Vonn, Shiffrin and Kim headline US ski and snowboard team for 2026 Olympics | Winter Olympics 2026
US Olympic Ski & Snowboard Team Highlights: A Summary
This article details the US Olympic ski & Snowboard team selections for the upcoming Winter Games in Italy. Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights:
* Lindsey Vonn’s Remarkable Return: at 41, the retired alpine skier is making a comeback after a knee replacement and has been performing exceptionally well, reaching the podium in all five World Cup downhill races this season. She’s a strong medal contender.
* Mikaela Shiffrin’s Pursuit of Redemption: The most decorated alpine skier in history is competing in her fourth Olympics, aiming to overcome a disappointing performance at the 2022 Beijing Games. She’s rebounded with multiple World cup victories this season.
* Chloe Kim’s Third Olympic bid: The two-time Olympic halfpipe champion is aiming for a third consecutive gold medal, but her participation is slightly uncertain due to a recent shoulder injury.
* Veteran Presence: The team includes experienced athletes like 44-year-old snowboardcross rider Nick Baumgartner, heading to his fifth Olympics.
* Notable Absence: Jamie Anderson, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in snowboard slopestyle, will not be competing after her comeback attempt following having two children was unsuccessful.
* Highly Competitive Selection: The US team selection process was extremely competitive due to the depth of talent within the program.
* Strong olympic History: US Ski & Snowboard contributed significantly to the US medal count at the 2022 Beijing Games, winning 15 of the country’s 25 total medals.
The Games will be held across four locations in Italy: Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Valtellina and Val di Fiemme.