MILAN, Italy (Michigan News Source) – When the 2026 Winter Olympics kick off Feb. 6–22 in Milan–Cortina, Italy, Team USA won’t just be skating, skiing, and shooting for gold – it’ll be doing so with heavy Michigan representation.

Michigan is tied for fifth nationally in state representation on Team USA’s Winter Games roster, sending at least 15 athletes with Michigan ties overseas.

Hockeytown goes global.

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The Great Lakes State is sending a serious hockey contingent for the Team USA team, led by Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin of Waterford Township and backed by a stacked roster of Michigan-grown NHL talent including Canton brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes, Kyle Connor of Shelby Township, Zach Werenski from Grosse Pointe Woods, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck out of Commerce Township.

The women’s side is represented as well, with Farmington Hills’ Megan Keller and Kirsten Simms of Plymouth.

Ice dancing, Michigan style.

Figure skating fans will recognize Evan Bates, the Ann Arbor ice dancer and Olympic gold medalist, skating alongside longtime partner and wife Madison Chock.

Add in ice dancer Christina Carreira from St. Clair and Grosse Pointe Farms native Emilea Zingas, and Michigan’s blades are well sharpened. About her trip to the Olympics, she said in Novi recently during her send-off ceremony, “There’s pressure, for sure, but we like to remember that we don’t do this just for one competition. The Olympics are a huge deal. It’s the biggest deal. We’ve been dreaming about this our entire lives, and we make it to be this huge deal and it is.”

Snow, speed, and staying power.

And few Olympians scream “Pure Michigan” louder than 44-year-old Nick Baumgartner of Iron River – a four-time Olympian and 2022 gold medalist still racing full throttle in snowboarding events. He’s also the only Michigan-born Olympian who grew up in the Upper Peninsula.

From Hockeytown to the Alps, Michigan isn’t just along for the ride – it’s carving turns, firing slap shots, and skating straight into the medal conversation.