Power Couples Shine at 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

Breezy Johnson took home the first U.S. gold medal of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in women's downhill skiing. Days later, her boyfriend proposed with a ring, turning her Olympic triumph into a personal victory too. These stories of athletes in relationships fill the Games, from pairs in the same sport to those crossing disciplines, all under the lights of Italy's venues.

Background

The 2026 Winter Olympics kicked off in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, drawing top athletes from around the world. Couples among them have drawn attention for balancing intense training with personal lives. Some met years ago at past Games, others found each other through shared Olympic villages.

Take Chloe Kim, the U.S. snowboarder who just won her third straight Olympic medal in women's halfpipe. She is dating Myles Garrett, a defensive end for the Cleveland Browns who set an NFL record with 23 sacks last season. Their worlds differ—snowboard jumps for her, football tackles for him—but both stand out in their fields.

Figure skaters Madison Chock and Evan Bates have skated together for years. They married two years back and recently grabbed gold in the team event plus silver in ice dance. Their partnership on ice mirrors their life off it.

In hockey, longtime teammates Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey from Canada tied the knot in September 2024. Poulin, one of the most decorated players in women's hockey, has faced injuries this time around. Stacey scored big for Canada in past Olympics, including their gold in Beijing.

Speed skater Brittany Bowe and hockey player Hilary Knight, both from Team USA, are dating as they near the end of their Olympic runs. Bowe earned bronze medals in the last two Games and came close again in the women's 1000m. Knight tied U.S. records for Olympic goals and points, chasing a second gold.

Even rivals share romance. Sweden's Anna Kjellbin and Finland's Ronja Savolainen are engaged but play for opposing teams in the Professional Women's Hockey League and here at the Olympics. They could meet in a medal match soon.

Biathlete Deedra Irwin and snowboarder Robbie Burns met at the Beijing Opening Ceremony four years ago. This time, Irwin showed up with an engagement ring from Burns.

Key Details

Skiing and Snowboard Successes

Breezy Johnson's gold in downhill marked the U.S. opener. She did not medal in team combined or super-G, but the proposal made headlines. In moguls, Liz Lemley and Jaelin Kauf took first and second for the U.S. Cross-country skier Ben Ogden won America's first men's medal in that event in 50 years.

Chloe Kim soared over 22-foot halfpipes to tie legends like Shaun White for most halfpipe medals. Her relationship with the 6-foot-4 Garrett adds a cross-sport angle.

Ice Sports Partnerships

Chock and Bates built chemistry over a decade. Chock moved to Michigan as a teen to train, where they met. Their recent golds show years of work paying off.

Bowe and Knight aim to retire strong. Knight's records put her among the best U.S. women's hockey players ever.

Poulin and Stacey play forward together for Canada. Poulin's injuries have limited her, but Stacey's past scoring helps the team.

Kjellbin and Savolainen keep it fierce on ice despite their engagement. Savolainen has said she shows no mercy to her partner in games.

"On the ice, it's business as usual—no mercy, even if we're engaged off it." – Ronja Savolainen

Irwin and Burns' story started in Beijing. Four years on, they returned committed.

Ogden, Lemley, and Kauf took up knitting in the village. Ogden won his medal amid the hobby. Lemley shared her knits with family, Kauf too. Fellow skier Gus Schumacher joked Ogden bragged about it online.

What This Means

These relationships highlight how athletes manage pressure. The Olympic village offers downtime for connections amid grueling schedules. Shared experiences like ceremonies or training build bonds that last.

For teams, couples can boost morale. Chock and Bates' wins lift U.S. figure skating. Poulin and Stacey's teamwork strengthens Canada hockey.

Rival pairs like Kjellbin and Savolainen add drama to matches. A potential medal clash tests their split loyalties.

Personal milestones mix with sports ones. Johnson's medal and ring, Irwin's engagement—moments like these extend the Games' impact. Retiring stars like Bowe and Knight seek perfect ends, blending career highs with partnerships.

Cross-sport couples like Kim and Garrett show Olympics connect worlds. Fans follow not just races but lives behind them.

Medals keep coming in Milan-Cortina. With couples in the mix, stories unfold on multiple levels. Athletes compete for nations while supporting each other. This blend of sport and romance makes the 2026 Games memorable.

Knitting or proposals, wins or rivalries—personal touches humanize the elite competition. As events wrap, these pairs leave marks on and off the fields.