Frank Rondel
U.S. Ski & Snowboard has officially selected 97 athletes to represent Team USA at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, scheduled from February 6 to 22, 2026, reports customreceipt.com with reference to U.S. Ski & Snowboard. The athletes were chosen according to pre-determined Olympic selection criteria established by U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and their formal announcement to Team USA is set for January 26, 2026.
The 2026 Games will span multiple locations across Italy, making them the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics in history. Competitions will occur across 25 venues grouped into four main clusters: Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme. The Olympic program will include 116 medal events. Alpine events for men will take place in Bormio, while women’s alpine competitions will be held in Cortina. Val di Fiemme will host cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined events, and freestyle, freeski, and snowboard events will occur in Livigno.
Of the 97 athletes representing U.S. Ski & Snowboard, 73 belong to the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, and 24 are from the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team. At the previous Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes accounted for over 40% of the total Team USA delegation, securing 15 of the 25 medals won by the country. Notably, 48 of the selected athletes are first-time Olympians, reflecting a significant infusion of new talent alongside seasoned competitors.
Several team members are returning as multiple-time Olympians and medalists. The alpine roster features two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin, three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn, and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, an Olympic silver medalist. Jessie Diggins, an Olympic champion and three-time medalist in cross-country skiing, will participate in her fourth and final Games. In freestyle moguls, Jaelin Kauf returns with an Olympic silver medal, while Chris Lillis, a 2022 Olympic gold medalist, rejoins the aerials squad. The freeski team is led by Olympic champion Alex Hall, two-time medalist Alex Ferreira, and three-time medalist Nick Goepper, also making his fourth Olympic appearance. In snowboarding, two-time Olympic champion Chloe Kim, along with Red Gerard and Nick Baumgartner—entering his fifth Olympic Games—will compete for Team USA.
Sophie Goldschmidt, U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO, stated that the athletes “represent a large portion of Team USA” and emphasized the excitement surrounding their stories and impact in Italy. Anouk Patty, Chief of Sport, highlighted the team’s depth and strong performance throughout the season, calling it one of the most competitive rosters sent to the Games.
The complete Olympic schedule is available on the official website, and U.S. viewers can watch the Games on NBC-owned channels.
The U.S. Olympic Alpine team features a mix of veterans and first-time Olympians. Key names for women include Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn, Breezy Johnson, Mary Bocock, and Keely Cashman. Men’s alpine selections include Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Bryce Bennett, River Radamus, Kyle Negomir, and Sam Morse. The cross-country team includes Jessie Diggins, Rosie Brennan, Julia Kern, and newcomers such as Lauren Jortberg, Kendall Kramer, and Sammy Smith, alongside male skiers John Steel Hagenbuch, Zak Ketterson, Gus Schumacher, and Hunter Wonders.
The freestyle and freeski teams bring top medalists in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air disciplines. Notable athletes include Alex Hall, Nick Goepper, Alex Ferreira, Kate Gray, Riley Jacobs, Marin Hamill, Rell Harwood, and Grace Henderson. The moguls and aerials squad features Chris Lillis, Jaelin Kauf, Olivia Giaccio, Tess Johnson, Kyra Dossa, and Tasia Tanner.
In Nordic combined, Ben Loomis and Niklas Malacinski represent Team USA. Ski jumping selections include Annika Belshaw, Josie Johnson, Paige Jones, Kevin Bickner, Jason Colby, and Tate Frantz. Snowboard competitors for halfpipe, slopestyle, and snowboard cross include Chloe Kim, Bea Kim, Maddie Mastro, Jake Pates, Red Gerard, Nick Baumgartner, Sean FitzSimons, and Faye Thelen. Several younger athletes, such as Alessandro Barbieri, Lily Dhawornvej, and Nathan Pare, join the squad as first-time Olympians.
Team leaders expressed confidence in the athletes’ preparation and competitive potential. Chris Grover, Director of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, noted that the squad has built momentum and assembled the most experienced support staff in history. Matt Gnoza, Freestyle Ski Program Director, emphasized the diversity of skills within the freestyle team. Skogen Sprang, Freeski Program Director, described the team’s preparation in Livigno, including intensive training on snow, airbags, and strength conditioning. Anders Johnson, Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Program Director, highlighted the athletes’ hard work and readiness for Val di Fiemme events. Rick Bower, Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Director, praised the depth of talent across all ages, from seasoned veterans to 16-year-old first-time Olympians.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard, based in Park City, Utah, serves as the Olympic and Paralympic governing body for skiing and snowboarding in the United States. Founded in 1905, it oversees nearly 240 elite athletes across ten disciplines, including alpine, cross-country, freestyle, freeski, Nordic combined, ski jumping, and Paralympic programs. The organization also provides guidance for young athletes nationwide, supporting their development in competitive skiing and snowboarding. More information is available at usskiandsnowboard.org.
Earlier we wrote that Greg Bovino Leaves Minneapolis to Lead El Centro Border Patrol Amid Alex Pretti Shooting Controversy