Milan-2026: The Top 5 Storylines of the Winter Olympics

The curtain rises on the Winter Olympics in Italy this week. Preliminary competitions begin on February 4 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, with the official Opening Ceremony scheduled for February 6. This year's Games promise to be the most competitive and intrigue-filled event of the decade.

Here are the 5 major storylines to watch:

1. Ice Hockey: NHL Stars Return After 12 Years

For the first time since 2014, NHL players are returning to the Olympic stage. This means the world's absolute best hockey talent will converge on the ice. For an entire generation of superstars, like Nathan MacKinnon, this will be their first Olympic appearance. Experts name Canada, the USA, and Sweden as the primary favorites.
 The "Santa Giulia" arena, where the matches will be held, was only completed in January. During a test match, a hole appeared in the ice, forcing organizers to make emergency repairs just weeks before the start.

2. Figure Skating: Ilia Malinin and the "New Era"

21-year-old American sensation Ilia Malinin, known as the "Quad God," is already rewriting history. Having been the only person to land a quadruple Axel, he is now rumored to be attempting a quintuple jump (five rotations) during these Games.
Additionally, Team USA features skaters with Slavic roots like Maxim Naumov and Andrew Torgashev. Another intrigue lies with Team Georgia, which is a serious medal contender in the team event for the first time; most of their roster consists of former Russian representatives.

3. Alpine Skiing: The Sensational Return of 41-Year-Old Lindsey Vonn

The most emotional storyline of the Games is the comeback of Lindsey Vonn. After retiring in 2019 and undergoing partial knee replacement surgery, the 41-year-old stunned the world by winning two golds on the World Cup circuit this season. Her main rival will be fellow American legend Mikaela Shiffrin. However, a recent crash in Switzerland just a week ago has left fans concerned about Vonn's physical condition heading into the first races.

4. Biathlon and Cross-Country: Searching for New Kings

With the legendary Johannes Bø having moved toward the end of his peak era, a new generation is rising in biathlon. Athletes from Norway, France, and Sweden are the top contenders in the men's field. In cross-country skiing, the battle remains fierce as Swedes and Finns look to challenge the dominance of Norway's Johannes Klæbo, while American Jessie Diggins leads the pack on the women's side.

5. New Olympic Sport: Ski Mountaineering (SkiMo)

Making its Olympic debut at Milan-2026 is Ski Mountaineering. This dynamic sport involves climbing up a mountain on skis, hiking on foot, and then a rapid descent. The sprint races are incredibly fast, lasting only about 3 minutes. A total of 36 athletes will compete for the first three sets of medals in this discipline.