Entering the 2026 Olympics with a newly torn ACL, Team USA skiing icon Lindsey Vonn will race in the women's downhill event on Sunday — with the 41-year-old using it as a test case before committing to additional events at the Winter Games.
Vonn is also hoping to compete in Tuesday's team combined slalom event — possibly alongside fellow US star Mikaela Shiffrin — but the recent knee injury could derail her fifth, and likely final, Winter Olympics run.
"It will be objective performance that will define what our teams look like," USA women's skiing head coach Paul Kristofic clarified. "In the end, my job is to put the best pairings together so we can perform and get a medal and potentially win."
With Vonn's status technically still unclear, Italy is eyeing a home win, as 2018 gold medalist Sofia Goggia teams up with fellow decorated veteran Federica Brignone on Tuesday.
That said, Vonn successfully completed an early Friday training run — on the same Cortina course where she holds a record 12 World Cup wins.
"She was smart. She didn't go all in," said Vonn's coach Aksel Lund Svindal after her 11th-place run. "There was reserves today.... It's going to be hard but I think she could possibly [medal] on Sunday."
"No one would have believed I would be here…but I made it!!" Vonn posted to social media prior to Friday's downhill training. "I'm not going to waste this chance.... Let's go get it!!"
How to watch Lindsey Vonn at the 2026 Winter Olympics downhill event
Vonn will make her 2026 Olympic debut in the women's downhill event at 5:30 AM ET on Sunday, with live coverage airing on USA Network.
Figure skating took center stage on Friday morning, with defending champion Team USA securing a narrow lead on the first day of the must-watch Winter Olympics event's three-day team competition.
The team event showcases 10 nations competing across women's and men's singles, pairs, and dance categories, with each performance earning team points based on leaderboard positions.
Reigning world champion Alysa Liu skated the women's short program for Team USA, with the 20-year-old scoring a 74.90 to finish second to Japanese favorite Kaori Sakamoto's 78.88 tally.
Japan also took first in the pair's skating short program, with Team USA's Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea coming in fifth, but it was US duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates who topped the morning's rhythm dance event with a season-high score of 91.06.
The US performances ultimately secured 25 team points, earning the nation a day-one lead with Japan (23 points) and Italy (22 points) close behind.
Despite earning points for their countries on Friday, this weekend could see several roster shifts as the field narrows to the Top 5 nations on Saturday, with each team allowed to swap out skaters in up to two categories prior to the free dance and free skates.
For Team USA, rumors have three-time national champion Amber Glenn taking over the women's singles spot in Sunday's free skate, though the swap is not officially confirmed.
"We all signed a NDA for that!" joked Liu when asked about the US roster plan in the lead-up to the team event.
How to watch Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Team USA currently sits two points ahead of Japan heading into the second day of team competition. Five nations remain in contention to advance to the final round, with Italy, Georgia, and Canada also in the running.
Liu might return to the ice on Sunday, when the figure skating team event concludes with women's free skate at 2:45 PM ET, live across NBC and Peacock.
Speed skating champion Erin Jackson has been tapped to lead Team USA at Friday's 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.
The 33-year-old Ocala, Florida native shares flag-bearing duties with bobsledder Frank Del Duca, after her teammates voted her into the prestigious role.
Jackson made history in 2022, becoming the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Games. After capturing the 500-meter speed skating title in Beijing, she returns to defend her crown while also competing in the 1,000-meter event.
Milan will host the main Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium, with simultaneous celebrations across Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The ceremony will make history by lighting two Olympic cauldrons, with one in Milan and another in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
In a pre-ceremony interview, Jackson spoke about the significance of representing her country, saying the honor goes beyond than one individual. As an Olympic flag bearer, she feels she's standing in for her family, teammates, hometown, and everyone who believes in the power of sport. And she takes pride in being an inspiration to aspiring Black athletes around the world.
After retirement, the three-time Olympian plans to start an organization helping young Black speed skaters pursue their dreams. She stressed that representation is crucial, discussing how winter sports have historically lacked diversity. She now sees herself as someone trying to change the game.
Jackson will join Team USA in wearing a Ralph Lauren-designed uniform on Friday, becoming the ninth US speed skater to carry the Olympic flag. She follows her longtime friend Brittany Bowe, who served as flag bearer at Beijing 2022.
What time is the Milano-Cortina Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The Olympics opening ceremony starts at 2 PM ET, live on Peacock.
Afterwards, NBC will air a primetime encore with special coverage at 8 PM ET.
The 2026 Winter Olympics have officially arrived. After years of planning, the world's best on snow and ice are descending upon Northern Italy for the Milano-Cortina Games.
And in addition to all the normal reasons to celebrate, the 2026 Olympics will feature a record-breaking 47% participation rate for women's sports athletes — the largest in Winter Games history.
From the streets of Milan to the peaks of Cortina d'Ampezzo, here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Basics: 2026 Winter Olympics Schedule in Milano-Cortina
Dates
The Winter Olympics schedule runs from February 6th through February 22nd, 2026, with preliminary ice hockey matches beginning February 4th.
Location
The Winter Games will take over Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with additional venues in Valtellina, Val di Fiemme, and Anterselva.
Time Difference
Italy is six hours ahead of New York (ET) and nine hours ahead of Los Angeles (PT).
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
The Opening Ceremony takes place on February 6th at Milan's San Siro Stadium, with the Closing Ceremony capping things off at the historic Verona Arena on February 22nd.
Women's Sports Stars and Storylines Headlining the Winter Olympics Schedule
From figure skating to ice hockey, here are the buzziest Olympic names and most compelling narratives playing out in Milan.
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, Alpine Skiing)
The sport's undisputed GOAT enters the 2026 Games as the winningest alpine skier of all time. And after a dominant 2025 season, Mikaela Shiffrin has emerged as the gold-medal favorite in both the Slalom and Giant Slalom events. According to the Winter Olympics schedule, alpine skiing runs February 8th through the 22nd at Cortina's Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Tune in to see if she can add to her growing legacy as the most decorated skier in history.
Lindsey Vonn (USA, Alpine Skiing)
The most talked-about comeback in sports is finally hitting the Olympic stage. At 41, Lindsey Vonn has overcome the odds — and a partial knee replacement — to return to the slopes in winning fashion. To complicate matters, Vonn tore her ACL just last week, but the five-time Olympian says she'll still compete despite the injury. Regardless of her performance in Milan, her presence alone has already redefined perceptions of veteran athletes in high-impact sports.
Chloe Kim (USA, Snowboarding)
25-year-old Team USA favorite Chloe Kim is chasing a historic three-peat in the women's snowboard halfpipe. Already the first women's snowboarder to win back-to-back golds in the event, Kim remains the technical standard-bearer for the sport — though her performance in Milan might hinge on her health, as she continues to recover from a recent shoulder injury. The snowboarding competition runs February 8th through the 16th in Livigno.
Eileen Gu (China, Freestyle Skiing)
Following a triple-medal performance in Beijing, China's Eileen Gu returns to the Games as a global icon. With high marks in Halfpipe, Slopestyle, and Big Air, the 22-year-old remains one of the most versatile — and promising — threats on powder.
Amber Glenn (USA, Figure Skating)
Known for explosive athleticism, captivating storytelling, and a powerful triple Axel, Amber Glenn is a cornerstone of the US figure skating team. Becoming the first openly queer woman to win a senior US title after picking up gold at the 2026 US Championships, Glenn's journey to the 2026 Games makes for especially good TV and even better on-ice competition. Figure skating events take place February 7th through the 21st at Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Kaori Sakamoto (Japan, Figure Skating)
The reigning queen of consistency, Kaori Sakamoto is a widely expected contender in the women's figure skating field. Armed with immense speed and technical precision, the 25-year-old enters 2026 looking to add an elusive individual gold medal to her resume.
Women's Ice Hockey
Marking the first Winter Olympics of the PWHL era, expect rosters across the field to be deeper and more game-ready than ever before. Most storylines will undoubtedly revolve around Canada and Team USA's heated rivalry, led by longtime captains Hilary Knight (USA) and Marie-Philip Poulin (Canada).
But count on European powerhouses like Finland and Czechia to close the competitive gap thanks to the sport's overall professionalization. Women's ice hockey is set to take over the Winter Olympics schedule from February 5th through the 19th.
New Events Debuting at the 2026 Winter Games
The IOC introduced several new medal events this year, primarily in an effort to improve gender parity throughout the Games.
Ski Mountaineering (AKA Skimo)
A high-endurance sport that involves racing up mountains on skis using specialized skins for grip, covering steep terrain on foot, and cruising quickly through backcountry.
Women's Individual Large Hill (AKA Ski Jumping)
This February, women's sports athletes will additionally compete on the same high-altitude, long-distance jump hills as the men's event, moving beyond the traditional Normal Hill.
Women's Doubles Luge
This sled racing event features two women sharing a single sled, navigating an icy track at speeds exceeding 80 MPH.
Freestyle Dual Moguls
This freestyle skiing event showcases two athletes racing side-by-side down a mogul-studded slope, picking up points for speed, technical turns, and aerial tricks in a head-to-head knockout format.
How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina
NBC and Peacock have signed on as the exclusive broadcasters of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Peacock will offer 24-hour livestreamed coverage of the complete Winter Olympics schedule, while NBC and USA Network subsequently handle primetime action as well as highlights.
The Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony promises a groundbreaking celebration on February 6th, as Milano-Cortina 2026 becomes the first Winter Games officially co-hosted by two cities.
The three-hour showcase kicks off at 2 PM ET on NBC, with global superstars and Italian icons coming together around the theme of "Armonia" (AKA harmony) inside Milan's San Siro Stadium.
Five-time Grammy winner Mariah Carey headlines the Opening Ceremony bill, joined by renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who returns to the Olympics 20 years after performing in Turin. Other confirmed participants include Grammy-nominated pianist Lang Lang, Golden Globe winner Laura Pausini, opera star Cecilia Bartoli, and White Lotus star Sabrina Impacciatore.
What to Expect at the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony breaks tradition, instituting an innovative dual-location approach. While 77,000 spectators gather at San Siro Stadium for the Parade of Nations, simultaneous events will also occur in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Predazzo, and Livigno, allowing athletes across all venues to join in on the celebration. It marks the most geographically broad Winter Games in Olympic history, with competition sites spanning more than 400 kilometers.
For the first time, two identical Olympic cauldrons inspired by Leonardo da Vinci will light up at the same time — one at Milan's Arco della Pace and the other in Cortina's Piazza Dibona, where large screens will broadcast San Siro's Opening Ceremony, creating a unified experience across both cities.
Bobsledder Frank Del Duca and speed skating gold medalist Erin Jackson will carry the flag for the US contingent, while Italy's alpine skiing legend Federica Brignone and curling champion Amos Mosaner will bear the host country's flag.
What to Expect at the Closing Ceremony
The 2026 Winter Olympics wrap up on February 22nd, staging the Closing Ceremony at historic Roman amphitheater and UNESCO World Heritage site Verona Arena. Ballet star Roberto Bolle, principal dancer at La Scala Theatre Ballet, will headline the event before Milano-Cortina officially passes the torch to the French Alps for the 2030 Winter Olympics.
How to Watch the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony kicks off on Friday, February 6th at 2 PM ET, live on Peacock.
NBC will later air a primetime encore with special coverage at 8 PM ET.
This year's Olympic hockey schedule is bringing the heat, with the women's tournament kicking off on February 5th in Milan — one day before the Opening Ceremony.
The 2026 Winter Olympics features 10 nations competing across two groups through February 19th, when medal games will determine the podium finishers.
One heated rivalry is at the center of this year's hockey schedule. Defending champions Canada are seeking their sixth Olympic gold, while Team USA enters as the reigning world champions after ousting Canada from the 2025 World Championship.
From the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena to the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, competition is expected to be fiercer than ever, as the third-year PWHL has elevated play across all participating nations. Here's everything you need to know.
Which countries feature in the Olympic hockey group stage?
Group A brings together the world's top-ranked teams: United States, Canada, Finland, Czech Republic, and Switzerland. These five teams automatically qualified based on IIHF world rankings, and were subsequently guaranteed quarterfinal spots. Group B consists of host nation Italy, plus Japan, Sweden, Germany, and France, all earning their positions through qualification tournaments.
Olympic hockey's preliminary rounds run through February 10th, with each team playing four group-stage matches. The knockout rounds follow, with the bronze and gold medal matches slated for February 19th.
Complete 2026 Winter Olympics hockey schedule
Olympic Hockey Schedule: Preliminary Round
Thursday, February 5th (Group stage)
- 6:10 AM ET — Sweden vs Germany (Group B)
- 8:40 AM ET — France vs Italy (Group B)
- 10:40 AM ET — Czechia vs United States (Group A)
- 3:10 PM ET — Canada vs Finland (Group A)
Friday, February 6th (Group stage)
- 6:10 AM ET — France vs Japan (Group B)
- 8:40 AM ET — Czechia vs Switzerland (Group A)
Saturday, February 7th (Group stage)
- 6:10 AM ET — Germany vs Japan (Group B)
- 8:40 AM ET — Sweden vs Italy (Group B)
- 10:40 AM ET — USA vs Finland (Group A)
Sunday, February 8th (Group stage)
- 10:40 AM ET — France vs Sweden (Group B)
- 3:10 PM ET — Czechia vs Finland (Group A)
Monday, February 9th (Group stage)
- 6:10 AM ET — Japan vs Italy (Group B)
- 10:40 AM ET — Germany vs France (Group B)
- 2:40 PM ET — Switzerland vs USA (Group A)
- 3:10 PM ET — Canada vs Czechia (Group A)
Tuesday, February 10th (Group stage)
- 6:10 AM ET — Japan vs Sweden (Group B)
- 10:40 AM ET — Italy vs Germany (Group B)
- 2:10 PM ET — Canada vs USA (Group A)
- 3:10 PM ET — Finland vs Switzerland (Group A)
Olympic Hockey Schedule: Knockout Round
Friday, February 13th (Quarterfinals)
- 10:40 AM ET — TBD
- 3:10 PM ET — TBD
Saturday, February 14th (Quarterfinals)
- 10:40 AM ET — TBD
- 3:10 PM ET — TBD
Monday, February 16th (Semifinals)
- 10:40 AM ET — TBD
- 3:10 PM ET — TBD
Thursday, February 19th
- 8:40 AM ET — Bronze Medal Game
- 1:10 PM ET — Gold Medal Game
US skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender will not compete at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport denied her appeal concerning alleged point manipulation by Canadian officials.
The tribunal determined that Uhlaender's dispute fell outside the 10-day window preceding February 6th's Opening Ceremony. The decision appears to exhaust all options for the five-time Olympian to compete in what would have been her sixth Winter Games.
The controversy dates to Uhlaender's final qualifying race on January 11th in Lake Placid, New York. That's when Canadian skeleton coach Joe Cecchini texted Uhlaender telling her he had bad news. In a recorded phone conversation, he subsequently appeared to outline his plan to manipulate the qualifying competition's point system.
"We've had some crazy races that have not gone our way this year," Cecchini said in the recording. "And I'm like, 'I can just eliminate any possibilities here.'"
Cecchini withdrew four Canadian athletes from the race, reducing available ranking points and preventing Uhlaender from earning enough points to qualify for Milan Cortina.
Canada remains unsanctioned despite widespread Katie Uhlaender support
The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation investigated the Uhlaender case and supported her allegations. Afterwards, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee concluded she was sidelined due to unfair actions at Lake Placid. However, Team Canada remains without any international sanctions.
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton defended the decision as appropriate and aligned with athlete welfare and sport integrity. Despite growing support from officials acknowledging the system was manipulated, no one has intervened.
41-year-old Uhlaender as competed in five Winter Olympics, registering her best performance in 2014 with a fourth-place final finish at the Sochi Winter Games.
A Lindsey Vonn crash during Friday's World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland has cast doubt on the skiing legend's Olympic participation just one week before the opening ceremony in Milan.
The crash occurred when the 41-year-old US skiing legend lost control landing a jump on the upper portion of the course, becoming entangled in safety nets. She was the race's third skier to suffer and injury, as falling snow led to poor visibility.
After receiving approximately five minutes of medical attention on the course, Vonn skied slowly to the finish line, stopping multiple times and clutching her left knee. The crash subsequently canceled the race.
Medical personnel airlifted Vonn off the slopes, with the skier suspended from a hoist cable. International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann confirmed Vonn injured her knee but said the severity remained unclear.
Before entering the medical tent, Vonn shared an embrace with US teammate Jacqueline Wiles, who was leading when officials halted the competition. Vonn appeared visibly distressed during the emotional moment.
The Lindsey Vonn crash comes in the midst of the veteran skier's comeback season. After nearly six years away from competitive skiing, Vonn returned last season at age 40 with a partial titanium implant in her right knee. This season, she has dominated downhill racing with two victories and seven podium finishes in eight World Cup starts across downhill and super-G events.
Vonn holds the record for most World Cup victories in Olympic host location Cortina d'Ampezzo with 12 wins. Her first Olympic race is scheduled for February 8th, with plans to also compete in the super-G and a new combined team event.
The Lindsey Vonn crash occurred seven days before the Opening Ceremony in Milan-Cortina, raising serious questions about her 2026 Winter Olympics participation.