Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn will be spearheading the American challenge in skiing at the upcoming Winter Olympics.
The quadrennial event will be held in Italy after exactly two decades, with Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo hosting the participants on this occasion.
The Top Contenders for Podium Finish at 2026 Winter Olympics ft. Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin
Team USA will aim for maximum impact in this season. While Shiffrin will look forward to regaining her lost glory, Vonn will aim to recreate history as one of the oldest female skiers to climb the Olympic podium.
Nearly 30 skiers have made it to the skiing squad for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, irrespective of format. While the list might be infinite, here are some of the most promising contenders for a podium finish at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026:
5) Paula Moltzan | Alpine Skiing
The 31-year-old skier may not be the most decorated one in the lot, but it would be completely wrong to underestimate her potential. Paula Moltzan clinched her first individual medal at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, where she won a bronze medal in the women’s giant slalom event.
4) Alex Hall | Freestyle Skiing
The freestyle skier is in top form at this moment. Alex Hall won a gold medal in the men’s slopestyle event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The 27-year-old skiing sensation will be aiming to maintain the clean slate at the upcoming edition in Milan & Cortina d’Ampezzo.
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3) Ryan Cochran-Siegle | Alpine Skiing
For the 33-year-old alpine skier, a loss at the Olympics is certainly not an option. Ryan Cochran-Siegle hails from the illustrious Cochran family in Richmond, Vermont, who have made the USA proud on multiple occasions in the sport of skiing. Cochran-Siegle had even maintained the family reputation by clinching a silver medal in the men’s Super G event at the Beijing Winter Olympics, his second attempt at the Winter Olympics after his debut at the 2018 edition held in PyeongChang, South Korea.
2) Lindsey Vonn | Alpine Skiing
For Vonn, the 2026 Olympics are more about proving herself than anything else. The veteran Olympian has created history by qualifying for a record fifth Winter Olympics, and would like nothing better than retiring on a high with another Olympic medal around her neck.
1) Mikaela Shiffrin | Alpine Skiing
For Shiffrin, the upcoming Winter Olympics is a golden opportunity to prove her naysayers wrong. Despite being the top favorite at the Beijing edition, Shiffrin returned empty-handed, and she doesn’t want to repeat the same mistake twice. With five consecutive World Cup wins this season, the 30-year-old former Olympic champion is more than ready to make Team USA proud at Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
