Winter Sports Stars Talk Chasing Olympic Dreams for 2026 Games

A prestigious group of American winter sports stars, including Olympic medalists Alex Hall, Red Gerard, and Hilary Knight, gathered at the TODAY plaza in New York City on October 23, 2024, to officially kick off the countdown to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The athletes shared their personal journeys and training milestones with fans and media to build national momentum for the upcoming Games, which are set to take place in Italy. The event served as a major promotional milestone for Team USA, highlighting the dedication required to compete at the highest level of international winter sports. The roster of athletes present represented a diverse cross-section of winter disciplines, ranging from figure skating pairs Madison Chock and Evan Bates to speed skating champions Erin Jackson and Brittany Bowe. The segment also featured the return of figure skater Alysa Liu, who recently announced her comeback to competitive skating, and veteran snowboarder Nick Baumgartner. Throughout the discussion, the competitors emphasized the physical and mental rigors of the qualification process, noting that the window for securing a spot on the Olympic roster is rapidly closing as the 2024-2025 winter season begins. Beyond the individual goals, the gathering underscored the collective ambition of the U.S. delegation to maintain its status as a winter sports powerhouse. Ice hockey legend Hilary Knight and freestyle skier Jaelin Kauf discussed the pressure of maintaining peak performance while navigating the evolving landscape of their respective sports. As the Milano Cortina 2026 Games will be spread across Milan and the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, the athletes expressed excitement for the unique venues and the opportunity to compete in the heart of the Italian Alps.