North Carolina Athletes Shine at Winter Olympics

Hurricanes players and local athletes represent the U.S. and home countries in Milan

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Several athletes with ties to North Carolina are competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. This includes players from the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team representing their home countries, as well as a former track athlete from Queens University and a Duke University student on the U.S. short-track speed skating relay team.

Why it matters

North Carolina has a strong history of producing elite winter sports athletes, and their participation in the Olympics helps raise the profile of the state and inspires the next generation of winter sports competitors.

The details

The Hurricanes players competing are Sebastian Aho (Finland), Nikolaj Ehlers and Freddie Andersen (Denmark), Seth Jarvis (Canada), and Jacob Slavin (United States). Former Queens University track athlete Mystique Ro is competing in skeleton racing, while Duke student Eunice Lee is on the U.S. short-track speed skating relay team.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics kicked off in Milan, Italy on February 6th.
  • Hurricanes player Jacob Slavin won his opening game against Latvia on February 9th.

The players

Sebastian Aho

Carolina Hurricanes hockey player competing for Finland.

Nikolaj Ehlers

Carolina Hurricanes hockey player competing for Denmark.

Freddie Andersen

Carolina Hurricanes hockey player competing for Denmark.

Seth Jarvis

Carolina Hurricanes hockey player competing for Canada.

Jacob Slavin

Carolina Hurricanes hockey player competing for the United States.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Winter Olympics will continue through February 22nd, with more events featuring North Carolina athletes.

The takeaway

North Carolina's strong representation at the Winter Olympics showcases the state's athletic talent and ability to develop world-class competitors, while also highlighting the importance of civic engagement and access to voting for the state's students and citizens.