New Jersey Athletes Shine at 2026 Winter Olympics

From figure skating to snowboarding, the Garden State is well-represented in Milan.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Several athletes with New Jersey roots are set to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. This includes figure skater Isabeau Levito, snowboarders Brianna Schnorrbusch and Jess Perlmutter, skeleton racer Kelly Curtis, and bobsledder Bryan Sosoo. Additionally, three New Jersey natives will represent the U.S. in para sled hockey, and one New Jerseyan will compete for Italy in ice hockey.

Why it matters

New Jersey has a strong winter sports tradition, and these athletes are continuing that legacy on the global stage. Their success highlights the state's ability to produce world-class talent across a variety of cold-weather disciplines.

The details

Levito, a 18-year-old from Mount Laurel, is making her Olympic debut after winning the 2023 U.S. Championships and a silver medal at the 2024 World Championships. Schnorrbusch, from Monroe Township, has been rising through the snowboard cross ranks, winning a silver at the 2022 Junior World Championships. Perlmutter, originally from Millburn, earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team at just 15 years old. Kelly Curtis, a Princeton native, is returning to the Olympics after making history in 2022 as the first Black athlete to compete for the U.S. in skeleton. Sosoo, a Monmouth University alum, transitioned from track and field to bobsled and will be making his Olympic debut.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Milan, Italy.
  • Levito finished third at the 2023 U.S. Championships and won the 2024 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
  • Schnorrbusch won a silver medal at the 2022 FIS Junior Snowboard World Championships and was promoted to the U.S. Snowboard Cross Pro Team in 2023.
  • Perlmutter earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team at just 15 years old.
  • Curtis made history at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as the first Black athlete to compete for the U.S. in skeleton.

The players

Isabeau Levito

A 18-year-old figure skater from Mount Laurel, New Jersey who is making her Olympic debut after winning the 2023 U.S. Championships and a silver medal at the 2024 World Championships.

Brianna Schnorrbusch

A 20-year-old snowboarder from Monroe Township, New Jersey who has been winning medals in world competitions, including a silver at the 2022 FIS Junior Snowboard World Championships.

Jess Perlmutter

A 15-year-old snowboarder originally from Millburn, New Jersey who earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in women's slopestyle and big air.

Kelly Curtis

A skeleton racer from Princeton, New Jersey who made history as the first Black athlete to compete for the U.S. in the event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Bryan Sosoo

A 29-year-old bobsledder who grew up in Maryland, attended Monmouth University in New Jersey, and is making his Olympic debut.

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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

New Jersey's winter sports pipeline continues to produce elite-level talent, with a diverse group of athletes representing the Garden State at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Their success underscores the state's ability to cultivate world-class competitors across a range of cold-weather disciplines.