Mikaela Shiffrin can ski a straight line, but shaving one is harder.
Sharp-eyed viewers of the 2026 Winter Olympics might notice something different about one American athlete: their right eyebrow appears noticeably thinner, with a small section missing.
But wait: Mikaela can explain.
I remember seeing this video on Instagram from February 9th, and she was telling the story behind her scar! Apparently, she was doing balance training and totally wiped out, splitting her eyebrow open. I was shocked when she said a plastic surgeon had to put in a whopping 30 stitches! I honestly didn’t even know it was possible to get that many stitches on your eyebrow bone, but she said it is!
Okay, so she’s absolutely perfect, but there’s this tiny little thing… after a cosmetic procedure, she got this minuscule scar right across her right eyebrow. It’s barely noticeable, honestly! Sometimes, the hairs grow a little weird there, but she’s a pro at keeping it perfect with just a little plucking and trimming. It doesn’t even matter though, because she’s still flawless!
Until she decided to pick up a razor in the Olympic Village.
Instead of growing my hair to hide the scar, I decided to accept it, almost like giving it a little spotlight,” she explained, describing her change in perspective.
Feeling inspired by “the cool people who have slashy scars,” she pondered, “How bad could it be?”
It’s a common mistake, and now Mikaela has experienced it too. As she explained, she overdid it with some adjustments, going further than she should have.
At first, she used makeup to hide a small patch of missing hair on her eyebrow, but then she removed the makeup to show it clearly.
She explained that her makeup tends to run when she sweats, especially around her upper lip and eyebrows – the areas where ski goggles would sit. She joked that she’d probably finish the race with only half an eyebrow remaining.
Mikaela acknowledges the past with a shrug, but she does have one last ask of her supporters. With all the attention on her as she enters her fourth Olympics, she’s hoping for their continued support.
She playfully warned people not to mention her possibly having a half-grown eyebrow if they saw her at the Olympics in the coming weeks. She added with a laugh, “You get what I’m saying?”
And Mikaela wasn’t the only Team USA member to lean into the humor of the moment.
Okay, so Erin Jackson – the Erin Jackson, one of the people carrying the American flag at the Opening Ceremony?! – posted this thing, and I’m losing it. She basically said she’s looking for someone to do her eyebrows at the Olympics and then, get this, she told this one salon she definitely won’t be coming to them! Like, can you even imagine? Erin Jackson, needing eyebrow help while representing the entire US… it’s amazing and hilarious all at once. I’ve been following her career for years, and even this little detail is just… perfection.
To meet more of the Team USA Olympians going for gold in Italy, read on.
Mikaela Shiffrin, a three-time Olympic medalist, is determined to perform better at her fourth Olympics. She’s hoping to bounce back from a disappointing showing at the 2022 Beijing Games and a frightening crash last November, which caused an abdominal injury requiring surgery.
In a recent interview with TIME, Mikaela Shiffrin explained that she’s acutely aware of the unpredictable nature of competition. She recognizes that even with perfect preparation, success isn’t guaranteed. However, she feels a strong connection with her team and believes they’re well-prepared to face any challenges together, which is 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 really tough, and I often wondered if pushing myself to come back was too much, too soon, or even if it was realistic. But he’d say, ‘You know what you’re capable of. You’re giving it your all, and that’s what matters. If it doesn’t work out, that’s perfectly fine too.’
After struggling with repeated knee injuries, Lindsey Vonn retired from competitive skiing in 2019. She had competed in five Winter Olympics, earning a gold medal in downhill and a bronze in Super-G in 2010, and another bronze in downhill in 2018.
After a successful partial knee replacement in 2024 finally relieved her pain – pain she’d lived with since her first knee surgery in 2013 – she rediscovered her passion for speed.
While I enjoy board meetings and investing, they don’t compare to the thrill of downhill skiing,” said the 41-year-old in a December interview with NBC News. “I’ve built a good life beyond skiing, and I accept that nothing will ever quite match it. But I’m going to savor this last burst of excitement, because once it’s gone, I know I can’t get it back.
A crash during a World Cup race in Switzerland on January 30th could have ended Vonn’s attempt to return to competition, as she needed to be rescued by helicopter.
Despite tearing the ACL in her left knee, the experienced athlete announced on February 8th that she felt well enough to compete in the women’s downhill race. She had previously stated she was prepared to risk it all to compete.
Speaking at a press conference on February 3rd, she declared she wouldn’t give up. Despite the circumstances, she emphasized her strength, stating, ‘I’m not crying, I’m holding my head high, and I’m going to give it my all.’
It was heartbreaking to watch Vonn crash during the race. She ended up with a really serious leg injury – a complicated fracture in her tibia that needed several surgeries to fix. As a longtime fan, I was just so worried about her recovery.
Jessie Diggins, the most decorated American cross-country skier ever, is competing in her last Olympic Games.
And the Afton, Minn., native is headed to Italy with a purpose.
In a recent Instagram post on 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, stating that these individuals inspire them and make them proud to represent their country. They hope to bring happiness to these supporters in the coming weeks.
As I’ve always said, life is about finding joy in every season, and for me, that next chapter is looking incredibly peaceful. I recently shared with NPR’s All Things Considered that when I retire, I’m truly looking forward to simple pleasures – lots of gardening, and most importantly, quality time at home with my husband. It’s about reconnecting and savoring those everyday moments together, and I can’t wait!
Seventeen-year-old Stolz first competed in the Olympics in Beijing, and though he didn’t medal, he’s now a top contender to win gold in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500-meter speed skating events, plus the mass start race (a challenging 16-lap, 6,400-meter competition) at the Milan Cortina Games.
The 21-year-old athlete believes he has a strong chance of winning gold if he performs flawlessly. Speaking to the Associated Press in January, he said that as long as things go smoothly, he should be able to handle the pressure. He added that he’s experienced many high-stakes races before, so the expectations don’t worry him much.
On February 11th, Stolz took the gold medal in the men’s 100m race, breaking the Olympic record with a time of 1:06.28.
Four years after making history at the Beijing Olympics – becoming the first Black American woman to medal in speed skating and the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Games – 500-meter champion Erin Jackson will carry her nation’s flag into the Opening Ceremony on February 6th. She will share the honor with bobsledder Frank Del Duca.
It’s a huge honor to represent the United States internationally,” said the 33-year-old from Ocala, Florida. “This isn’t just about me; it’s about my family, teammates, hometown, and all Americans who believe in the impact of sports.
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 the case in winter sports, especially speed skating. I’m proud to be a visible role model and hope to inspire others to give these sports a try. I’m committed to helping make that happen for anyone who wants to participate.
Kim sustained a minor labrum tear in January after dislocating her shoulder during training in Switzerland, but the injury won’t prevent her from competing in her fourth Olympics. There, she’ll aim to add to her collection of two gold medals in women’s halfpipe.
The 25-year-old athlete 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 anticipates a relaxed preparation period leading up to the 2026 Games. In an interview with NBC Olympics on January 22nd, she explained that 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.
It’s hard to put into words,” said Kim, a lifelong snowboarder, “but it feels like everyone becomes the best version of themselves out there.
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 carry that success to his third Olympic appearance.
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 expressed how rewarding it is to be a veteran on Team USA – having been a member since age 13 – and to be able to mentor the newer, younger athletes.
Gerard explained how he handles the pressure of competing at the Olympics. He focuses on treating it like any other competition, acknowledging it’s larger and has more viewers, but ultimately, the snowboarding itself doesn’t change. He tries to stay focused on his own performance and approach it as he always has, blocking out distractions.
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 a gold medal. Speaking to the Daily Express, he explained that he’s entering the games fully healthy for the first time, a stark contrast to his previous attempts. In the past, he competed with a broken collarbone and a sprained ankle, both occurring just weeks before the games. This time, he feels more prepared, both physically and mentally, and is 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 my dog, Brandy, is her unconditional love. As Nulo’s ambassador, I shared that she doesn’t care about accomplishments; she’s just happy to see me when I come home. She’s there for me through everything, good times and bad, and I truly rely on her.
Ferreira won a silver medal at the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle event on Feb. 10.
Hall is competing in his third Olympics, hoping to repeat his gold medal win in slopestyle. He’s come a long way since placing 16th in the same event at the 2018 Games.
Beyond potentially winning another slopestyle gold – which he famously keeps in his sock drawer – the laid-back 27-year-old is also hoping to do better than his eighth-place finish in Big Air at the 2022 competition. He said winning once was incredible, and repeating that would be amazing.
In an interview with POWDER magazine in October 2025, Hall expressed his excitement about the Olympics returning to Europe, particularly to a location with excellent snow and impressive mountains—something the last two Olympics lacked. He also shared a personal connection, noting that his mother is from Bologna, Italy, and many of his family members still live there and plan to attend the games, which he anticipates will be a wonderful experience.
I’m so excited to watch her compete! This will be her third Olympics, and after winning silver in Beijing, she’s really determined to go for gold this time. She’s a true mogul skiing specialist, and I have a feeling she’s going to do amazing.
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.
I’m such a huge fan of the Kauf family! It’s incredible to me that Patti Sherman-Kauf was winning titles on the World Pro Moguls Tour – twice! – while she was pregnant with her daughter. And her husband, Scott Kauf, wasn’t too shabby either, racking up five wins of his own. But what really amazes me is that Patti didn’t stop when she finished with moguls. She totally switched gears to skicross and earned three bronze medals at the X Games! She’s a true inspiration.
Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this about Jaelin! Her mom, Patti, told NBC Olympics that when she was a baby, she wasn’t one of those kids who loved being rocked. Nope! She absolutely loved being bounced! It’s just…so perfectly Jaelin, you know? It shows how energetic she always was, even as a tiny baby! I just find that endlessly fascinating about her.
Jaelin confessed to Teton Gravity Research in November 2025 that she didn’t initially love mogul skiing. She always preferred a day with fresh powder. However, watching her parents build careers as professional skiers showed her it was a viable path for herself. She realized not everyone has that example or support, but she always felt confident she could pursue it.
Let me tell you, Jaelin’s got an incredible support system! Her boyfriend, Bradley Wilson, is a two-time Olympian and a fantastic mogul skier – he’s retired now, but still so involved. And it gets even more interesting – Bradley’s brother, Bryon, actually coaches Kauf! It’s a real family affair, and you can just feel the positive energy they all bring to everything they do. It’s amazing to see how their shared experiences and mutual support contribute to their success.
Kauf won a silver medal in women’s freestyle skiing moguls on Feb. 11.
Humphries’ journey has had more twists than a bobsled run.
The 40-year-old, originally from Calgary, represented Team Canada in two-woman bobsled and achieved Olympic success with gold medals in 2010 and 2014, followed by a bronze 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 concerned for her safety due to a harmful atmosphere within the team leading up to the 2018 Olympics.
In 2019, Humphries began competing for the U.S. team while also maintaining her Canadian citizenship, stating she didn’t intend to choose between the two nationalities.
She clarified that her love for Canada hasn’t changed, but she’s also capable of loving someone and something new. Having lived in the U.S. for four years, she found love with an American, whom she married. Now, life has presented them with new possibilities, and they’re navigating the choices that come with those changes.
Elana Humphries became a U.S. citizen in 2021 and then made history by winning the first-ever Olympic gold medal in the monobob event – a one-person bobsled race – at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
I’m so excited to watch her compete in her fifth Olympics! This time is extra special though – she’s now a mom! She and her husband, Travis Armbruster, welcomed their son, Aulden, in June 2024, and it’s amazing to see her balance motherhood with pursuing her Olympic dreams.
For years, people have said that having a baby means the end of an athlete’s career – that your body will change too much, both physically and mentally, and you’ll never reach your peak performance again. Kaillie Humphries told The Athletic that this used to be considered true, but she and other athletes are now showing that it’s possible to be a mother and still compete at a high level – you can have both a family and a successful sports career.
Honestly, watching Elana Meyers Taylor compete feels so personal now! It’s amazing how she’s turned bobsledding into her escape, her ‘me time,’ especially after becoming a mom to Nico in 2020 and then Noah in 2022. It’s incredible to see her balance everything. And learning about her boys… Nico has Down syndrome, and both Nico and Noah are deaf. It turns out both she and her husband, Nic Taylor, carried the gene that caused the hearing loss, but they didn’t even know until Nico was born. It just makes me admire her even more – she’s a phenomenal athlete and a devoted mom.
Even though things were incredibly hectic at home, 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 tough, you can still chase your goals. I want them to see my successes, like winning medals, but also to see me struggle, recover, 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 at the 2022 Olympics – she’s still hoping to win her first gold medal.
Skeleton racing is undeniably cool – it involves speeding headfirst down an icy, winding track on a small sled, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph.
Ro, who in 2025 became the first American to win a medal in skeleton racing at the IBSF World Championships in over a decade, initially didn’t believe she’d actually done it.
She remembers her first time trying skeleton in 2016 vividly. After being told she was too small for bobsled, her coach guided her to the starting line. She described the experience as incredibly fast, saying everything became a blur. Reaching the bottom, her initial reaction was, ‘That’s it, I’m never doing that again!’ she told The Athletic in December.
But after listening to enough people rave about how cool it was, she tried it again.
After ten years of training, the athlete from Virginia is finally competing at the Olympics. She’ll be participating in both individual events and the new mixed-team competition, 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 a large family – eleven siblings, including a twin sister who was born just fourteen minutes after her.
As a professional athlete, my training facility isn’t just where I work – it’s a huge part of my life! I’m there constantly, fully immersed in that environment. We’ve started offering tours, and honestly, it’s been a hit. People love getting a behind-the-scenes look with an athlete like me sharing their personal experiences. It’s a fantastic opportunity, but it’s important to remember that leading tours, while fun, doesn’t generate enough income to fully cover all the costs of competing in my sport. I still need significant sponsorship and support to make it all happen.
Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! Ilia Malinin? Total skating prodigy! It’s in his blood, seriously – both his parents were amazing figure skaters back in Uzbekistan. He started skating when he was just six years old, but honestly, the little rebel preferred running around playing soccer with his friends back home in Virginia! Can you imagine? Trading the ice for the soccer field! It’s so cute, and it just makes him even more incredible that he became this good despite wanting to be a soccer star!
At age 17, he made history as the first and so far only skater to land a complete quadruple axel during an international competition—specifically, the 2022 CS U.S. International Classic.
Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” has successfully landed four-jump combinations many times. With Nathan Chen, previously called the “Quad King,” not competing in the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, Malinin is currently the strongest U.S. male contender to win another individual gold medal.
Four years after not making Team USA, the 20-year-old is now concentrating on preparing himself to perform well.
Illya Malinin shared in an interview with USA Today‘s Milan Magic podcast that he focuses on his performance, not the medals, when he competes. He emphasizes preparing thoroughly so he can skate to the best of his ability, believing that strong performances naturally lead to success and potential medals.
He and his U.S. figure skating teammates clinched the gold medal in the teams event on Feb. 8.
After competing in the Beijing Olympics and World Championships – where she earned a bronze medal – Liu retired from competitive skating in 2022.
Liu explained to NBC News that she began her intensive training at age five and continued until she was sixteen. Having been homeschooled throughout her life, she decided to retire at seventeen. She shared that, despite being a very social person who needs connection with others, she spent many years training in isolation, without family or friends nearby.
She explained that she had very little control over her own choices, like what she wore or what events she competed in. She felt like she was simply being used, like a doll being dressed up, and while she didn’t enjoy it, she felt obligated to compete in the Olympics for the sake of her younger self.
After starting her studies at UCLA in the fall of 2023 and enjoying a typical college experience, she rediscovered her competitive spirit during a January ski trip. By March 2024, she was officially back in training. The 20-year-old from Clovis, California, then went on to win gold at the World Championships in 2025 and is now aiming to win a medal – ideally gold – at the 2026 Games, ending the 20-year drought for American women in the individual event.
When she takes the ice now, “it’s fully for myself,” Liu explained. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
Liu and her U.S. figure skating teammates clinched the gold medal in the teams event on Feb. 8.
This Olympic Games marks a special occasion for the couple: it’s their fourth time competing, and the first since they tied the knot in June 2024.
In December, Chock explained to TopMob News that getting married strengthened their partnership both personally and professionally. They already had a strong connection through skating, but marriage has allowed them to fully support each other as true partners, in all aspects of life and their careers.
Though they helped the U.S. figure skating team win gold in Beijing in 2022, the three-time world champion pair haven’t yet earned an Olympic medal of their own.
We’ve been working really hard and dedicating a lot of time and effort,” Bates shared with TopMob, “and we truly appreciate every day and the chance we’ve been given.
While neither the 36-year-old skater nor his 33-year-old partner has confirmed if they’ll retire after these Olympics, they recognize they’re nearing the end of their competitive career.
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 emotion of the event and their 15 years skating together. They said that performing well was the best reward, but they also wanted to savor the moment, knowing it might be their last competition. They went on to win gold at the event.
On February 8th, the pair took home the gold medal in the team figure skating event and earned a silver medal in ice dancing.
The veteran U.S. women’s national team player, a gold medalist in 2018, has announced that the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics will be her last. At 36 years old, this will be her fifth Olympic Games, making her the American hockey player—male or female—with the most Olympic appearances.
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 ensuring everyone feels comfortable and can perform at their best. She believes the team has incredible talent, and getting everyone to reach their full potential will be key to a strong performance.
Okay, so she went to Wisconsin, which is amazing, but now she’s just dominating as a forward for the Seattle Torrent! Still, Salt Lake City is really home, you know? That’s where she and Brittany Bowe – seriously, Brittany Bowe, the speed skating legend! – bought a house together. And get this – Brittany’s going to her fourth Olympics just weeks after her birthday! She’s turning 38, can you believe it? It’s just…everything about them is incredible.
As elite athletes, you develop a strong sense of what others need – whether it’s encouragement or a little distance,” Knight explained to NBC Olympics in June 2025. “Having both competed at a high level for so long helps us really understand each other.
This mixed doubles curling team started playing together after the 2022 Beijing Olympics and is now competing in their first Olympics as a pair. They previously finished fifth at the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and won a world championship in 2023. They attribute their success not only to their skill and dedication, but also to how well their personalities complement each other.
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. “We also just have really compatible personalities. Someone recently described us as ‘the calm and the fire’ – Cory is calm and confident 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.
The pair won a silver medal in the mixed doubles event on Feb. 10.
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2026-02-12 16:20