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Team USA Unveils Record 232‑Athlete Roster as Milan‑Cortina Winter Games Near

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Record‑Size U.S. Team Unveiled The United States will send 232 athletes to Milan‑Cortina 2026, eclipsing the 228 competitors in PyeongChang 2018 and the 222 in Sochi 2014 [1][2]. The delegation includes 98 returning Olympians—seven four‑time, ten three‑time and twenty‑two two‑time participants—and 18 Olympic champions who have amassed 22 gold medals [1][2]. This marks the largest U.S. winter squad ever assembled for a single Games.

Selection Driven by World‑Circuit Performance National governing bodies chose athletes using pre‑established criteria that prioritize regular‑season results on world‑circuit standings rather than Olympic‑only trials [1][2]. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee reviewed each submission for eligibility and procedural compliance [1][2]. Designated alternates stand ready to replace any selected competitor who becomes injured or ineligible [1][2].

Games Set to Open Feb 6 in Italy The opening ceremony will take place on February 6 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, launching a program that features more than 90 nations across 16 winter‑sport disciplines [3][4]. Athletes will contest a record 195 medals, including the debut of ski mountaineering as an Olympic event [3][4]. Women will comprise the highest proportion of participants in Winter Games history, reflecting the IOC’s gender‑parity drive [3][4].

Broad International Field Highlights Inclusion The roster of competing nations spans traditional powers such as Norway and Canada and newcomers like Kenya, India and Saudi Arabia, underscoring the Games’ expanding global reach [3][4]. The expanded medal count and new sport aim to reward a wider array of athletes while showcasing northern Italy’s alpine scenery [3][4].

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Timeline

2014 – Women’s ski jumping makes its Olympic debut, establishing the sport’s presence on the Winter Games program and laying groundwork for future gender‑balanced event expansions. [5]

2022 – The mixed‑team ski jumping event is introduced at the Beijing Winter Olympics, further diversifying the discipline and setting a precedent for the 2026 program changes. [5]

2014 – Team USA fields 222 athletes at the Sochi Winter Games, then the nation’s largest winter delegation. [1][3]

2018 – Team USA expands to 228 athletes at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, breaking its own record for team size. [1][3]

Dec 25, 2025 – South Korea secures four major international competitions in 2026—the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics (Feb 6‑22), the World Baseball Classic (Mar 5‑17), the expanded 48‑team FIFA World Cup (Jun 11‑Jul 19), and the Asian Games in Nagoya (Sept 19‑Oct 4)—mirroring the traditional clustering of these events that was only disrupted in 2022; the Korean Olympic Committee targets a top‑10 finish in the Winter Games after a 14th‑place finish in Beijing 2022. [7]

Jan 7, 2026 – The Jincheon National Training Center opens in North Chungcheong Province, launching South Korea’s year‑long preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics and other marquee events; KSOC president Ryu Seung‑min declares 2026 “the year of K‑sports” and announces a boosted budget, while Culture Minister Chae Hwi‑young pledges continued governmental support for athletes. [6]

Jan 7, 2026 – The United States sets a Jan 20 deadline to announce its Olympic ski jumping roster, finalizing the athletes who will compete in the expanded 2026 program that adds a women’s large‑hill event and replaces the men’s team event with a super‑team format, reflecting the sport’s evolution since women’s ski jumping debuted in 2014 and the mixed team arrived in 2022. [5]

Jan 20, 2026 – The U.S. ski jumping team is announced, confirming the competitors who will contest the new women’s large‑hill and men’s super‑team events at Milan‑Cortina, completing the final selection phase weeks before the Games. [5]

Jan 26, 2026 – Team USA releases the full 2026 Winter Olympics roster, listing 232 athletes—the largest U.S. winter delegation ever, surpassing the 228 competitors in PyeongChang 2018 and 222 in Sochi 2014; the squad includes 98 returning Olympians, 18 champions with 22 gold medals, and designated alternates ready to step in if needed. [1][3]

Feb 6, 2026 – The opening ceremony of the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics takes place jointly in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, launching Games that feature a record 195 medals across 16 disciplines, the debut of ski mountaineering, and the highest proportion of female athletes in Winter Olympic history. [2][4]

Mar 5‑17, 2026 – The World Baseball Classic runs at Tokyo Dome, with South Korea competing in Pool C against Japan, Australia, Chinese Taipei, and the Czech Republic, providing a key test for Korean baseball ahead of the summer’s crowded schedule. [7]

Jun 11‑Jul 19, 2026 – The FIFA World Cup, expanded to 48 teams, unfolds across the United States, Canada, and Mexico; South Korea plays its group matches in Mexico as part of Group A, marking another major global stage for Korean athletes within the same year as the Winter Games. [7]

Sept 19‑Oct 4, 2026 – The 20th Asian Games are held in Nagoya, Japan, where South Korea aims to improve on its 42‑gold performance in Hangzhou 2023 and contend for a podium finish amid strong competition from China and host Japan. [7]

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