Olympics 2026: Meet the Athlete Couples Competing at the Winter Game

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A warm coat can protect you from the cold, but there’s nothing more comforting than having the support of your partner as you pursue your goals – and being able to offer them that same encouragement in return.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in northern Italy, featuring 116 medal events across Milan, the mountain town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, and other beautiful locations. This year’s Games are especially heartwarming, with many couples competing – some as teammates and others in different sports.

Take, for example, Emily Sweeney and Dominik Fischnaller, a married couple who compete in luge. They support each other as a team, but they actually represent different countries when they compete.

Heading to his fourth Olympics – and his first on home soil – feels like a big family celebration for Italian athlete Fischnaller. He told the Associated Press he wants to savor the experience more this time around, especially with his American wife competing in her third Winter Games. In the past, he was completely focused on the competition itself and didn’t get to enjoy the atmosphere. He’s hoping this Olympics will be different, and he credits his wife, Emily, with helping him achieve that.

All the Winter Olympic sports – from speed skating and skiing to curling and hockey – are already incredibly exciting. But competing for a gold medal with someone you truly connect with takes that excitement to a whole new level.

U.S. hockey player Hilary Knight, competing in her fifth and final Olympics, explained to NBC Olympics that athletes at their level understand what teammates need, whether it’s encouragement or time to themselves. Knight added that she and teammate Brittany Bowe, also a four-time Olympian who plans to retire after the Milan Games, have a strong understanding of each other thanks to their long and successful careers.

And even when just one of them reaches a podium, let alone both, it’s a win-win situation.

In a 2024 interview with the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Foundation, Belgian skeleton racer Kim Meylemans explained that she and her wife, Nicole Silveira, who competes for Brazil, view themselves as a team. She said that when one of them achieves success, like finishing on the podium, it’s a win for both of them.

See more couples who have doubled their odds for success at the 2026 Olympics: 

This Canadian curling duo—partners both on and off the ice—are the current world champions and are aiming to win a medal at the Olympics to add to their impressive list of accomplishments.

Brett and Jocelyn’s relationship began in 2016 after Brett reached out to Jocelyn on Facebook. He told CBC Sports he initially contacted her to assess her curling skills, but Jocelyn remembers their first interaction including some playful flirting.

They met in person just a few days before the national championship in Saskatoon—and they won.

Brett explained that he and his teammate connected instantly, both as curlers and as friends. He felt they shared a similar mindset and a strong competitive drive, which was a positive for their partnership.

They began a romantic relationship and were engaged by the time they both competed at the 2022 Olympics—he on the men’s team and she on the women’s team.

Brett returned from Beijing with a bronze medal. He married Jocelyn in June, and they had a son named Luke in 2023. Now, they’re both preparing to compete as a team in mixed doubles at the 2026 Olympics.

Luke constantly talks about going to the Olympics,” Jocelyn shared with Olympics.com. “However, I don’t think he fully understands just how amazing and special that would be.”

Brett and Jocelyn are both driven to compete at the Olympics, something they’ve been working towards for a long time. They also really value the chance to compete together as a couple, seeing it as a special family experience.

Kim, representing Belgium in skeleton racing, and Nicole, from Brazil, revealed they were in a relationship two months before the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Kim finished 18th in the Olympics, while Nicole placed 13th.

More recently, Kim took silver and Nicole scored bronze at the 2025 St. Moritz World Cup.

In a 2024 interview with the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Foundation, Kim, 29, explained that competing against her then-fiancée was actually less difficult than being apart from them constantly. She added that they enjoyed being able to share the experience and have fun together.

Both Nicole and Kim are fiercely competitive and dislike losing. When Nicole proposed during a private boat trip in Brazil in the summer of 2024, Kim was a little upset, as she had already purchased the same ring with the intention of proposing herself.

“I won that competition,” Nicole quipped.

Although they’re planning a large beach wedding for late 2026, Nicole and her partner officially married on January 8, 2025, with a simple civil ceremony in Calgary, where Nicole is a nurse.

We’re excited to start this big season, which might be our last Olympics, and it feels even more special as a married couple. It represents a deeper commitment to each other. No matter what difficulties come our way this year, our relationship will always be our top priority.

They also added that it would be particularly meaningful to compete as a married couple and, in doing so, raise awareness for marriage equality.

Luge athletes Emily and Dominik are known for speed, and they applied that same energy to their wedding planning! They managed to arrange everything in just nine days after getting the necessary permissions to marry in Dominik’s home country of Italy in May 2025.

You know, I’ve always admired couples who build a real life together before adding big events like weddings. This couple is a perfect example! They actually met and fell in love as teenagers, traveling the world together for years before tying the knot. Now, heading back to the Olympics – his fourth time, her third – as husband and wife, they’ve shared that it feels like they’re building something lasting, not just focused on the moment. It’s a beautiful perspective, really – prioritizing a future together.

And Dominik, who took the bronze in men’s luge in Beijing, doesn’t want to rock the sled.

Emily returned to competition after nine months, but Dominik was deeply shaken when she fractured her neck and back in a crash at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

Dominik explained to the Associated Press in 2026 that he feels his daughter’s pain intensely, even more than she does herself. He admitted to being incredibly anxious when she competes, often finding it difficult to watch her races.

Both athletes will be supporting each other as they compete in what could be their last Olympic Games, racing down the track at the Cortina Sliding Center.

“We’re here. We’re happy,” Dominik said. “And we’re having a good life.

The captain of the U.S. women’s hockey team and a seasoned speed skater share a unique Olympic connection – they had their first date during the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Brittany, 37, shared with People magazine in January that while she and Hilary had known each other for years through Team USA events, they finally had a chance to truly connect recently. She explained that Hilary would often suggest going for a walk after dinner, which allowed them to get to know each other better.

Hilary, 36, told NBC Olympics that their walks, where they were completely covered up, weren’t romantic, but they were still sweet.

Brittany shared that they were able to focus on building their relationship because they didn’t have the usual distractions of family, friends, or other commitments. They had plenty of time to really get to know each other.

While she won a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters, she said finding a girlfriend was the most important and rewarding part of her experience in Beijing.

Hilary and Brittany now live in Salt Lake City and enjoy playing pickleball and gardening when they’re not competing. Though Hilary is a star hockey player for the Seattle Torrent, this will be her final Olympics after five appearances. Brittany, the most experienced member of the U.S. speedskating team, is also retiring after competing in four Olympic Games.

Speaking with NBC Olympics, Brittany said she feels like a veteran in the world of sports. After a long and successful career, she’s ready for the next chapter and excited to see what the future holds.

Madison and Evan, who helped the U.S. win team gold in figure skating in 2022, are hoping to finally earn an Olympic medal as a duo at their fourth Winter Olympics.

Although the three-time Olympic gold medalists haven’t confirmed if Milan Cortina will be their last Games, they are fully enjoying the experience.

Evan, 36, told TopMob News in December that they’ve been working diligently and are thankful for the chance to do so, adding, “We’re grateful for each day and the opportunity.”

Evan and Madison began skating together in 2011. Five years later, in 2021, Evan told Olympics.com that he had confessed his romantic feelings for her, saying, “I love you. I want to be more than just skating partners.”

It’s so lovely to see when a connection really blossoms! After ten years of enjoying each other’s company and letting their relationship naturally develop, they finally decided to get married in June 2024. It was a beautiful moment, and I’m thrilled for them!

Madison, 33, shared with TopMob that getting married has strengthened her and her partner’s dedication to each other and their shared passion. They already had a strong connection through skating, but marriage has made them true partners, supporting each other’s goals both on and off the ice.

Kaysha was a track and field athlete at UNLV when a bobsled coach asked her to try out for the team at a training camp in Lake Placid in 2020.

I’d dedicated eight years to a sport I truly loved and felt defined me, so I was initially reluctant when he suggested I try something completely new – a sport I’d only ever seen in the movie Cool Runnings. But he pointed out the Olympics were just a year and a half away, and that’s what I’d been working towards my entire athletic career, as I told Bustle in January.

Not only did she make it to the 2022 Beijing Games, but she also convinced Hunter Powell, a talented decathlete from Colorado State, to give bobsledding a try. It turned out he was surprisingly well-suited for the sport, both physically and as a personality.

As a huge supporter of team dynamics, I truly believe having a teammate who completely trusts and believes in you is a game-changer. Knowing someone has your back allows me to push my limits and achieve things I never thought possible. It’s like a secret weapon, honestly!

Hunter, who got engaged in July, shared on Colorado State Rams Live how incredible it feels to be an Olympian, saying he’s “lost for words.” He added that it’s even more meaningful because he’s been able to travel the world and achieve a shared dream with his fiancée.

Kaysha shared with Bustle that she and her partner plan to get a large schnauzer dog after the Olympics, and they’re getting married on September 3rd.

I’ve been using wedding planning to take my mind off tough training days, honestly. Because of that, we’ve actually planned almost everything for our wedding – about 90 percent! We’re both really excited about it.

The Italian ice dancers have been competing together as a romantic couple for 15 years.

Marco told Olympics.com in November 2024 that while repeating their individual accomplishments would be great, achieving success together was even more rewarding. He explained that sharing such strong emotions and experiences with the person you love and plan to spend your life with makes it all the more special.

Charlene explained that competitive skating requires immense dedication. Skaters typically begin at a very young age, making it a complete way of life, and it’s often challenging. Success demands both a strong passion and exceptional mental and physical fortitude.

But contrary to how it sounds, the pair don’t live and breathe ice dancing.

Living in Milan makes this their fourth Olympics much easier, but you wouldn’t guess champion figure skaters live in their home just by looking at it.

Marco explained they’re storing their medals in a special box and haven’t put up any photos. They prefer to keep their figure skating career separate from their personal life at home, and they believe this separation is a key reason why they’ve remained a team and continue to push forward.

He described having a completely separate life away from hockey. Simple things like sharing meals, cooking, or going to the movies create a different dynamic. He explained their connection has two distinct sides: their professional lives as athletes and their personal lives together.

The Canadian hockey players connected in 2017 at a team event when they both spotted a shooting star. They glanced at each other and realized they were the only ones who had seen it, creating a special connection.

“The city lights were incredible the weekend we got married,” Poulin shared with CBC Sports in November 2024. “It felt so bright and magical, with stars all over. I really believe in paying attention to those little moments.”

Their relationship had a rocky start, and when Canada narrowly missed gold, finishing with silver at the 2018 Olympics, team captain Poulin felt she had disappointed the entire nation.

“I didn’t want to see anybody,” the 34-year-old center recalled, “and I was just really on my own.”

Stacey recalled that they simply stopped communicating. She explained she wasn’t speaking to her friend and was prepared to move forward with her life.

Oh my gosh, it was fate! When Marie-Philip Poulin’s Montreal team played Stacey Jackson’s Markham Thunder that fall, they finally had dinner together again – it was amazing! And get this – they went on to WIN GOLD at the 2022 Olympics! Seriously, could it be any more perfect?

The Milan Cortina Olympics will be Stacey’s third and Poulin’s fifth Games – and their first as a married couple, having wed in September 2024.

Stacey described how her wife presents herself to the world. ‘Everyone sees her as a hockey player, and that’s all they’ve ever known,’ she explained. While the world recognizes her as a top athlete, Stacey emphasized that people don’t see the wonderful person she is off the ice.

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2026-02-08 13:18