Minnesota Golden Gophers Shine at 2026 Winter Olympics

Sixteen current and former Gophers compete, bringing home multiple medals for the maroon and gold.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina saw a strong showing from Minnesota Golden Gophers athletes, with 16 current and former players competing across various winter sports. The U.S. women's hockey team, featuring five Gophers, won the gold medal, while a trio of Gopher alums also medaled in men's hockey. In curling, the U.S. women's team with three former Gophers made a surprise run to the semifinals, while the men's skip was also a Gopher alum.

Why it matters

The success of the Gophers at the 2026 Olympics showcases the strength of the university's athletic programs and their ability to develop elite talent across a variety of winter sports. This is a point of pride for the state of Minnesota and the broader Gopher community.

The details

In women's hockey, Gophers Stecklein, Pannek, Zumwinkle, Murphy, and Heise all won gold medals with the U.S. team. Bouveng won bronze with Sweden, while Mlýnková and Plosová represented Czechia and Finland, respectively. On the men's side, Faber won gold with the U.S., while Haula took bronze with Finland. In curling, the U.S. women's team with Gophers Peterson Lovick, Peterson, and Anderson-Heide made a surprise run to the semifinals, while men's skip Kasper competed for the U.S. as well.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics took place from February 6-22, 2026 in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
  • The women's hockey gold medal game was played on February 22, 2026.
  • The men's hockey gold medal game was played on February 22, 2026.

The players

Lee Stecklein

A former Gopher women's hockey player who won her second Olympic gold medal with the U.S. team.

Hannah Brandt

A former Gopher women's hockey player who won her second Olympic gold medal with the U.S. team.

Eric Faber

A former Gopher men's hockey player who won his first Olympic gold medal with the U.S. team.

Erik Haula

A former Gopher men's hockey player who won an Olympic bronze medal with Finland, his first Olympic medal.

Tabatha Peterson Lovick

A former Gopher women's curling player who competed for the U.S. team that made a surprise run to the semifinals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The strong performance of the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the 2026 Winter Olympics underscores the university's reputation for developing elite talent across a variety of winter sports. This success will undoubtedly inspire current and future Gopher athletes to strive for greatness on the world stage.