Ranking Team USA’s Top Winter Olympic Ski Medal Contenders for 2026, Featuring Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin

As the countdown to the 2026 Winter Olympics continues, Team USA is preparing to send a formidable group of skiers to Italy, with Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo set to host the Games. American hopes will largely rest on a blend of proven champions and experienced competitors, led by two of the most recognisable names in the sport: Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn. Together, they headline an American squad aiming to make a major statement on the Olympic stage.

The Winter Olympics return to Italy for the first time in 20 years, and expectations are high for the United States. With close to 30 skiers expected to represent the country across alpine and freestyle disciplines, competition for medals will be intense. While the pool of potential podium finishers is deep, several athletes stand out as the most realistic medal contenders heading into Milano Cortina 2026.

Here is a closer look at five American skiers who appear best positioned to challenge for Olympic medals.

Paula Moltzan enters the 2026 Games as one of the quieter threats within Team USA. At 31, she may not yet have the household-name status of some of her teammates, but her steady improvement and recent achievements suggest she could peak at the right moment. Moltzan secured her first individual international medal at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, capturing bronze in the women’s giant slalom. That performance showcased her ability to deliver under pressure against the world’s best. While she may not arrive in Italy as a favourite, her technical strength and growing confidence make her a legitimate outside contender for a podium finish.

Alex Hall represents one of Team USA’s strongest freestyle skiing hopes. The 27-year-old is already an Olympic champion, having won gold in men’s slopestyle at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Since then, Hall has remained in excellent form, consistently competing at the top level and refining his creative, high-risk style. Heading into Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, he will be aiming to defend his Olympic title and preserve his perfect Olympic record. Given his experience, confidence, and ability to perform when it matters most, Hall remains one of America’s most reliable medal prospects in freestyle skiing.

Ryan Cochran-Siegle brings experience, pedigree, and determination into the 2026 Olympics. The 33-year-old alpine skier comes from the famous Cochran skiing family in Richmond, Vermont, a name long associated with success in American skiing. Cochran-Siegle has already proven he can deliver on the Olympic stage, having won silver in the men’s super-G at the Beijing Games. That result came during his second Olympic appearance, following his debut in PyeongChang in 2018. With maturity and confidence now firmly on his side, Cochran-Siegle will be eager to build on his previous success and contend for another medal in Italy.

Lindsey Vonn’s presence at the 2026 Winter Olympics is one of the most compelling storylines in the sport. The veteran alpine skier has already etched her name into history by qualifying for a fifth Olympic Games, an unprecedented achievement in women’s skiing. For Vonn, Milan Cortina is not simply about participation but about legacy. Competing as one of the oldest female skiers in the field, she is determined to prove she can still challenge the world’s best. A medal in 2026 would represent a remarkable comeback and a fitting way to close one of the most iconic careers in winter sports.

At the top of Team USA’s medal hopes stands Mikaela Shiffrin. Widely regarded as one of the greatest alpine skiers of all time, Shiffrin enters the 2026 Olympics with unfinished business. Despite arriving at the Beijing Games as the overwhelming favourite, she left without a medal, an outcome that stunned the skiing world. Since then, Shiffrin has responded in emphatic fashion, returning to dominant form and collecting consecutive World Cup victories. At 30, she combines experience with peak performance, making her the United States’ strongest gold medal contender. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo offer Shiffrin a chance at redemption and an opportunity to reaffirm her status at the very top of the sport.

Looking ahead to Milano Cortina 2026, Team USA appears well equipped to challenge for medals across multiple skiing disciplines. With established stars, Olympic champions, and consistent performers throughout the squad, the American team has every reason to approach the Games with confidence. Whether through redemption, history-making comebacks, or breakthrough performances, these athletes are poised to define the United States’ skiing campaign on the Olympic stage in Italy.