It’s hard to believe that the 2022 Beijing winter olympics was nearly four years ago and that the 2026 Winter Olympics are coming around the corner. Countries prepare to send their best athletes to Milano-Cortina, Italy, to compete for medals to bring back to their country. While the Olympics are a highly competitive event that pulls countries into an eagerness to win, the founding principles of the Olympics were to unite the nations through sport, promoting peace. The Olympics are the largest global sporting event (viewership), drawing in 2-3 billion streamers. Here’s a look at what to expect for the winter games that will be held February 6th-22nd of 2026.
Figure skating, Skiing (alpine, cross-country, jumping, and freestyle), Bobsleigh, Ice Hockey, and snowboarding are the most viewed Olympic winter sports. The most competitive teams for a gold medal in figure skating are expected to be the US, Canada, Japan, and Italy. Top women contenders include Alysa Liu (USA), Amber Glenn (USA), Isabeau Levito (USA), Kaori Sakamoto (Japan), Loena Hendrickx (Belgium), and Kim Yuna (South Korea). Men’s figure skaters expected to rank highest are Ilia Malinin, Andrew Torgashev, and Maxim Naumov, all of whom are on Team USA.
While the United States is expected to win the most medals in figure skating, skiing favors others. Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, and the United States are favored particularly in Alpine Skiing. Along with other snow sports, the United States is expected to be successful in snowboarding, along with Japan, Switzerland, Canada, and Austria. Canada and the United States are consistent top contenders for the gold medal in the Olympic Ice Hockey, for both men and women.
North Carolina will make its own Debut to Team USA. Manteo Mitchell is training to compete in bobsledding at the 2026 Olympics, with a history as a prominent track athlete at UNC. Manteo will be the 12th American Athlete to compete in both the summer and winter Olympics. According to Mediahub.UNC Manteo said, “To be able to overcome those obstacles — to be the best athlete they can be not only in one sport but in two that are totally different — that’s the medal in itself.” Mantoe and his team are aiming for a historic dual-sport Olympic medal.
From the graceful artistry of figure skating to the adrenaline-pumping speed of Alpine skiing, athletes will converge from all around the world to showcase their talents and represent their nations. There’s no guarantee of who will win this year’s 2026 Olympics; favorites at the top are Norway, Germany, and the USA. Beyond the medals and records, the Olympics are a reminder of how sports and a shared spirit of competition have the power to unify nations.