Michiganders going for gold: Meet Mitten State's 2026 Olympic athletes

More than two dozen athletes with Michigan ties will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:31am

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The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy will feature 28 athletes with connections to the state of Michigan, including three members of the Detroit Red Wings, 16 hockey players overall, and 12 athletes competing in other events.

Why it matters

Michigan has a long history of producing elite winter sports athletes, and this year's Olympics will showcase the state's continued pipeline of talent across a variety of disciplines. The large contingent of Michigan-affiliated Olympians reflects the state's vibrant sports culture and infrastructure that supports the development of world-class athletes.

The details

The Michigan-connected athletes span a range of sports, from ice dance and hockey to snowboarding and biathlon. Notable names include ice dancers Evan Bates and Madison Chock, hockey players Kyle Connor, Connor Hellebuyck, and the Hughes brothers, and snowboarder Nick Baumgartner. Many of the athletes either grew up in Michigan, played for the state's college teams, or currently play for the Detroit Red Wings.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from February 6-22, 2026.
  • The hockey tournament will run from February 12-21, 2026.
  • The figure skating events will be held from February 6-11, 2026.
  • The snowboarding and skiing events will be held from February 12-21, 2026.
  • The biathlon events will be held from February 11-21, 2026.

The players

Evan Bates

An ice dancer from Ann Arbor who will compete for the U.S. with his skating partner and wife, Madison Chock. Bates is one of Michigan's most decorated Olympians, having won gold in the team event and finished fourth in the individual event at the 2022 Games.

Nick Baumgartner

A 44-year-old snowboarder from Iron River, Michigan, who is the oldest snowboarder on Team USA. Baumgartner won gold in the mixed snowboard cross event with Lindsey Jacobellis at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, his fourth Olympiad.

Louis Boudon

A French hockey player who spent four seasons playing for Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan before returning to Europe to play professionally.

Christina Carreira

An ice dancer born in Montreal who moved to Novi, Michigan as a middle schooler and now calls St. Clair home. Carreira and her partner Anthony Ponomarenko earned bronze at the 2026 U.S. Championships to qualify for their first Olympics.

Madison Chock

An ice dancer born in Redondo Beach, California who went to high school in Novi, Michigan and trains with her husband Evan Bates in Novi. Chock and Bates won gold in the team event and finished fourth in the individual event at the 2022 Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not going to tell everybody to go to the Opening Ceremony and find the love of their life, but it is possible. It happened to me.”

— Deedra Irwin, Biathlete (freep.com)

“It's dangerous. It's scary. And there's a reason why not many of us do it.”

— Kaila Kuhn, Freestyle skier (freep.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This Olympics showcases Michigan's continued excellence in winter sports, with a diverse group of athletes representing the state across a range of disciplines. The large contingent of Michiganders competing at the highest level underscores the state's deep talent pool and commitment to developing world-class winter sports programs.