Key Takeaways
- Team USA is finalizing its preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, with top athletes like Lindsey Vonn, Ilia Malinin, and more ready to compete.
- President Donald Trump has announced a US delegation to attend the opening ceremony, led by Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance, and including Olympic champions like the Lamoureux twins, Apolo Ohno, and Evan Lysacek.
- The Winter Olympics will feature a unique opening ceremony with the traditional Parade of Nations unfolding simultaneously across four locations.
- Team USA has abundant medal chances, with athletes like Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito in figure skating, and Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin in alpine skiing.
Introduction to the 2026 Winter Olympics
With just nineteen days to go before the opening ceremony in Milan, Team USA is gearing up for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The American contingent will include top athletes from various sports, all ready to bring home the gold medal for their country. The team will be led by seasoned veterans, including Lindsey Vonn, Ilia Malinin, and more, who will be competing in events like figure skating, alpine skiing, and ice dance. As the athletes practice in these final days leading up to the major event, the excitement is building up, and the stage is set for Team USA to shine at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The US Delegation to the Opening Ceremony
As reported by USA Today, President Donald Trump has announced a US delegation to attend the February 6 opening ceremony. This team, led by Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance, will include iconic American Olympic champions whose stories could serve as inspiration for the current competitors. The delegation will include the Lamoureux twins, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, who were part of one of Team USA’s most dramatic modern victories. The sisters helped end a twenty-year gold medal drought for Team USA women’s hockey at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, where they dethroned Canada. They will be joined by two legends from the skating world: Apolo Ohno, who earned eight medals in short track speed skating, including golds in 2002 and 2006, and figure skater Evan Lysacek, the 2010 Olympic champion.
A Unique Opening Ceremony
For the first time at a Winter Olympics, the traditional Parade of Nations will unfold simultaneously across four locations: Milan’s famed San Siro stadium and the mountain venues of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Predazzo, and Livigno. This unique format will add an extra layer of excitement to the opening ceremony, and the US delegation will be there to witness it. With all this, the stage at Milano-Cortina is ready for Team USA to shine, and the athletes are looking forward to making their country proud.
Team USA’s Medal Chances
At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Norway took the top spot with a total of 37 medals, including 16 golds, and Germany came in second with a total of 27 medals, including 12 golds. The United States came in third with just 25 medals, including 9 golds. However, this time at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, Team USA is looking to stand at the top of the medal podium. The team has abundant medal chances, with athletes like Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito in figure skating, and Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin in alpine skiing. The U.S. figure skaters are expected to end a 20-year singles medal drought in the women’s event, and the team is looking forward to bringing home the gold.
Figure Skating and Ice Dance
In figure skating, the team consists of Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito. Glenn, who recently won nationals with 233.55 points, said, "That’s the most intense I’ve reacted to any skate ever." Following her was Liu in second with 228.91 points and Levito in third with 224.45 points. Of the three, Glenn, with her triple Axels, and Liu, the reigning world and Grand Prix champion, remain strong contenders for gold, while Levito, on her day, is a dark horse for the podium amidst a truly stacked women’s field. In ice dance, the gold medal is Madison Chock and Evan Bates’ to lose, though France’s Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and reigning Olympic champion Guillaume Cizeron are expected to pose stiff competition for the top spot.
Alpine Skiing and Other Events
In alpine skiing, Team USA has Lindsey Vonn, who is preparing for her comeback in the Winter Olympics, and she has already secured two World Cup wins in the current season. This also includes Mikaela Shiffrin, who is looking for her retribution as she returned home empty-handed from Beijing. With such legends in the U.S. delegation at the opening ceremony, it will have a positive effect on the participating athletes, as they will be motivated to bring glory to their nation at the Winter Olympics. The team is looking forward to making their country proud, and with their abundant medal chances, they are ready to shine at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
