by croatiaweek
January 27, 2026
in
Zrinka Ljutić (Photo credit: Erich Spiess / Red Bull Content Pool)
Croatia will be represented by 14 athletes across four sports at the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, taking place from 6 to 22 February 2026.
This will mark Croatia’s tenth appearance at the Winter Olympics under its national flag, continuing a tradition that began at Albertville 1992.
Alpine skiing will once again form the backbone of Croatia’s Olympic delegation, with six athletes qualifying, the largest single group within the team.
The women’s alpine team will feature Zrinka Ljutić, Leona Popović and Pia Vučinić, while the men’s team includes Samuel Kolega, Istok Rodeš and Filip Zubčić.
Croatian alpine skiers have historically delivered some of the nation’s greatest Olympic successes, making this discipline a central focus of expectations in Italy.
In cross-country skiing, Croatia will be represented by Tena Hadžić, Ema Sobol and Marko Skender, competing in the Nordic skiing events.
Croatia will also field three biathletes at the Games: Matija Legović, Anika Kožica and Krešimir Crnković, continuing the country’s growing presence in the demanding winter discipline that combines endurance skiing and marksmanship.
Two Croatian athletes have secured Olympic qualification in short track speed skating, Valentina Aščić and Katarina Burić, adding further diversity to Croatia’s sporting representation in Milan and Cortina.
More than 2,800 athletes from around 90 countries are expected to compete at the Games across 16 winter sports.
The 2026 Olympics will feature the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering, while the Nordic combined is widely expected to make its final Olympic appearance.
The opening ceremony will be held at San Siro Stadium in Milan on 6 February, while the closing ceremony is scheduled for 22 February in Verona, marking a uniquely Italian conclusion to the Games.