The 2026 Winter Olympics have officially launched in Italy, and Team USA is making headlines not just for its size but for the remarkable stories and diversity of its athletes. From the sun-soaked streets of Florida to the icy slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo, American competitors are setting the stage for a Winter Games packed with drama, grit, and a dash of comeback magic.
On February 6, 2026, the world’s attention turned to Milan for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. The Parade of Nations was a spectacle, but it was Team USA that truly stole the show—marching in with its largest-ever Winter Olympic contingent. With 232 athletes, including 98 returning Olympians, the United States has outpaced every other nation in numbers, fielding a roster that includes seven four-time Olympians, 10 three-time Olympians, and 22 two-time Olympians. Canada follows with 207 athletes, while Italy and Japan each bring 196 competitors to the Games. Germany and Switzerland round out the top six, but no other team matches the depth and breadth of the American squad.
How did Team USA assemble such a powerhouse? Athlete selection is a rigorous process, handled by each sport’s National Governing Body and reviewed by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. According to Team USA, “Most winter sports use their respective world circuit standings as a barometer for choosing the top athletes.” Alternates are also named, ready to step in should injuries or eligibility issues arise. The pressure is intense, but so is the honor. As Team USA put it in a recent release: “Whether you’re cheering from the edge of the halfpipe, watching the puck drop in a packed arena, or waiting at the finish line of a slope in Cortina, this is winter sport at its absolute peak.”
This year, Florida—better known for its beaches than its blizzards—has become an unlikely hotbed of Winter Olympic talent. Ocala’s own Erin Jackson is back on the ice, competing in the 1,000m and 500m speed skating events. Jackson made history in 2022 as the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold. She returns for her third Olympics, this time as one of Team USA’s flag bearers. Reflecting on her journey, Jackson told CBS News, “Each of my Olympic appearances have been super different, just like coming in at all different stages of my career, and this one coming in as the reigning champion, there’s going to be a lot of pressure, but that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
She’s joined by fellow Ocala native Brittany Bowe, a four-time Olympian and world record holder in long track speed skating. Bowe is competing in the women’s 1,000m, 1,500m, and 500m races. “In years past, it’s been really easy to be outcome-oriented, and I have found that that doesn’t work. That can become really debilitating in your preparation,” Bowe shared with CBS News. “For me to just stay focused in the moment, in the process and be ready to go when that gun goes off.”
Crestview’s Mia Manganello, a two-time Olympian and bronze medalist, will compete in the 1,000m and Mass Start speed skating events. Meanwhile, bobsled pilot and U.S. Army Sergeant Frank Del Duca from Fort Lauderdale, another flag bearer for Team USA, is steering the two-man and four-man bobsled teams. Sanford’s Josh Williamson, who first turned heads by winning “The Next Olympic Hopeful” reality TV show, joins Del Duca in the bobsleigh events.
Miami’s Lindsey Vonn, a legend in alpine skiing, has come out of retirement to make her fifth Olympic appearance. At 41, Vonn is not letting anything—least of all a recent ACL tear—stop her from chasing gold. She’ll compete in the women’s downhill on Sunday, February 8, wearing a knee brace and carrying the hopes of fans worldwide. “This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback,” Vonn posted on social media. “I’m not letting this slip through my fingers. I’m gonna do it. End of story.”
Hollywood’s Nick Page is taking on the men’s moguls and dual moguls in freestyle skiing, while Coral Springs’ Andrew Torgashev represents South Florida in men’s single figure skating. The Hughes brothers—Jack (forward) and Quinn (defenseman)—from Orlando headline Team USA’s men’s hockey squad, joined by NHL stars Matthew Tkachuk, Seth Jones, and Jake Guentzel, all of whom play for Florida’s NHL franchises.
Beyond Florida, Team USA’s roster is stacked with returning medalists and new faces to watch. Freestyle skier Alex Ferreira, attending his third Olympics, has already collected silver and bronze from previous Games and dominated the 2023-2024 season. Alex Hall, another freestyle skier, is making his third Olympic appearance after winning gold in slopestyle in 2022. Figure skater Alysa Liu, just 20, is back for her second Olympics after winning the 2025 World Championships. Amber Glenn, fresh off her third straight U.S. title, is making her Olympic debut and using her platform to advocate for mental health and LGBTQ+ visibility.
On the ice, Caroline Harvey, the youngest member of the 2022 U.S. women’s hockey team, returns as a two-time NCAA champion and the best defender at the past two IIHF Women’s World Championships. Veteran Hilary Knight is competing in her fifth Olympics, having medaled every time so far. “And never would I have imagined being able to compete in five Olympic Games,” Knight said to CBS News. “I mean, that’s just, that’s crazy in the best way.”
Elsewhere, the U.S. is fielding athletes who have overcome adversity and personal setbacks. Corinne Stoddard is back for her second Olympics after breaking her nose in her debut. Biathlete Deedra Irwin, who finished seventh in 2022—the best American result ever in an individual biathlon event—returns with renewed determination. Skeleton racer Mystique Ro, who switched from track to skeleton after being told she was too small for bobsled, is making her Olympic debut after becoming the first American to win a World Cup skeleton race in eight years.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, which run through February 22, feature 116 events and approximately 2,900 athletes from around the globe. Team USA, with 330 Winter Olympic medals already in its history, is aiming to add to its tally and perhaps close the gap with Norway, the all-time leader. Whether it’s the seasoned veterans or the hungry first-timers, every American athlete is carrying the weight of expectation—and the pride of a nation—onto the world’s grandest winter sports stage.
For fans eager to follow the action, coverage is available live primarily on Peacock, with additional broadcasts on NBC, USA Network, CNBC, the NBC Sports App, and NBCOlympics.com. Remember, Italy is six hours ahead of Eastern Time, so plan accordingly to catch the biggest moments.
As the competition heats up and stories continue to unfold, one thing’s for sure: Team USA’s athletes are primed to make this a Winter Olympics to remember—no matter the final medal count.