The Road to Milano Cortina 2026

The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are fast approaching, and nations are finalizing their athlete selections.

The Pho3nix Athlete Program has assisted athletes from 30 nations and six continents across 31 different sports through Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, Paris 2024 and now Milano Cortina 2026.

After securing quota spots for their federations, four athletes supported by the Pho3nix Athlete Program have been officially selected: ski mountaineers Oriol Cardona Coll (ESP) and Maximilien Drion (BEL), figure skater Donovan Carillo (MEX), and alpine skier Anastasiia Shepilenko (UKR).

Three more athletes are on the brink of official qualification, awaiting the results of their respective ranking deadlines on 18 January 2026:

• Ski jumper Alex Insam (ITA) remains the top Italian with the highest points, positioning him as the leading contender for selection.
• Snowboarder Kamilla Kozuback (HUN) is set to claim her nation’s quota spot if she maintains her Top 30 ranking. With five more World Cups remaining and now in full health, her selection is close to certain.
• Alpine snowboarder Maria Bukowska-Chyc (POL) has secured Olympic qualification from her federation through last season’s World Cup points, but she must stay in the Top 32 as upcoming World Cup results continue to count. Her first start of the season is on 6-7 December in China.

Several athletes remain in suspense as federations finalize selections:

• Robin Galindo (FRA) awaits allocation of France’s ski mountaineering quota by 21 December. His selection will be based on past podium finishes and relay times, with a decision expected after the first two World Cups in mid-January 2026.
• With snowboarding qualification ongoing until the last eligible World Cup competition at the LAAX Open in January, halfpipe snowboarder Emily Arthur (AUS) needs to rank in the Top 25 to meet Australian selection criteria while freestyle snowboarder Jakub Hrones (CZE) must rank in the Top 30 overall to make the start list.
• Sarah Blizzard (AUS) and Nadja Pasternack (SUI) begin the bobsleigh qualification period on 28 December in Oberhof, with World Cup competitions scheduled throughout the holiday season and ending 18 January. With Nadja having won the Swiss Push Championships in September with record points and times, her chances are strong.
• Cross-country skier Isabela Marcisz (POL) competes for one of four national quota spots: two awarded based on World Cup points, one to the Polish Championship winner, and one discretionary.
• Figure skater Davide Lewton-Brain (LUX) narrowly missed direct qualification by 0.86 points and is the first alternate. He may compete if a qualified nation withdraws or if a skater cannot represent their country, potentially being called up just days before the men’s event on 8-10 February.

Unfortunately, freestyle skier Tim Aufdermauer (SUI) has ended his Milano-Cortina journey due to a knee injury sustained at training camp.

As the countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 continues, the determination, perseverance, and talent of these Pho3nix-supported athletes shine through whether already selected or still vying for qualification. Each athlete embodies the spirit of dedication and excellence that defines the Olympic and Paralympic journey and the Pho3nix ethos, inspiring their communities and paving the way for the next generation.

Supported by the Pho3nix Athlete Program, Anastasiia Shepilenko (UKR) is heading to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.