Sports

The glamour sport of the Winter Olympics. Racers fly down mountain courses at speeds up to 90 mph in five disciplines: downhill (the fastest and most dangerous), super-G (a faster version of giant slalom), giant slalom (wide sweeping turns), slalom (quick tight turns through closely-spaced gates), and combined (one run of downhill + one of slalom). Each discipline tests a different balance of speed, technique, and courage. The courses at Bormio and Cortina are legendary — some of the most challenging in the world.

One of the most compelling sports at the Winter Olympics. Athletes cross-country ski at maximum effort, then must calm their heart rate enough to shoot at tiny targets 50 meters away. Miss a target and you earn a penalty loop (150m extra skiing) or penalty time. The combination of extreme endurance and precision shooting under pressure creates incredible drama. Anterselva's arena at 1,600m altitude is one of biathlon's spiritual homes.

Teams of 2 or 4 sprint-push a sled and then jump in, navigating an icy track at speeds exceeding 90 mph. The push start is crucial — fractions of a second at the top translate to tenths at the bottom. Drivers must memorize every curve and steer with incredible precision at extreme G-forces. The Cortina sliding track is a classic venue with a rich Olympic history.

The ultimate endurance test. Athletes ski distances from sprint (1.4 km) to marathon (50 km) using classic (in tracks) or freestyle (skating) technique. The skiathlon is uniquely punishing: half the race classic, half freestyle, with a mid-race ski change. Norway dominates this sport like no other country dominates anything in the Olympics. The mass start events are thrilling — 50+ skiers battling for position.

Chess on ice. Teams of four slide 42-pound granite stones down a sheet of ice, sweeping the surface to control speed and direction, trying to get closest to the center of the target (the 'house'). It looks simple but the strategy is incredibly deep. Games are 10 ends (like innings). Mixed doubles is the fast-paced 2-person version. Perfect for watching from the couch — you'll be yelling at the TV in no time.

The crown jewel of the Winter Olympics, combining athletic power with artistic expression. Men's and women's singles feature jaw-dropping quad jumps (four rotations in the air). Pairs skating adds throws, lifts, and death spirals. Ice dance is all about rhythm, musicality, and intricate footwork — no jumps allowed. The team event kicks things off early. Judged on technical elements (jumps, spins, steps) and presentation (artistry, interpretation). Milan's arena will be electric.

The action sports of skiing. Moguls: blasting down a field of bumps at top speed with two aerial jumps. Aerials: launching off a kicker and performing triple-twisting triple backflips. Ski cross: four skiers racing head-to-head down a course with jumps and banked turns — pure chaos. Halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air: gymnastic tricks on snow. Each sub-discipline is basically its own sport.

Fast, physical, and intensely competitive. Two teams of 6 (including goalie) battle on ice for 60 minutes (three 20-minute periods). NHL players compete, making the men's tournament a showcase of the world's best talent. The women's game features incredible skill and is typically dominated by USA vs. Canada rivalries that produce some of the best games of any Olympics. Milan's arena will be packed and loud.

Athletes lie on their backs on a tiny sled and hurtle feet-first down an icy track at up to 90 mph, steering with subtle body movements and calf pressure on the runners. The margin between gold and silver is often thousandths of a second. Four runs over two days, with times added together. Doubles is even more intense with two people coordinating on one sled. The team relay is a uniquely exciting format.

The original Olympic multi-sport: ski jumping followed by cross-country skiing. Athletes jump first, and their distance determines their starting time gap for the cross-country race. The best jumpers start first, but the best skiers can chase them down. It creates incredible come-from-behind drama. The race isn't over until someone crosses the finish line.

Controlled chaos on ice. Up to 6 skaters race simultaneously around a tiny 111-meter oval, jockeying for position at speeds over 30 mph. Crashes are frequent. Strategy matters as much as speed — when to pass, when to draft, when to make your move. Photo finishes are routine. The relay events are especially wild, with teammates literally throwing each other into the race. Expect drama, controversy, and stunning upsets.

The most terrifying-looking Olympic sport. Athletes sprint, dive headfirst onto a tiny sled, and slide down the track face-down at up to 80 mph with their chin inches from the ice. Unlike luge (feet-first, face-up), skeleton athletes see exactly where they're going — which somehow makes it scarier. Four runs over two days determine the winner.

Athletes ski down a steep ramp and launch themselves into the air, flying over 100 meters on the large hill. They're judged on both distance and style — the perfect V-formation of the skis, the steadiness of flight, the grace of the landing (the 'telemark'). The normal hill (90m) and large hill (120m) offer different challenges. The team event and new mixed team event add tactical elements. Wind and conditions can change everything between jumpers.

NEW to the Olympics in 2026! Athletes race up and down mountains on skis, transitioning between skinning uphill (with climbing skins attached) and skiing downhill at incredible speed. It's like a mountain triathlon — climb, transition, descend, repeat. Sprint is a short intense race; individual is a longer endurance test. The mixed relay adds team strategy. Born in the Alps, debuting at the Olympics in the Alps. This could be one of the most exciting new sports in years.

From counter-culture to Olympic centerpiece. Halfpipe: massive aerial tricks in a U-shaped channel. Slopestyle: a course of rails, jumps, and features testing creativity and difficulty. Big air: one massive jump, one massive trick. Snowboard cross: four riders racing head-to-head with banked turns and jumps. Parallel giant slalom: side-by-side gate racing. The trick progression in halfpipe and slopestyle has been mind-blowing — riders are now landing tricks that seemed impossible a few years ago.

Pure speed on ice. Athletes race in pairs around a 400-meter oval, with times determining the standings. Distances range from the explosive 500m (under 35 seconds) to the grueling 10,000m. The team pursuit is a tactical chess match where three skaters draft off each other. Mass start events put 20+ skaters on the ice at once for pack-style racing with a sprint finish. The long track events have an elegant simplicity — just you, the ice, and the clock.