Team USA Unveils Powerhouse Ski and Snowboarding Squad for 2026 Winter Olympics

Team USA is heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics with confidence, momentum, and an extraordinary roster of talent. On Wednesday, Jan. 21, U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announced the 97 athletes who have qualified to represent the United States in skiing and snowboarding events at the Milano Cortina Games, set to take place from Feb. 6–22, 2026, across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme in Northern Italy.

The newly revealed team features a powerful mix of Olympic champions, decorated veterans, and seasoned competitors, reinforcing the United States’ position as a global force in winter sports.

Among the returning Olympic gold medalists are Mikaela Shiffrin, Chloe Kim, Lindsey Vonn, Jessie Diggins, Chris Lillis, Red Gerard, Alex Hall, and Nick Baumgartner. Olympic silver medalists Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Alex Ferreira, Nick Goepper, and Jaelin Kauf will also be back on the slopes, bringing experience and proven excellence to the lineup.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard leadership expressed strong confidence in the team’s depth and competitive strength.
“In many ways, making this team is even harder than the Olympics themselves,” said snowboard program director Rick Bower, according to CBS Sports. “The depth of our field is incredible, and selection truly came down to the wire.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt echoed that sentiment, stating she is “confident about the impact [Team USA] will make in Italy.” Chief of Sport Anouk Patty added, “This is one of the strongest teams we have sent to the Games. I am excited to cheer for them on the biggest stage in sports.”

Beyond medals, the 2026 roster is rich with compelling stories and history-making moments. Lindsey Vonn, 41, is set to make history as the oldest woman ever to compete in Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics. After retiring in 2019, Vonn’s journey back to the Games follows years of injury, including multiple torn ACLs and a partial titanium knee replacement in 2024.

“I built an amazing life and was really happy in retirement,” Vonn previously told PEOPLE. “But I didn’t finish my career the way I wanted to. I was limping away when I wanted to finish strong.”

Mikaela Shiffrin, now 30, enters the Games as the most decorated alpine skier in history with 107 career victories. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Shiffrin’s return to Olympic competition follows a life-threatening ski crash at the Stifel Killington Cup in November 2024. In October 2025, she candidly shared that she doesn’t yet feel she’s “at winning speed,” adding, “I’m certainly nervous, too, which is good. It means we care, right?”

Snowboarding star Chloe Kim, 25, stands on the brink of history as she seeks a potential third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the women’s halfpipe—an unprecedented achievement. Despite the stakes, Kim has emphasized a mindset focused on joy rather than pressure.
“I don’t really feel that type of pressure,” she previously told PEOPLE. “I really want to enjoy the experience and have a good time.”

Also returning is Red Gerard, 25, competing in his third Olympic Games. Gerard famously became the youngest snowboarding gold medalist in Olympic history at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. For him, the key to success lies in familiarity.
“When it actually comes down to the snowboarding, it’s the same exact thing,” Gerard said earlier this year. “If you can put your blinders on and treat it the same as you have your whole life, that’s what I always try to do.”

As anticipation builds toward Milano Cortina, Team USA’s ski and snowboarding roster reflects resilience, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. With seasoned champions, inspiring comebacks, and history within reach, the United States enters the 2026 Winter Olympics poised to make a powerful impact on the world stage.

The Milan-Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games begin Feb. 6 and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock, with continued coverage available throughout the season.