Key Athletes to Watch at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

The Stars of Milano Cortina 2026

Every Winter Olympics produces defining athletic narratives, and Milano Cortina 2026 is loaded with compelling storylines. From a veteran's improbable comeback to a home favourite chasing glory on familiar snow, these are the skiing athletes to watch.

Lindsey Vonn (USA) — Alpine Skiing

The Comeback

Lindsey Vonn's return to competitive ski racing is one of the most remarkable stories in recent sporting history. After retiring in February 2019 due to chronic knee injuries, the 41-year-old American made a stunning comeback to the World Cup circuit in the 2024-25 season, racing on a partially artificial knee.

Vonn's resume speaks for itself: 82 World Cup victories, an Olympic downhill gold from Vancouver 2010, and two World Championship golds. Her return to Olympic racing at Milano Cortina 2026 adds a dramatic chapter to one of alpine skiing's greatest careers. Whether or not she reaches the podium, her presence at the start gate in Cortina is a testament to extraordinary determination.

Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) — Alpine Skiing

Chasing History

Mikaela Shiffrin is the most decorated World Cup ski racer in history, having surpassed Ingemar Stenmark's long-standing record of 86 victories. At 30, she enters Milano Cortina 2026 with three Olympic medals (including golds in slalom at Sochi 2014 and giant slalom at PyeongChang 2018) and nine World Championship golds.

Shiffrin's focus at these Games centres on the technical events — slalom and giant slalom — where she remains the benchmark, but she has also developed into a legitimate contender in super-G and downhill. A multi-medal haul would further cement her standing as the greatest female alpine ski racer of all time.

Marco Odermatt (Switzerland) — Alpine Skiing

The Complete Racer

Marco Odermatt has been the most dominant male alpine skier of the 2020s. The Swiss racer won the Olympic giant slalom gold at Beijing 2022 and has claimed multiple overall World Cup crystal globes. His ability to compete at the highest level in giant slalom, super-G, and downhill makes him the most versatile male racer in the field.

At 28, Odermatt arrives in peak form. He is the heavy favourite in giant slalom and a serious medal threat in every speed and technical event he enters. His combination of technical precision, physical power, and calm demeanour under pressure makes him the man to beat.

Sofia Goggia (Italy) — Alpine Skiing

Home Crowd Heroine

Sofia Goggia won Olympic downhill gold at PyeongChang 2018 and silver at Beijing 2022, the latter achieved just weeks after fracturing her knee. The Italian speed specialist is one of the most fearless and charismatic racers on the World Cup circuit, and she will compete at Milano Cortina 2026 on home snow.

Racing in Cortina d'Ampezzo — where she has competed many times on the World Cup tour — Goggia carries the hopes of an entire nation. The Tofane course suits her aggressive, direct style, and an Olympic medal in front of Italian fans would be the crowning moment of her career. At 33, this is likely her final Olympic Games.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (Norway) — Alpine Skiing

Return from Adversity

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde suffered a devastating crash at the Wengen World Cup downhill in January 2024, resulting in serious shoulder and leg injuries. The Norwegian speed specialist, who won super-G gold at Beijing 2022, has been working toward a return to competitive racing.

Kilde's combination of raw power and technical ability made him one of the best speed skiers in the world before his injury. His potential participation at Milano Cortina 2026 would be one of the great comeback stories of these Games.

Johannes Thingnes Boe (Norway) — Biathlon

The King of Anterselva

Johannes Thingnes Boe is the most successful male biathlete of his generation. With five Olympic gold medals entering these Games and a vast collection of World Championship titles, the Norwegian is the clear favourite across multiple biathlon events at Anterselva.

At 32, Boe has indicated that Milano Cortina 2026 may be his final Olympics. He has won World Cup races at the Anterselva venue numerous times and knows the courses and shooting range intimately. His combination of skiing speed and shooting accuracy is unmatched, and a strong performance here would cap one of the greatest careers in biathlon history.