The standards and expectations have increased for Team USA in Italy.
At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the U.S. claimed the fifth-most total medals with 25. Eight of those were gold, which was tied for fourth most alongside Sweden and the Netherlands.
In terms of gold medals, only Norway (16), Germany (12) and China (9) finished atop the podium more often than Team USA.
The U.S. will hope to improve upon those tallies and make it look more like the 2024 Paris Summer Games, where it won the most medals total (126) with a tie for first in golds (40) alongside China.
So, which U.S. athletes should win gold in their respective competitions at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics? Let’s break it down:
Chloe Kim, women’s snowboarding
This one should be a shoo-in. Kim, 25, will be expected to claim her third straight Olympic gold in the women’s snowboard halfpipe, which she successfully did in Pyeongyang 2018 — at just 17 years old — and Beijing 2022. Kim had a shoulder injury scare recently, but she confirmed she’s good to go for Milan Cortina. No Olympic snowboarder has achieved three straight golds.
Chloe Kim depends on her parents’ support as she chases more Olympic medals.
Ilia Malinin, men’s figure skating
Team USA’s figure skating team this Olympic season is potentially as deep as ever, and Ilia Malinin is among the faces of the new generation. At 21 years old, the “Quad God” is undefeated for two straight seasons and already has two world championship golds to his name. This will be his Olympic debut, and one he should at least claim one gold in.
Ilia Malinin has won two figure skating world titles and three U.S. National Championships thanks in part to his ability to land a quadruple axel.
Alex Hall, men’s freestyle skiing
Hall is coming off his first Olympic gold medal in 2022, with Milan Cortina marking his third time competing in the Winter Games. The now-27-year-old has followed up that success with a gold medal at the 2025 Winter X Games and a bronze at the 2025 World Championships. He claimed gold in Beijing on his very first run in freeski slopestyle and will aim for a similar outcome this year.
Growing up in Switzerland helped free skier Alex Hall to learn four languages. Learn more about the Team USA freestyle skier.
Mikaela Shiffrin, women’s alpine skiing
Of course, plenty of eyes will be on Shiffrin, the most winningest alpine skier in history — man or woman. The 30-year-old alpine skier has several records to her name, and in Italy, she will hope to break the record for most Olympic gold medals in American alpine history. She won gold in slalom at age 18 in 2014 before winning gold in giant slalom in 2018. She’s been in incredible form entering these Games, a great sign.
Here are five things to know about alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, the Olympic gold medalist who started skiing in her family’s driveway.
Erin Jackson, women’s speed skating
In Beijing, Jackson became the first Black American to medal in speed skating. She did so with a gold. That also made her the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold. Now 33, Jackson is in the mix again in the 500m as she competes in her third Winter Games.
Olympic champion speed skater Erin Jackson’s trivia skills are put to the test.
Kaillee Humphries, women’s bobsled
Humphries has a bit of a complex history in the Winter Olympics due to her competing for Canada in three Olympics before switching to the U.S. in Beijing after becoming a citizen the year prior. She won gold in the women’s monobob to continue adding to her medal collection, and the 40-year-old should be very well on track for more bobsled history in Italy.
NBC Sports’ Nick Zaccardi breaks down Team USA bobsledder Kaillie Humphries’ outlook at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Jessie Diggins, women’s cross-country skiing
The most decorated U.S. cross-country skier of all time, Diggins is looking to add to her collection at 34 years old. The cross-country skier claimed gold in her second Olympics in 2018, helping lead the U.S. to the top of the team sprint race. She added a silver in 30km mass start and a bronze in sprint in 2022. This year, the 10km freestyle is viewed as her best shot at a second Olympic gold.
Here are five things to know about Olympic cross-country skier Jessie Diggins.
Alysa Liu, women’s figure skating
With Malinin the young face of the men’s side, Liu is leading the charge for the women. She made her debut in Beijing at just 16 years old, but made a shock retirement call not long after. Now back in the fold after rediscovering her love for the sport, Liu is coming off a 2025 World Championship gold in singles. She has what it takes to lift Team USA’s gold tally.
Figure skating world champion Alysa Liu marches to her own beat with a distinctive piercing and a fashion sense put to the test as she judges skating outfits.
Lindsey Vonn, women’s alpine skiing
Never say never, right? Vonn is returning to the snow hoping to secure another medal at 41 years old. She previously won gold in downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games and last competed at the Winter Olympics in 2018, taking bronze in downhill. It’s been a long road back to the games since, but she’s the only American woman to win a downhill skiing gold medal in an Olympic competition. Competing in both the downhill and super-G events gives her an extra shot at a storybook gold.
The Olympic gold medalist and Minnesota native reveals why she ditched winter weather for life in Miami.
Mystique Ro, women’s skeleton
Mixed skeleton is a new event in Italy. Fortunately for the U.S., they have an athlete who has a good chance to grab headlines. Ro, 31, is set to make her Olympic debut in the event. Though there’s no previous history in the competition to analyze, Ro won the individual gold medal in women’s skeleton at the 2024 Pan American Championships, while claiming gold in mixed team and silver in individual at the 2025 World Championships. Those provide her a solid foundation to help seize gold.
Olympian Mystique Ro describes how she uses her experience growing up with 10 siblings to drive her competitive spirit.