Meet The Fourteen Michiganders Competing In The 2026 Olympics

If there's one thing about Michigan, it's that you can (almost) always count on there being a winter with plenty of snowfall. With snow and cold comes the time of year when skiing, snowboarding, hockey, ice skating, and more get a spotlight. These winters make Michigan an especially great state for breeding winter athletes, as seen during the Winter Olympics held every four years.

Get our free mobile app

The 2026 Winter Olympics are taking place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, from February 6th to the 22nd. Headed to Milano and Cortina are 14 Michiganders and a few who have lived there for a time.

Meet the fourteen Michiganders doing their best to medal in this year's Olympics.

Milano Cortina 2026

In total, 232 athletes representing the United States are in Italy. Fourteen of them have connections to Michigan either born here or living here now.

These are the athletes:

• Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, MI) - Freestyle Skiing
• Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, MI) - Snowboarding
• Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, MI) - Hockey
• Evan Bates (Ann Arbor, MI) - Figure Skating
• Megan Keller (Farmington, MI) - Hockey
• Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, MI) - Freestyle Skiing

• Kyle Connor (Shelby Township, MI) - Hockey
• Danny O'Shea (Pontiac, MI) - Figure Skating
• Kirsten Simms (Plymouth, MI) - Hockey
• Jake Vedder (Pinckney, MI) - Snowboarding
• Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe, MI) - Hockey
• Vadym Kolesnik (Novi, MI) - Figure Skating
• Dylan Larkin (Waterford Township, MI) - Hockey
• Emilea Zingas (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI / Novi, MI) - Figure Skating

Keep your eye out for them as you watch the Olympics this month. Opening ceremonies start at 1:40 PM, with the main portion beginning at 8 PM.