Olympians Grapple with Warming Climate as Winter Games Return to Europe

Veteran skiers warn of challenges posed by climate change at future Winter Olympics

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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As the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics get underway, veteran American Alpine skiers like Mikaela Shiffrin, Ted Ligety, and Bode Miller reflect on the growing impact of climate change on their sport. The athletes, who have won multiple Olympic gold medals, have become outspoken advocates for sustainability and environmental protection, citing the unpredictable weather conditions and lack of reliable snow at recent Winter Games held in warmer coastal regions. With the 2034 Winter Olympics slated for Utah, a state with a more permissive fossil fuel policy framework, the skiers warn that the future of winter sports is under threat unless serious action is taken to address the climate crisis.

Why it matters

The stories of these elite American skiers highlight the growing threat that climate change poses to the future of winter sports. As the Winter Olympics return to the European Alps, a traditional stronghold for Alpine skiing, the athletes' concerns about the viability of hosting the Games in warmer, lower-altitude venues underscore the need for the International Olympic Committee and winter sports governing bodies to prioritize sustainability and environmental protection.

The details

Mikaela Shiffrin, Ted Ligety, and Bode Miller are members of an exclusive club of American skiers who have won multiple Olympic gold medals. However, they have also become vocal advocates for addressing climate change, citing the challenges they have faced competing in recent Winter Games held in warmer, coastal regions. Ligety and Miller have criticized Olympic organizers for selecting venues that are ill-suited for Alpine skiing due to the impacts of global warming, while Shiffrin has joined other Olympians in demanding serious climate action from the International Ski Federation. With the 2034 Winter Olympics slated for Utah, a state with a more permissive fossil fuel policy framework, the skiers warn that the future of winter sports is under threat unless urgent steps are taken to reduce carbon emissions and protect mountain environments.

  • The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are currently underway.
  • The 2034 Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held in Utah.

The players

Mikaela Shiffrin

The greatest women's technical ski racer of all-time, Shiffrin has won multiple Olympic gold medals and is poised to become the only member of the U.S. three-golds club at the 2026 Games.

Ted Ligety

A retired American Alpine skier who won five World Cup GS races and a GS world championship gold, Ligety has been outspoken about the impact of climate change on winter sports and has joined advocacy groups like Protect Our Winters.

Bode Miller

The American skier who holds the U.S. record for most Olympic medals in Alpine skiing, Miller has criticized the selection of warm, coastal venues for recent Winter Games, saying they have cost him multiple medals.

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What they’re saying

“2014 cost me three medals because the Olympics were in Sochi, which is basically in a tropical area. You can't have a February race in a tropical area without really making it a (bleep) show.”

— Bode Miller (Vail event in 2017)

“If we held (these) races in Utah, you'd never have a single cancelled day.”

— Ted Ligety (After the warm, rainy Vancouver Olympics in 2010)

What’s next

Olympic officials will need to carefully consider the long-term viability of future Winter Games locations as the impacts of climate change continue to intensify. The selection of Utah for the 2034 Olympics has raised concerns among athletes and advocates about the state's fossil fuel-friendly policies and the potential for unreliable snow conditions.

The takeaway

The stories of these elite American skiers underscore the urgent need for the Olympic movement and winter sports governing bodies to prioritize sustainability and environmental protection in the face of the growing climate crisis. As the Winter Games return to the European Alps, the athletes' warnings about the challenges posed by warmer, lower-altitude venues highlight the existential threat that climate change poses to the future of winter sports.