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SportEurope | Winter Sports
With just over a year to go until the start of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, several European national teams have already begun to officially confirm some of their athletes, particularly in team sports and in disciplines with closed qualification calendars. While most final rosters will not be announced until weeks before the event, a number of high-profile names are already clearly on track to be part of the Olympic stage.
Official confirmations
Ice hockey: Sweden leads the way
The Swedish men’s national ice hockey team has become one of the first European sides to announce an official list of 25 players for the Olympic tournament. The Nordic team is relying on a blend of Olympic experience and established talent from European and North American leagues, sending a clear signal of early preparation for Milano-Cortina 2026.
Figure skating: Great Britain
In figure skating, Lewis Gibson has been confirmed as a member of the British team, consolidating his status as one of Great Britain’s leading ice dance athletes and one of the first names officially secured for the Games.
Skeleton: British leadership
Britain’s Matt Weston, current overall Skeleton World Cup champion, is shaping up as one of Europe’s strongest contenders in the discipline. His dominance on the international circuit places him among the athletes virtually assured of representing Great Britain in 2026.
European athletes with a high probability of selection
Beyond the official confirmations, several European nations already have athletes who, based on recent results and secured quotas, are highly likely to compete at the Olympic Games, pending formal ratification by their respective federations.
Norway
The Nordic powerhouse is once again expected to play a leading role in winter sports. Among the names topping current projections are:
- Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (cross-country skiing)
- Sturla Holm Lægreid (biathlon)
- Heidi Weng and Tiril Udnes Weng (cross-country skiing)
- Hallgeir Engebråten (speed skating)
Switzerland and Germany
In ice hockey, nations such as Switzerland and Germany are already working with well-defined elite cores. Players like Roman Josi (Switzerland) and Leon Draisaitl (Germany) feature prominently in Olympic projections, awaiting final confirmation.
Belgium and Poland
- Belgium has already secured participation in speed skating, led by athletes such as Bart Swings and Hanne Desmet.
- Poland has obtained quotas across several disciplines (skating, biathlon, skiing and snowboarding) and has begun to announce its first names on a progressive basis.
A process still ongoing
The International Olympic Committee and national federations have reiterated that, in most individual sports, quota allocation comes before the final selection of athletes. As a result, many European teams will wait for national championships, internal selection criteria or the conclusion of the winter season before confirming their final Olympic rosters.
With Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo as host cities, the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place from 6 to 22 February 2026, and Europe is once again expected to play a central role both in terms of participation numbers and medal ambitions.
SportEurope will continue to report on official confirmations and follow the progress of European teams on their road to Milano-Cortina 2026.
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