Why Fans Are Calling Hahna Norman the Ilona Maher of Winter Olympics

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Hahna Norman is doing more than catching air at the 2026 Olympics.

Since arriving in Italy for the Winter Games, this snowboarder has become a TikTok sensation, sharing her experiences – including gifts and food (especially delicious gnocchi!) – with millions of viewers. People are comparing her popular posts to the viral content created by Ilona Maher during the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

Hanna, 21, is enjoying the benefits of being an Olympic athlete, but she’s still most motivated by the fact that she gets to make a living doing what she loves.

She explained in an interview with U.S. Ski and Snowboard that snowboarding initially started as a casual weekend activity, and her parents may have seen it as a convenient childcare solution. It wasn’t until around age 15 or 16 that she began to understand her potential to achieve significant success with dedication and effort.

Hahna is competing in her first Olympics and giving her best effort, but she’s focused on more than just winning a medal. Her goals run much deeper than that.

She shared that her greatest achievement has been learning to accept and love herself. She believes this may come with getting older, but recently she’s felt very thankful for who she is and enthusiastic about continuing to grow and improve.

For more on Hahna and her road to the 2026 Games, keep reading.

Who Is Snowboarder Hahna Norman?

Born on October 26, 2004, in Arizona, this athlete spent her childhood in Truckee, California, initially enjoying ski racing. However, after her family moved to Italy when she was ten years old, she had to pause her involvement in the sport.

Before moving to Rome, I didn’t appreciate having it readily available – it was just always there for me. I assumed it would always be accessible, but when we moved and I lost access, I realized how much I truly missed it.

When Hahna returned to the U.S. after three years, she immediately resumed competitive skiing. After completing her freshman year of high school in Truckee, she moved to Colorado to attend Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy, which was a somewhat risky decision.

She told The Sierra Sun in May 2023 that she was very anxious about moving alone. Her main worry was that she would end up regretting the decision and causing her parents stress.

Luckily, the gamble worked out quickly, and Hahna described her first year at the school as “one of the best years of my life.”

What Events Is Snowboarder Hahna Norman Competing in at Olympics 2026?

Hahna didn’t make it to the final round of the women’s snowboard big air competition on February 9th, but she’ll compete in the women’s snowboard slopestyle qualifications on February 16th. If she does well, she’ll advance to the slopestyle final on February 17th.

Why Is Hahna Norman Going Viral?

Hahna has become popular on social media by sharing videos of the free clothes, sportswear, shoes, and other items she receives from sponsors like SKIMS and Ralph Lauren. She’s also been posting daily vlogs showing what life is like at the Olympic Village, including a detailed look inside her room and her opinions on the dining hall food.

She didn’t qualify for the final round of the big air competition, but she found comfort in eating gnocchi, as she shared in a video posted on February 9th.

Hanha’s videos, filmed on location, have sparked a lot of online comments comparing her to Ilona Maher, a rugby player who gained popularity for her engaging social media posts during the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Has Hahna Norman Competed in the Winter Games Before?

Hahna was training to qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, but a torn ACL during a World Cup competition in Calgary in December 2021 derailed her plans. After surgery, she was back on her snowboard about six months later, determined to still compete in the Olympics.

Honestly, that’s what drives me about her work. She shared with NBC Bay Area that she has one major goal in mind, and it’s incredible to see how dedicated she is. She literally starts each day asking herself what small step she can take to move closer to achieving it. It’s really inspiring!

Hahna is certainly in good company. To get to know more noteworthy Team USA athletes, keep reading…

Mikaela Shiffrin, a three-time Olympic medalist, is determined to perform better at her fourth Olympics. She’s aiming for a strong showing after a disappointing performance at the 2022 Beijing Games and a serious crash last November, where she injured her abdomen and needed surgery.

In a recent interview with TIME, Mikaela Shiffrin explained she’s acutely aware of the unpredictable nature of competition. Despite meticulous preparation, she understands a medal isn’t guaranteed. However, she feels strongly supported by her coaches and team, giving her confidence they can overcome any challenges together, and that’s all she can ask for.

Mikaela Shiffrin has been supported for years by Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, and the two are now engaged to be married.

He keeps reminding me that everything will be alright,” she shared with Olympics.com. “Last season was particularly tough, and I often wondered if pushing myself to come back was too much, too soon, or even achievable. But he’d always say, ‘You know what you’re capable of. You’re giving it your all, and if it doesn’t work out, that’s perfectly okay too.’

After struggling with repeated knee injuries, Lindsey Vonn retired from competitive skiing in 2019. She was a five-time Olympian, earning a gold medal in downhill and a bronze in Super-G at the 2010 Winter Games, and another bronze in downhill at the 2018 Games.

After a successful partial knee replacement in 2024 finally relieved the pain she’d lived with since her first knee surgery in 2013, she rediscovered her passion for speed.

While I enjoy other things like board meetings and investing, they don’t compare to the thrill of downhill skiing,” the 41-year-old explained to NBC News in December. “I’ve built a good life beyond skiing, and I accept that nothing will ever quite match it. But I’m going to savor these last moments of excitement, because once they’re gone, I won’t be able to get that feeling back.”

Vonn’s crash during a World Cup race in Switzerland on January 30th was serious enough that she needed to be rescued by helicopter, and it seemed like her attempt to return to competition might be over.

Despite tearing the ACL in her left knee, the experienced athlete announced she’s healthy enough to race in the women’s downhill competition on February 8th in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Cortina is hosting skiing, snowboarding, and sliding events, while Milan will host skating, curling, and other sports. She had previously stated she was prepared to risk everything to compete.

Speaking at a press conference on February 3rd, she declared her determination, stating, ‘I won’t let this opportunity pass me by.’ Despite the difficult situation, she emphasized her strength, adding, ‘I’m not upset, and I’m holding my head high. I will give it my all.’

Jessie Diggins, the most accomplished American cross-country skier ever, is competing in what she says will be her last Olympic Games.

And the Afton, Minn., native is headed to Italy with a purpose.

In a recent Instagram post from January 31st, the 34-year-old shared that they have the freedom to choose who they compete for and live according to their beliefs. They dedicated their efforts to those who show care and compassion to others, saying that these people inspire them and make them proud to represent their community. They hope to bring happiness to these supporters in the coming weeks.

After she retires, she shared with NPR’s All Things Considered that she’s looking forward to spending time gardening and, most importantly, being at home with her husband.

Seventeen-year-old Stolz first competed in the Olympics in Beijing, and although he didn’t medal, he’s now a strong contender to win gold in multiple events at the Milan Cortina Games. These include the 500, 1,000, and 1,500-meter races, plus the mass start race – a challenging 16-lap, 6,400-meter competition.

The 21-year-old athlete believes he has a strong chance of winning gold if he performs flawlessly. Speaking with the Associated Press in January, he said he feels prepared to handle the pressure, explaining that he’s experienced many high-stakes races before and doesn’t anticipate the expectations being a problem, as long as everything goes according to plan.

Four years after making history at the Beijing Winter Olympics – becoming the first Black American woman to medal in speed skating and the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal – 500-meter champion Erin Jackson will carry the U.S. flag at the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Games. She will share the honor with bobsledder Frank Del Duca.

The 33-year-old from Ocala, Florida, said it was a great honor to represent the United States internationally. She explained that this achievement wasn’t just about her, but also about her family, team, hometown, and all Americans who support athletics.

Although she’s not retiring immediately, Jackson plans to launch an organization dedicated to helping young Black athletes achieve their goals in speed skating.

Representation is incredibly important because it allows people to see themselves succeeding, and that hasn’t always been common in winter sports, especially speed skating. I’m proud to be a visible role model and hope to inspire others to get involved in the sport. I’m committed to helping make that happen for anyone who wants to try.

Kim suffered a minor labrum tear in January when she dislocated her shoulder during training in Switzerland, but she wasn’t letting that keep her from competing in her fourth Olympics. There, she’s aiming to win her third gold medal in women’s halfpipe snowboarding.

The 25-year-old from Torrance, California, expressed disappointment in a video posted on January 13th that she won’t be able to snowboard again until just before the Olympics, which will make preparation difficult. She acknowledged she hasn’t had as much practice as she’d hoped, but remains optimistic.

She expects a relaxed preparation period leading up to the 2026 Games. In an interview with NBC Olympics on January 22nd, she explained she was currently at home and planned to travel to Europe early the following week for some training before heading to Milan for the event.

And once she was there, she’d be fired up and ready to go—just like everyone else.

As someone who’s spent a lot of time on the slopes – I’ve been snowboarding since I was a little kid – it’s tough to put into words exactly what it feels like out there. But honestly, I think when we’re really engaged in something we love, something challenging, we all tap into the best versions of ourselves. It’s a really powerful experience.

Gerard first won an Olympic gold medal in slopestyle at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games when he was 17 years old. Now, as a two-time X Games champion, he’s aiming to repeat that success at his third Olympics.

The 25-year-old, originally from Ohio and now living in Colorado, told People magazine in January that she still feels young and in great shape. She also shared that it’s been rewarding to be part of Team USA since age 13 and now, as one of the more experienced athletes, to be able to mentor the younger members of the team.

Gerard explained how he handles the pressure of the Olympics by reminding himself it’s still snowboarding, just like any other competition. He acknowledges the scale is much larger with more viewers, but focuses on treating it the same way he always has – concentrating on his own performance and blocking out distractions. That’s his approach to staying focused and performing his best.

The 31-year-old snowboarder is competing in his third Olympic Games, hoping to add a gold medal to his collection after winning silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.

Skier Ferreira believes this is his year to win gold. He told the Daily Express that unlike his previous two Olympic appearances where he was injured – a broken collarbone before the first and a sprained ankle three weeks before the second – he’s entering the games fully healthy. He also feels more prepared, noting he’s older and incredibly focused.

Beyond his sister Lourdes and athletic parents – Marcelo, a former soccer player from Argentina, and Colleen, a competitive relay racer – he also has a rescue dog named Brandy by his side.

What I love most about Brandy,” says Nulo pet food ambassador Alan Ferreira, “is that she doesn’t care about accomplishments. She just greets me with a wagging tail, offering unconditional support through everything life throws my way – the good times and the bad – and I truly rely on her.

Hall is competing in his third Olympics, returning as the gold medalist in slopestyle. This comes after a significant improvement from the 2018 Games, where he finished 16th.

Beyond potentially winning another slopestyle medal, the laid-back 27-year-old—who keeps his gold medal in his sock drawer and said winning once was incredible—also hopes to do better than his eighth-place finish in Big Air at the 2022 competition.

In an interview with POWDER magazine in October 2025, Hall expressed his enthusiasm for the return of the Olympics to Europe, hoping for excellent skiing conditions and a stunning mountain backdrop – something the last two Olympics lacked. He also shared a personal connection to the upcoming games, noting that his mother is from Bologna, Italy, and many of his family members who still live there plan to attend, making the event particularly special for him.

The 29-year-old freestyle skier is competing in her third Olympic Games and hopes to build on the silver medal she won in Beijing.

She always knows who to ask for help, whether it’s about getting better at her sport or dealing with the stress of competing on the world stage.

Patti Sherman-Kauf is a decorated athlete, having won two championships on the World Pro Moguls Tour – even while pregnant with her daughter. Her husband, Scott Kauf, achieved even more success in moguls, with five titles. After retiring from mogul skiing, Patti excelled in skicross, earning three bronze medals at the X Games.

You know, when my daughter Jaelin arrived, she was a little different than what you’d expect. Most babies love being gently rocked, but Jaelin? She preferred a good bounce! It was so unique and we quickly learned to adapt to her little preferences.

Jaelin admitted that she didn’t initially love mogul skiing. She told Teton Gravity Research in November 2025 that she’d always prefer a day with fresh powder. However, watching her parents build careers as professional skiers showed her it was a viable path for herself—something many people don’t get to see or receive support for. She always felt confident she could pursue it as a career.

Team Jaelin also includes her boyfriend, Bradley Wilson, a two-time Olympic skier who is now retired, and his brother Bryon Wilson, a bronze medalist who coaches Kauf.

Humphries’ journey has had more twists than a bobsled run.

Originally from Calgary, this 40-year-old athlete represented Team Canada in two-woman bobsled, winning gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, and a bronze medal in 2018.

In 2019, she surprised everyone in the sports world by announcing her departure from the Canadian national team after 16 years. She explained that she was afraid for her safety due to a harmful atmosphere within the team leading up to the 2018 Olympics.

Humphries became part of the U.S. team in 2019, but she clarified to the Associated Press that she still considered herself Canadian and didn’t intend to choose between the two nationalities.

She clarified that her love for Canada hasn’t diminished, but she’s capable of loving someone and something else equally. After living in the U.S. for four years, she fell in love with and married an American. Now, life has presented them with new opportunities, and they’re facing the choices that come with those changes.

Elana Humphries became a U.S. citizen in 2021 and then achieved a historic victory by winning the first-ever Olympic gold medal in the monobob event—a one-person bobsled race—at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Oh my gosh, you guys, this is EVERYTHING! She’s going to the Olympics for the FIFTH time, which is incredible enough, but this time it’s different! She’s a MOM now! She and Travis Armbruster welcomed little Aulden in June, and she’s going to compete with a baby! I’m seriously crying, it’s the most inspiring thing ever. I can’t wait to watch her absolutely crush it!

For years, people have said that having a baby means an athlete’s career is over – that your body will change too much, both physically and mentally, and you’ll never be able to compete at a high level again. As Humphries told The Athletic, that used to be the accepted truth, but now she and other athletes are showing that it’s possible to have a child and still achieve sporting success – you don’t have to choose between the two.

For five-time Olympian, bobsledding is now a personal escape. Since becoming a mother with her husband, Nic Taylor, to son Nico in 2020 and then to son Noah in 2022, she finds time for herself through the sport. Nico has Down syndrome, and both boys are deaf – a result of a genetic mutation that both parents carried, which they discovered after Nico’s birth.

Even though her home life was incredibly busy, Meyers Taylor really wanted her children to witness her professional life.

“The challenges they’ll face are beyond what I can imagine,” the 41-year-old explained to The Athletic. “I hope they learn that even when things get hard, you can still chase your goals. I want them to see me succeed and stand on the podium with medals, but also to witness my struggles, how I overcome setbacks, and keep fighting.”

Though Kaillie Meyers Taylor has earned five Olympic medals across four Games – including four in two-woman bobsled and a silver in monobob in 2022 – she’s still aiming for her first gold medal.

Skeleton racing is undeniably thrilling – it takes real courage to slide headfirst down an icy, winding track at speeds reaching 90 miles per hour.

Ro, who became the first American to win a medal in skeleton at the IBSF World Championships in 12 years (in 2025), initially didn’t believe she’d actually won.

Oh my god, I remember her describing it like this, and it’s just amazing. She said the coach just sent her down the track, and suddenly everything was a blur – she couldn’t see anything, couldn’t even think! She hit the bottom and was just like, ‘Nope! Absolutely not doing that ever again!’ It’s hilarious, because she’d been told she was too small for bobsled, and this was her first time trying skeleton! It’s just… iconic.

But after listening to enough people rave about how cool it was, she tried it again.

Ten years after starting her journey, the athlete from Virginia is now competing in her first Olympics. She’ll be participating in both individual events and the brand-new mixed team event, which is being introduced at the 2026 Games.

Outside of training and competition, Ro works as a tour guide at the Lake Placid Olympic Center. She’s one of many athletes who takes on a second job to make ends meet. Ro is the second oldest of eleven children, and has a twin sister who is fourteen minutes younger than her.

She described being fully immersed in her training environment, saying she lives and breathes the atmosphere there. She also explained that the tours, led by athletes offering a personal look at the facility, are a hit with visitors. However, she emphasized that these tours won’t generate enough income to fully support her athletic pursuits.

Illya Malinin comes from a family of figure skating stars – both his parents were Uzbekistani champions. He started skating at age six, but growing up in Virginia, he actually preferred playing soccer outdoors to practicing in the chilly rink.

As a lifelong observer of athletic achievement, I was absolutely floored when, at just 17, this skater made history at the 2022 CS U.S. International Classic. He landed a fully rotated quadruple axel – and incredibly, he’s still the only person to ever do so in international competition! It was a truly breathtaking moment and a testament to years of dedication and skill.

Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” has successfully landed four-jump combinations many times and is currently the top U.S. male figure skater with a strong chance of winning gold again at the 2026 Olympics, especially now that Nathan Chen, previously called the “Quad King,” has decided not to compete in the Milan Cortina Games.

Four years after not making Team USA, the 20-year-old is now concentrating on preparing himself to perform well.

As a skater, I’ve learned that focusing on the competition itself – the medals – actually isn’t what drives me. What I do concentrate on is delivering a great performance. I really think of it as doing my job, and I put a lot of effort into preparation so I can skate my best when I hit the ice. Honestly, when you focus on a clean, solid performance, the rewards – like medals – often follow naturally.

Liu retired from competitive skating in 2022 following her performance at the Beijing Olympics and World Championships, where she earned a bronze medal.

Okay, so everyone thinks she just suddenly retired, but let me tell you, it was years in the making. She started training when she was literally five years old, and she didn’t really stop until she was sixteen! And the craziest part? She was homeschooled the entire time. She’s actually super social, she needs to be around people, but she sacrificed everything – family, friends, everything – to train, and she was doing it all alone for so many years. It’s just… heartbreaking when you really think about it. She gave up her whole childhood, honestly.

She explained that she had very little control over her own choices, like what she wore or what events she competed in. She felt she was treated like a doll, forced to participate in the Olympics not for herself, but to fulfill a sense of obligation to the younger version of herself.

After starting her studies at UCLA in the fall of 2023 and enjoying a typical college experience, she rediscovered her competitive spirit during a ski trip in January. By March 2024, she was officially competing again. The 20-year-old from Clovis, California, then went on to win gold at the 2025 World Championships and is now aiming to win a medal – and ideally another gold – at the 2026 Games, ending the U.S. women’s 20-year wait for an individual medal.

When she takes the ice now, “it’s fully for myself,” Liu explained. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”

This Olympic Games marks the fourth time these partners have competed together, and it’s their first competition since they got married in June 2024.

In December, Chock explained to TopMob News that getting married strengthened her and her partner’s dedication to both their relationship and their skating. They already had a strong connection through skating, but marriage has allowed them to fully support each other as partners, both on and off the ice, in all their pursuits.

The figure skating team won a gold medal as a group at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, but despite being three-time world champions, this pair is still hoping to win their first Olympic medal together.

We’ve been working really hard and dedicating a lot of time and effort,” Bates shared with TopMob, “but we truly appreciate every day and the chance to do what we do.

While both the 36-year-old skater and his 33-year-old partner haven’t confirmed if they’ll retire after these Olympics, they recognize they’re nearing the end of their competitive careers.

At the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Bates told NBC Olympics that they were trying to stay focused and not get overwhelmed by the emotions of the event and their 15-year partnership. They said the best reward was performing well, but they also wanted to savor the moment, knowing it might be their last competition. They went on to win gold at the event.

The experienced U.S. women’s hockey player, a gold medalist in 2018, has announced that the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics will be her last. At 36 years old, she’ll become the first American hockey player—male or female—to compete in five Olympic Games.

Although she’d love to win another gold medal, Knight emphasized to Today.com that a large portion of the team – possibly more than half – are first-time Olympians. She’s focused on making sure everyone feels comfortable and can perform at their best. She believes they have incredibly talented players, and getting them to reach their full potential will be key to the team’s success.

A University of Wisconsin graduate, she currently plays hockey for the Seattle Torrent in Washington. However, she and her partner, Brittany Bowe – a veteran speed skater competing in her fourth and final Olympics shortly before turning 38 on February 24th – have made their home in Salt Lake City.

Speaking to NBC Olympics in June 2025, Knight explained that as elite athletes, they have a strong understanding of what each other needs – whether it’s encouragement or time alone. She believes their shared experience at the highest level helps them connect and support each other.

This mixed doubles curling team, paired up after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, is heading to their first Olympics together. They previously placed fifth at the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and won a world championship in 2023. They believe their success is due to both their abilities on the ice and how well they work together as personalities.

Ahead of the Milan Cortina Games, figure skater Dropkin, 30, explained how well she and her partner, Cory, work together. “We’re good at staying relaxed and focused on the present,” she said. “Our personalities really complement each other. Someone recently described us as ‘the calm and the fire’ – Cory is calm, confident, and composed on the ice, while I bring a lot of energy and passion. It’s a great combination.”

He and his wife, Thiesse, who married Sam Thiesse in June 2022, live in Duluth, Minnesota. They both work regular jobs to support their passion for curling.

Dropkin works in real estate, and Thiesse is a lab technician who tests wastewater for mercury. Thiesse shared with Duluth’s ABC 10 that she’s thankful to have a stable job while pursuing her passion for curling, something she and her teammates have dreamed of since childhood.

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2026-02-10 21:20