Nicholas Baglio ‘29
Matthew Gavern ‘29
EE Staff Writers
Two thousand nine-hundred athletes from 90 different nations all come together once every 4 years to participate in the winter sport they love to form an event watched by millions. That event is called the Olympics. This year’s Winter Olympics, however, are a bit different. First off, this year’s games are the first official co-hosted Winter Games spread across two major cities (Milano and Cortina). It took many hardworking Italians to come together to form one of the greatest Winter Olympic turn-outs the world has ever seen. This year’s unique techniques showcase the true values of what winter sports are all about.
The Olympics are full of the highest, most well-rounded athletes in the world. No matter the sport, it is an honor to be an Olympic athlete and this year’s 2026 players have dedicated their lives to this event. However, there are some major stand out athletes.
To start, in the Alpine Women’s Division, Mikaela Shiffrin is definitely one of this year’s MVP’s. She ranked 11 in the Giant Slalom, 4 in the Team Shalom, and a whopping 1 in the Women’s Slalom. This year, Shiffrin has one gold for the USA in the Women’s final and has won 3 silver and a bronze medal in her career. Talk about an absolute star and optimist, Mikaela Shiffrin will certainly be noticed in future races!
Another star on the ice is Alysa Liu. Liu Alysa Liu is a historic American figure skater who won the women’s singles gold medal at the 2026 Olympics. She’s known for making an amazing comeback and being really good at a young age. She is a two-time U.S. national champion, 2025 World champion, and 2026 Olympic team, gold medalist. Liu was the youngest U.S. champion at the age 13 and the first American woman to land three triple axels in one competition.
Next, another noticeable star made history by winning Brazil’s first ever gold medal! His name is Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. Braathen comes from a poor family from Norway, but moved to Brazil at the young age of 10. Braathen soon fell in love with the sport of downhill skiing and had a goal to be Brazil’s first ever Olympic skier. On top of that, however, he received top stats that every alpine skier could dream of.
Lastly, a story that needs to be told is the Evan Bates and Maddison Chock tale. Two passionate skaters, one from Michigan, the other from Calfironia, fell in love with the sport of skating and each other! The two skated to perfection in the Duo’s Skating event and nailed their performance. The couple complemented each other in an elegant, yet traditional way that they even won Silver for the US. These are just some of the great stories the Olympic Athletes have to offer.
Another major story of interest illustrates what determination mixed with pure grit looks like. Linsdey Von, unfortunately suffered a tragic skiing accident during preparation for this year’s event. Vonn sadly tore the ACL in her left knee, a devastating injury for most skiers. This only happened 8 days before Vonn’s alpine event. However the 82 World Cup, 138 podium, gold medalist did not give up. She continued to do what she loved most.
This was a mistake however. The five-time Olympian, who left retirement to compete in the downhill at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, hooked the fourth gate, on the mountain, with her right leg during her race on Sunday. That “brush” put her off balance, sending her into a spin in the air before she fell back onto the snow. To make things worse, her skis failed to pop off, avoiding her from getting her legs into a more protective place. Her cries shook the crowd as they watched Vonn in such pain. Eventually, medics with a toboggan approached, using the sled to get her off the track. Vonn was rushed to Milano’s top hospital and recents updates on her status keep rushing in.
Vonn is now in intensive care and is on her 9th knee surgery. However, her story continues and she believes she will too. Vonn is not only an inspiration to the future of skiing but a true symbol of bravery for the globe.
In short, the Olympics is a game of opportunity and pride. It is an event where countries all around the world represent themselves in one of the greatest games to be created. The Olympics is not just a source of entertainment, but almost a way of life for thousands of athletes so they can demonstrate what they stand for. This universal event shows millions of people that through perseverance and determination, anything is possible.