Day -2: Benvenuti a Milano Cortina 2026! The Games are Underway!
The wait is finally over! While the Opening Ceremony at the iconic San Siro Stadium is still two days away, the competitive spirit is already alive in the Italian Alps. Today marks "Day -2," and the first stones have been thrown and the first skis have hit the snow.
🥌 On the Ice: Curling Mixed Doubles
The action kicked off today at the historic Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
The Big Story: A brief power outage flickered the lights during the opening session, but it didn't dim the intensity!
The Results: Canada (Peterman/Gallant) looked dominant with a 10-5 win over Czechia. Meanwhile, Sweden, Great Britain, and Switzerland all secured crucial Day 1 victories.
⛷️ On the Mountain: Alpine Training Runs
Over in Bormio, the men took to the legendary Stelvio course for their first official downhill training.
USA Watch: Ryan Cochran-Siegle turned heads by posting the fastest time (1:56.08), signaling he’s found his "flow" early.
The Favorites: Local hero Dominik Paris (Italy) and world leader Marco Odermatt (Switzerland) were right in the mix, testing the "softer than usual" snow.
Oh...and a Alpine News Update....Lindsay Vonn had a big crash the other day that had her airlifted off the mountain. There is a tear in her ACL but she is determined to still compete. We'll just have to see if that knee holds up!
🅾️ The Ohio Connection: Buckeyes in the Snow
Since we're rooting from the Buckeye State, we have some massive local talent to watch in these first few days:
Laila Edwards (Cleveland Heights): Keep your eyes on the ice tomorrow! Laila is making history as the first Black woman to suit up for Team USA’s Olympic hockey team. She’s been a force at Wisconsin, and the hometown support for her has been incredible.
Joy Dunne & The OSU Contingent: Ohio State is basically its own Olympic village this year. Joy Dunne (Team USA) and four of her current Buckeye teammates (representing Sweden and Finland) start their hockey quest tomorrow.
Red Gerard (Rocky River): The snowboarding legend is back for his third Games. While his main events are a few days away, the hype in Northeast Ohio is already building for the kid who grew up shredding Boston Mills.
🅾️ Buckeye Watch: The Ohio Olympic Schedule
Here is a "Buckeye Watch" schedule for the first few days of the Games. It’s wild to see how much of a footprint Ohio—and especially Ohio State—has in Milan and Cortina this year!
Thursday, Feb. 5
10:40 AM ET: Women’s Hockey (USA vs.
Czechia) * The Ohio Stars: Laila Edwards (Cleveland Heights) and Joy Dunne (Current OSU Forward) make their Olympic debuts. Also Watching: Former Buckeyes Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka are also on this US roster.
1:30 PM ET: Men’s Snowboard Big Air (Qualifying) * The Ohio Star: Red Gerard (Rocky River) takes to the sky in Livigno.
He’s looking to set a massive score early to secure his spot in Saturday's final.
Friday, Feb. 6 (Opening Ceremony Day)
3:00 AM ET: Figure Skating Team Event Begins
The Ohio Star: Madison Chock and Evan Bates (who trains at the Canton Ice Center frequently) lead the US in the Rhythm Dance.
6:10 AM ET: Women’s Hockey (Sweden vs. Japan) * The OSU Contingent: Watch for current Buckeyes Hilda Svensson, Mira Jungåker, and Jenna Raunio as they lead Sweden’s defensive and offensive efforts.
Saturday, Feb. 7
10:40 AM ET: Women’s Hockey (USA vs. Finland) * The Matchup: It’s Buckeye vs. Buckeye! Joy Dunne (USA) faces off against her current OSU teammate Sanni Vanhanen (Finland).
1:30 PM ET: Men’s Snowboard Big Air (FINALS 🏅) * The Ohio Star: If Red Gerard qualifies, this is the window where he goes for the gold.
Quick Look at our Other Ohioans:
Kyra Dossa (Brecksville): Our aerial skiing specialist who learned to ski at Boston Mills!
! Her qualifying rounds start next week (Feb 10). Connor Curran & Quinn Dehlinger (Cincinnati): Both will be competing in Freestyle Skiing (Aerials) starting next week as well.
Gwyneth Philips (Athens): The standout goaltender will be backing up the US Women's Hockey squad throughout the tournament.
⛸️ Figure Skating Outlook: Is a US Sweep Possible?
The Team Event kicks off this Friday, and if you’re a fan of American skating, this is the year to be excited.
The Men: Ilia Malinin is the undisputed "God of the Quad." He’s on a massive winning streak, and it’s hard to imagine anyone taking gold from him if he lands that Quad Axel.
The Women: With Amber Glenn’s power and Alysa Liu’s incredible comeback story, the US women are in a prime position to reclaim the top of the podium.
Ice Dancing: Madison Chock and Evan Bates are the veterans to beat. Their "Vogue" program has already gone viral, and their chemistry is unmatched.
The Pairs Exception: While the US is strong in the other three, the French pairs (and the Japanese duo Miura/Kihara) are the ones to watch. The French have a technical elegance that makes them the favorites to spoil a potential US gold sweep.
🏔️ New for '26: Skimo and "Combo" Events
The IOC has shaken things up this year with some brand-new disciplines and format changes:
What is "Skimo"? Short for Ski Mountaineering, this sport makes its debut in Bormio. Athletes have to ski uphill (using skins), hike with their skis on their backs, and then race downhill. It’s high-intensity endurance at its finest.
New "Team Combined" in Alpine: They’ve replaced the individual Alpine Combined with a team version. One athlete runs the Downhill, and their teammate runs the Slalom. It’s all about the depth of the national team now.
Dual Moguls: For the first time, mogul skiers will go head-to-head in a bracket-style sprint. It’s going to be fast, chaotic, and perfect for TV.
📅 Tomorrow's Forecast: Feb 5
Women’s Hockey: USA vs. Czechia (10:40 AM ET). Watch for Ohio's Laila Edwards to make her Olympic debut!
Curling: Italy’s defending gold medalists, Constantini and Mosaner, take the ice for the first time.
Stay tuned for daily updates as we head toward the Opening Ceremony!
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