Summer Olympians Eager to Watch Winter Games

Athletes from sports like water polo, archery, climbing, and fencing plan to follow the action in Milan Cortina as fans

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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While many summer Olympians are focused on the 2028 Los Angeles Games, some are prioritizing this month's Milan Cortina Winter Games as spectators. Amid their own training and competitions, athletes like Brazilian-Italian water polo player Izabella Chiappini, American para archer Matt Stutzman, Slovenian climber Janja Garnbret, and American fencer Nick Itkin say they'll be tuning in to follow winter sports like hockey, bobsled, skiing, and curling.

Why it matters

The Winter Olympics often get overshadowed by the Summer Games, but these elite summer athletes are showing their enthusiasm for the winter sports, helping to raise the profile of the Milan Cortina event. Their interest also highlights the global appeal of the Olympic movement and how athletes from different disciplines can appreciate and support one another.

The details

The summer Olympians plan to follow the Winter Games in various ways - from scrolling social media and watching TV coverage to hosting watch parties and even attending the Paralympic events in person. They've identified specific winter athletes and sports they're excited to see, like American ski jumper Jason Colby, Norwegian wheelchair curler Mia Sveberg, and alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin.

  • The Milan Cortina Winter Games are taking place this month (February 2026).
  • The 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games are the next major event on the horizon for many of these summer athletes.

The players

Izabella Chiappini

A Brazilian-Italian water polo player who competed for Team Brazil in the 2016 Rio Olympics and currently plays for SIS Roma in Italy.

Matt Stutzman

A four-time American Paralympian in archery who won a gold medal in Paris 2024 and a silver in London 2012. He is now a motivational speaker.

Janja Garnbret

A Slovenian sport climber who took back-to-back gold medals at the Tokyo and Paris Games, winning the Women's Combined in 2021 and Women's Boulder & Lead in 2024. She is currently training for the upcoming World Cup season and focusing on rock climbing projects.

Nick Itkin

An American foil fencer who won an individual bronze medal in Paris 2024 and was part of the 2021 team that took home bronze in Tokyo. He is currently competing on the World Cup circuit.

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What they’re saying

“Since I'm a water polo player, I really like team sports and sports that have contact.”

— Izabella Chiappini (michigansthumb.com)

“There's something about being like inches (centimeters) off the ice with no engine, but just gravity taking you down the hill. The focus that they have to have, that is intriguing to me.”

— Matt Stutzman, para archer (michigansthumb.com)

“Honestly, I'm such a fan of Olympics, of course, in general that I watch all the sports. But my favorite would probably be skiing.”

— Janja Garnbret, sport climber (michigansthumb.com)

“A few weeks ago, they taught us how to curl. Now I know all the logistics and they also don't get the same kind of recognition that they deserve, like fencing.”

— Nick Itkin, fencer (michigansthumb.com)

What’s next

The summer Olympians will continue to train and compete in their own sports, while eagerly following the action from the Milan Cortina Winter Games as fans. Some, like Matt Stutzman, may even travel to attend the Winter Paralympics.

The takeaway

These elite summer athletes' enthusiasm for the Winter Olympics underscores the global appeal of the Olympic movement and how athletes from different disciplines can appreciate and support one another. Their interest helps raise the profile of the Winter Games and shows that the Olympic spirit transcends individual sports.