Team USA Announces Olympic Roster for Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games with Notable Veterans and Rising Stars

Team USA officially unveiled its 230-athlete roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina today, featuring a compelling blend of veteran champions and emerging talent that positions the United States as a medal contender across multiple disciplines. The delegation includes notable returning Olympians such as figure skater Nathan Chen and snowboarding legend Shaun White, both of whom will be competing in what could be their final Olympic appearances, alongside 45 first-time Olympians eager to make their mark on the world's biggest stage.

Chef de Mission Rick Adams expressed confidence in the team's medal potential during today's announcement ceremony in Colorado Springs, highlighting the depth and experience that characterizes this Olympic squad. "We have athletes who have proven themselves at the highest level, combined with young talent that has been dominating junior and world championship competitions," Adams said. "The balance between veteran leadership and youthful energy gives us tremendous optimism heading into Milano-Cortina." The team features medal contenders in 14 different sports, with particularly strong depth in alpine skiing, figure skating, and freestyle skiing.

Nathan Chen leads a formidable figure skating contingent that includes reigning world champion Madison Chock and Evan Bates in ice dancing, along with rising pairs stars Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier. The 27-year-old Chen, who captured gold in Beijing four years ago, has continued his dominance in men's singles and enters Milano-Cortina as the clear favorite to repeat as Olympic champion. "Representing Team USA at the Olympics never gets old," Chen reflected. "The opportunity to compete in Italy, with the passion Italian fans have for figure skating, makes this particularly special."

The alpine skiing team features a perfect mixture of proven champions and breakthrough performers, led by Mikaela Shiffrin in the women's events and rising star River Radamus in the men's competition. Shiffrin, now 30, will be competing in her fourth Olympics and seeking to add to her collection of two gold medals while cementing her legacy as one of skiing's all-time greats. The team also includes freestyle skiing phenom Eileen Gu, who will compete for the United States after her previous representation of China, adding another dimension to an already talented squad.

Shaun White's inclusion at age 39 represents one of the most compelling storylines heading into the Games, as the three-time Olympic champion attempts to add to his legendary career in what he has confirmed will be his final competitive season. The snowboarding icon has been training intensively over the past year and believes he can still compete with athletes half his age in the halfpipe competition. "The young guys keep me motivated and hungry," White noted. "I know this is my last chance, and I want to show that experience and passion can still compete with pure talent."

The Winter Olympics begin on February 6th in Milano-Cortina, with Team USA set to compete across 15 sports over 16 days of competition. Early medal favorites include the women's hockey team, seeking to reclaim gold after settling for silver in Beijing, and the men's curling squad, which has been dominant in international competition over the past two years. "Our athletes have been preparing for this moment for four years, and many of them for their entire lives," said U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland. "We're confident this team represents the best of American Olympic sport and will make the entire country proud through their performances in Italy." The full roster and competition schedule were released simultaneously, with athletes beginning their final preparations at training camps before departing for Italy in the coming weeks.