The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are underway. This brings the world’s elite athletes together in Italy. Nearly 2,900 competitors from 92 nations are chasing Olympic glory.
Here are the standout athletes dominating their sports right now.
Mikaela Shiffrin: Alpine Skiing Legend
The American icon owns 108 World Cup victories. That’s more than any alpine skier in history. She won seven of eight slalom races this season alone.
Shiffrin, 30, claimed gold in slalom at Sochi 2014. She added giant slalom gold at Pyeongchang 2018. Beijing 2022 proved disappointing with no medals.
But she bounced back spectacularly. After a serious injury in late 2024, she returned to win four consecutive World Cup competitions in fall 2025.
She’s a five-time World Cup overall champion. She’s hunting for redemption in Italy.
Connor McDavid: Hockey’s Finest
The Edmonton Oilers captain makes his Olympic debut at age 29. He’s widely regarded as the best ice hockey player on the planet.
McDavid leads Canada’s men’s team. They’re bidding for their first Olympic gold since Sochi 2014.
NHL players returned to Olympic competition for the first time since 2014. This adds star power and raises competitive intensity dramatically.
As many as 146 NHL players compete across 16 national teams. McDavid sits at the top.
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo: Cross-Country King
The 29-year-old Norwegian dominates cross-country skiing completely. He won six gold medals at the 2025 World Championships. All six of his events.
Klaebo already owns seven Olympic medals from two previous appearances. That includes individual and team sprint golds from Beijing 2022.
He’s won five World Cup overall titles. He’s reached the podium in 135 of 188 career World Cup races. That’s a staggering consistency.
Norway depends heavily on Klaebo to defend their Winter Olympics dominance.
Marco Odermatt: Swiss Superstar
The 28-year-old Swiss skier has been unstoppable since Beijing 2022. He won giant slalom gold there. Then he conquered everything else.
Odermatt claimed four consecutive World Cup overall titles. He’s a world champion in three disciplines: downhill, giant slalom, and Super G.
His dominance on the slopes is complete. He arrives in Italy as the heavy favorite across multiple events.
Chloe Kim: Three-Peat Hunter
The 25-year-old American snowboarder chases history. She won halfpipe gold at Pyeongchang 2018. She defended her title at Beijing 2022.
Now she’s pursuing an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold. No woman has ever achieved this in halfpipe.
Kim recently dislocated her shoulder during training in Switzerland. But she declared herself “good to go” for competition.
She’s an eight-time Winter X Games gold medalist. She’s a three-time world champion. She’s the first woman to land a 1260 spin in competition.
Ilia Malinin: Figure Skating Phenomenon
The 21-year-old American performs athletic feats many thought impossible. He recently helped Team USA win gold in the team event.
Malinin’s technical abilities push boundaries. His quad jumps are revolutionary. His artistic presentation continues improving.
Figure skating experts consider him the sport’s next great star. His performances in Italy could define a generation.
Jutta Leerdam: Social Media Skating Star
The Dutch speed skater brings five million Instagram followers to Italy. She’s engaged to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. But she’s much more than celebrity.
Leerdam, 27, is a seven-time world champion. She won silver in the 1000m at Beijing 2022. She’s competing in that event again plus additional distances.
Her combination of athletic excellence and social media influence makes her one of the Games’ most recognizable faces.
Francesco Friedrich: Bobsled Dynasty
The 35-year-old German seeks his third consecutive Olympic double gold. He won two-man and four-man bobsled at both Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022.
Friedrich’s team enters as defending world champions. His consistency is unmatched in bobsled history.
Milano Cortina 2026 will be his final Olympics. He’s chasing a perfect exit.
Shohei Ohtani: Baseball’s Billionaire
While Winter Olympics dominate headlines, Ohtani redefines what’s possible in baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar excels as both pitcher and hitter.
He’s transformed earning potential for MLB players. His contract value exceeds any baseball player in history.
Ohtani represents the new generation of athlete-entrepreneurs. His global brand extends far beyond sport.
Kylian Mbappé: Soccer’s Rising Billionaire
The French striker positions himself to join the billionaire athlete club. At just 28, he’s already earned hundreds of millions.
His transfer to Real Madrid increased his commercial value exponentially. Endorsements flow from every corner.
Sophisticated management teams guide his business empire. He learned from predecessors and built better.
The Rankings Reality
Norway leads Winter Olympics history with 405 all-time medals. They’re favorites to top the 2026 medal count again.
The United States sits second all-time with 330 medals. Germany holds 267. Austria claims 250. Canada has 225.
But individual athletes transcend national counts. Their performances define Olympic moments.
What Makes 2026 Special
The Winter Olympics returned to Italy after 20 years. Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo co-host 116 medal events across 16 sports.
NHL players competing for the first time since 2014 elevates hockey. Established stars chase final glory. Young athletes announce their arrival.
The convergence of generations creates compelling narratives. Veterans defend legacies. Newcomers challenge dominance.
The Bottom Line
These athletes represent excellence across winter sports. They’ve dedicated decades to their crafts. They’ve overcome injuries, setbacks, and fierce competition.
Rankings change constantly. But greatness endures. These competitors define what’s possible when talent meets determination.
Watch them closely. You’re witnessing sporting history.
