for gold after narrowly missing the podium in Beijing.
Team USA: At a Glance
|
Athlete |
Sport |
Why to Watch |
|
Lindsey Vonn |
Alpine Skiing |
The legendary comeback at age 41. |
|
Ilia Malinin |
Figure Skating |
The only skater landing the "impossible" jumps. |
|
Jessie Diggins |
Cross-Country |
Chasing the first individual gold in U.S. XC history. |
|
Jordan Stolz |
Speed Skating |
The young phenom dominating the World Tour. |
|
Anna Gibson |
Ski Mountaineering |
Representing the U.S. in the Olympics' newest sport. |
Viewing Guide: Don’t Miss the Action
Since Italy is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET) and 9 hours ahead of Pacific Time (PT), many of the most popular events will air live in the early morning or afternoon in the U.S., with a curated "Primetime in Milan" show airing each night on NBC.
Here are the key medal events for Team USA’s biggest stars:
|
Date |
Event |
Predicted Highlights |
Time (ET) |
|
Fri, Feb 6 |
Opening Ceremony |
The parade of nations at San Siro Stadium. |
~2:30 PM |
|
Sun, Feb 8 |
Women’s Downhill |
Lindsey Vonn’s historic Olympic return. |
Morning |
|
Fri, Feb 13 |
Men’s Figure Skating |
Ilia Malinin chases gold with the Quad Axel. |
1:00 PM |
|
Wed, Feb 18 |
Women’s Slalom |
Mikaela Shiffrin goes for her specialty gold. |
Morning |
|
Thu, Feb 19 |
Women’s Hockey |
The inevitable Gold Medal showdown vs. Canada. |
Morning |
|
Thu, Feb 19 |
Women’s Figure Skating |
Alysa Liu and the U.S. women take center stage. |
1:00 PM |
|
Sun, Feb 22 |
Men’s Hockey |
The NHL stars compete for the Gold Medal. |
8:00 AM |
|
Sun, Feb 22 |
Closing Ceremony |
The handover to France for the 2030 Games. |
Afternoon |
How to Watch:
-
NBC & USA Network: Your home for live daily coverage and the evening "Primetime in Milan" highlights.
-
Peacock: The only place to stream every single event (all 116 medal rounds) live and on-demand.
-
Gold Zone: Peacock is bringing back its popular "Red Zone" style coverage to ensure you never miss a photo finish.
