Four Stanford Athletes Headed to 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan

Eileen Gu, Zoe Atkin, Brandon Kim, and Sammy Smith to represent their countries at the upcoming games.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:07pm

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Four Stanford University athletes have qualified to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Eileen Gu (China) will compete in freeskiing events, Zoe Atkin (Great Britain) in freeskiing halfpipe, Brandon Kim (USA) in speed skating, and Sammy Smith (USA) in cross-country skiing. The games will take place from February 6-22, 2026.

Why it matters

Stanford's strong representation at the Winter Olympics showcases the depth of athletic talent at the university. These four athletes have the potential to win medals and bring global attention to Stanford's sports programs.

The details

Eileen Gu, a San Francisco native, is the most well-known of the group and a global superstar. She won gold medals in big air and halfpipe at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and will look to defend those titles while also competing in slopestyle. Zoe Atkin, competing in her second Olympics, won gold in the halfpipe at the 2025 World Championships and has X Games titles. Brandon Kim, making his Olympic debut, set a new U.S. national record in the 500m speed skating event earlier this winter. Sammy Smith, a Stanford soccer player, will be making her Olympic debut in cross-country skiing.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from February 6-22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
  • Eileen Gu won gold medals in big air and halfpipe at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
  • Zoe Atkin won gold in the halfpipe at the 2025 World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland.
  • Brandon Kim set a new U.S. national record in the 500m speed skating event earlier this winter.
  • Sammy Smith played in 25 games for the Stanford soccer team this past season.

The players

Eileen Gu

A Chinese-American freeskier who is a global superstar and will compete in freeskiing slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air events.

Zoe Atkin

A British freeskier who will compete in the freeskiing halfpipe event and is coming off a gold medal at the 2025 World Championships.

Brandon Kim

An American speed skater who will compete in the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and 5000m relay events, and recently set a new U.S. national record in the 500m.

Sammy Smith

A Stanford women's soccer player who will make her Olympic debut in cross-country skiing.

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What they’re saying

“It'll be fun to see if she can win gold in all three events this year.”

— Ben Parker, Author (on3.com)

“She's coming in with some momentum after getting gold at the X Games earlier this year.”

— Ben Parker, Author (on3.com)

“It'll be fun to see if he can get himself on the podium in any of the events that he is set to skate in.”

— Ben Parker, Author (on3.com)

What’s next

As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan approach, coverage will continue on CardinalSportsReport.com and across their social media channels to track the progress of these four Stanford athletes as they compete on the global stage.

The takeaway

Stanford's strong representation at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan showcases the university's depth of athletic talent across a variety of sports. These four athletes have the potential to win medals and bring further recognition to Stanford's sports programs on an international level.