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Italy’s Winter Olympics rising stars set to shine in Milano Cortina 2026
Discover Italy’s Winter Olympics rising stars set to shine in Milano Cortina 2026. From freestyle skiing to figure skating, here are the young athletes making their Olympic debut.
With the 2026 Italy Winter Olympics just around the corner, spectators are turning their attention to the event’s rising stars. Milano Cortina will showcase not only Italy’s brightest homegrown talent but also an impressive lineup of young talent from across the world.
Whether you’re heading to Milan or planning to watch from home, Milano Cortina 2026 offers an exciting opportunity to discover the new faces of winter sport.
Read on to learn who Italy’s Winter Olympics rising stars are, what sports they’re shaping, and why now is the moment to watch them!
Alpine skiing: the future of speed and precision
Alpine skiing is among the most-watched and celebrated events of the Winter Olympics. The speed, precision, and technical demands not only offer some of the Games’ most memorable moments, but also the chance for elite young skiers to make their name in the sport.
Europe has the strongest pipeline of alpine skiing talent, thanks to its accessibility to mountainous training grounds. That’s why historically, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and Norway have produced some of the best young skiers.
This February, hundreds of rising ski stars will flock to Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of the best Italian skiing spots, chasing their chance to make a breakthrough on the Olympic stage.
Who to watch:
- Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath is a technical specialist who’s already making waves in slalom and giant slalom, gaining his first World Cup podium in 2020.
- Italian-born Lara Colturi recently won the 2022 FIS Alpine Ski South American Cup, and now the 18-year-old will be representing Albania, hoping to secure the nation’s first winter Olympics medal.
Snowboarding & freestyle skiing: where new stars explode overnight
Snowboarding and freestyle skiing are the most exhilarating and youth-driven Olympic disciplines. These sports not only attract the youngest global audiences but also the youngest talent.
The spectacular visual nature of snowboarding and freestyle skiing creates high social media appeal. Many young athletes in these sports are also active content creators, which plays a big role in athlete recognition in the lead-up to the Olympics.
During the Games, videos of the athletes in their most thrilling moments go viral, creating instant Olympic celebrity status. For example, during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Pat Burgener went viral for his performances both on and off the halfpipe.
Who to watch:
- Italian freestyle skier Flora Tabanelli won two gold medals at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics at just 16 years old. She is set to be one of the biggest names in freestyle skiing this February.
- Dusty Henricksen from the USA is known as snowboarding’s new-school energy, with one win already under his belt and a strong 160k social following eager to see him hit the slopes in Cortina.
Speed skating & ice events: quiet consistency, big Olympic moments
Short-track speed skating is high-speed and unpredictable, making it not just a spectator favorite, but a sport where success is measured in fractions of a second. Speed skaters may have a knack for making it look easy, but what you see in the rink is built on years of patience, discipline, and methodical preparation.
That’s why many of Italy’s Winter Olympics rising stars in ice events have surprising and emotional medal stories.
A famous example is Australian speed skater Steven Bradbury from the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. After spending years battling the career-threatening injuries from a horrific on-ice accident, he not only made it to the Olympics, but he won gold after all four competitors ahead of him crashed on the final corner!
Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the U.S. typically dominate in these ice events. In the upcoming Italy Winter Olympics, most athletes will arrive relatively unknown, but some will leave as household names.
Who to watch:
- Jordan Stolz from the USA is just 21 years old and one of the youngest speed skating breakout stars, with a handful of gold medals under his belt and four junior world records!
- Italian speed skater Jenning de Boo, also 21, has already competed in many youth Olympics and skating championships and recently won gold in the 500m.
Figure skating: where artistry meets global attention
Figure skating may not be as adrenaline-thrilled as other winter sports, but it gains just as much global attention, thanks to its unique blend of athleticism and artistry.
What’s more, as figure skating usually gets primetime TV scheduling, it’s the most internationally visible Winter Olympic sport. With such high viewership and media coverage, the performances of Olympic figure skaters define their careers, often making or breaking them.
For example, after the 1976 Winter Olympics, the media dubbed American figure skater Dorothy Hamill “America’s sweetheart.” She became famous for her iconic skating move, the camel spin, and started a new hairstyle trend, even becoming the face of global haircare brand Clairol.
Italy’s Winter Olympics rising stars will surely be looking to follow in their footsteps. Expect young skaters from the USA and Japan to push the boundaries of what’s technically and artistically possible on ice, in the hope of becoming overnight global sensations.
Who to watch:
- Ilia Malinin from the USA is hailed as the best male skater in the game due to his ability to redefine technical difficulty and successfully land the sport’s hardest jump, the quadruple Axel.
- American-born Isabeau Levito is just 18 years old, yet she’s already a national champion with 3 gold medals, and has won ‘best newcomer’ in the 2023 ISU Skating Awards.
Following the Winter Olympics in Italy
Watching the debut performances of Italy’s Winter Olympics rising stars is just part of the fun. Milano Cortina 2026 also gives you a chance to explore Italy’s stunning cities and landscapes, including Milan’s stylish, cosmopolitan vibe and Cortina d’Ampezzo’s breathtaking Alpine scenery.
Even so, when attending events and moving between Olympic locations, connectivity is key. Olympic schedules and transport options can change quickly, and public Wi-Fi is often unreliable in crowded venues or remote mountain regions.
A top tip for traveling to Italy for the Games is to get an eSIMs before going. eSIMs eliminate the need for physical SIM cards and provide fast, unlimited data via reliable local networks.
With a Holafly eSIM, you can check event schedules, navigate between venues, and watch your favorite athlete’s social media updates whenever and wherever.
Get Holafly’s eSIM for Italy here!
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Hey, I’m Mika! I’m an SEO specialist with 7+ years of experience and a passion for travel info that actually helps you explore smarter. I write travel guides and tips backed by SEO insights so you can spend less time searching and more time adventuring.
