Team USA Stories to Watch for in the 2026 Winter Olympics

1. Alysa Liu's Return to Figure Skating

Alysa Liu shocked the skating world when she stepped away from the sport at the top of her game — and shocked it again by coming back. Now 20, Liu is back and skating on her own terms, with her return focused less on medals and more about rediscovering joy on the ice (but the medals are still being won, trust us). Fans are watching closely to see how her style has evolved since her early prodigy days and Beijing 2022. Whether she lands on the podium or not, her presence alone is inspiring young skaters across the country to stay true to themselves while pursuing their own dreams!

Alysa Liu, a 20 year old Chinese-American figure skater, wears a gold dress and grins with her hands above her head after a competition.

2. Lindsey Vonn's Second Return From Retirement

Just when we thought we’d seen the final chapter, iconic athlete Lindsey Vonn is back again. The alpine skiing legend has never been one to shy away from a challenge, and she is back in the games after relearning to ski to her full potential post-knee replacement surgery. This will be her second major comeback, after retiring from 2015 to 2019 to heal a knee injury and again before her 2024 surgery. Now 41, Vonn has solidified herself as a force in the sport and claimed her 83rd World Cup medal with a win in downhill skiing this past December.

Lindsey Vonn, an American skier with long blonde hair, wears a Team USA beanie and uniform while holding up an American flag with her skis resting against her arm.

3. Jordan Stolz Aiming for Three Gold Medals

At just 21, Jordan Stolz has made a serious name for himself in the competitive speed skating world, with the accolades to back up his talent. At the 2023 World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships, Stolz won gold in the 500 meters and became the youngest single-distance world champion in history. He then became the first male skater to win three individual gold medals at one World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships, which he repeated in 2024. At the 2026 Olympic Games, Stolz will be competing in the 500 meters, 1,000 meters and 1,500 meters, aiming to win triple gold once again.

Jordan Stolz, a 21 year old American speed skater, grins while holding an American flag over his shoulders.

4. Mikaela Shiffrin's Redemption Games After 2022

Mikaela Shiffrin is the most decorated alpine skier in history, with 101 World Cup victories, 18 global medals and two Olympic golds. She was heavily favored to come out on top at Beijing 2022 but instead faced a series of setbacks, with multiple DNFs (did not finish). Since then, Shiffrin suffered two major crashes in the 2024 ski season, which left her with several injuries and PTSD. But despite the odds, Shiffrin is back in the sport and better than ever, securing a win in five consecutive World Cup slalom races as of December 16, 2025, and will be back to race for her place on the podium in the upcoming Olympic Games.

Mikaela Shiffrin, a blonde American skier, celebrates at the finish line with a bottle of champagne in hand after a recent competition win.

5. NHL Legends Are Back on Olympic Ice

For the first time since Sochi 2014, hockey players from the National Hockey League (NHL) will return to the Olympic ice, raising the stakes of the competition considerably. Team USA suddenly looks stacked, with familiar names that hockey fans are used to seeing, and the blend of veteran leadership and international rivalry is making this event one you can't miss out on. For fans of the NHL, check out the full list of players that you'll see competing in the upcoming Games.

Three men wearing Team USA men's ice hockey uniforms cheer and celebrate while on the ice.

6. Chloe Kim's Quest for a Three-Peat

Already a two-time Olympic champion at age 25, Chloe Kim is aiming to become the first snowboarder to win three straight gold medals in the halfpipe. If she succeeds, Kim will be the first woman to secure this feat, and she’ll join fellow American Shaun White as the only snowboarders to earn three Olympic gold medals in the event. She has opened up about wanting to quit competing after Beijing 2022, but instead, Kim set her sights on the 2026 games and fell back in love with the sport and is sure to be a force for Team USA this year.

Chloe Kim, a young American athlete, grins in front of a blue wall after medaling at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

7. Bonus! Skimo is the Newest Olympic Sport

Not a member of Team USA, however, skimo will still be an event to watch as 2026 marks the first time it will be included in the Olympic Games! Skimo, or ski mountaineering, is an event that consists of ascending a 230-foot mountain course (while on skis), removing the skis to run to the peak and then skiing back down it, all while being faster than your competitors. Athletes Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith will be competing for Team USA in the mixed-relay event.

Team USA Stories We’ll Be Watching in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games