Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin stepped onto the ice of the Milano Ice Skating Arena for training earlier this month, a pivotal moment for the German pair as they prepare for their Olympic debut at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The Games, running from February 6th to 22nd, 2026, represent the culmination of a remarkably swift partnership, with Hase and Volodin having only skated together for just under three years.
Despite their relatively short time as a team, the pair have emerged as medal hopefuls for Germany. “that we will offer our best. If we are satisfied with our performance, the color of the medal doesn’t matter ” Hase stated, emphasizing a focus on personal bests rather than solely on podium finishes. Their preparation in the four weeks leading up to the Games has been described as intensive, yet effective, leaving them feeling as prepared as possible.
The Olympic Winterspiele are currently underway, with the ninth day of competition seeing mixed results for German athletes. Although Franziska Preuß missed out on a medal in the biathlon, German skeleton athletes secured both silver and bronze in the newly introduced mixed team event. Susanne Kreher and Axel Jungk took silver, while Jaqueline Pfeifer and Christopher Grotheer claimed bronze, with Great Britain winning gold.
The Games have also been marked by challenges. The German men’s ice hockey team faced a setback with a loss to the USA, despite a strong initial showing. The team’s qualification for the next stage is secured, but the result impacts their seeding for the subsequent rounds.
Beyond the competition, the Games have seen their share of controversy. An ongoing dispute surrounds Ukrainian skeletoni Wladyslaw Heraskewytsch, who intends to pursue legal action regarding a yet-unspecified incident. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also faced scrutiny regarding products related to the 1936 Olympic Games.
The Paralympics will follow the Olympic Winter Games, taking place from March 6th to 15th, 2026, in the same venues. The focus now remains on the ongoing competitions and the pursuit of medals by athletes from around the world.
