2026 Olympics: Meet the athletes representing the United States aiming for gold at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games
There was no shortage of game-changers at this year’s Winter Olympics.
As top athletes from around the world descended on the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina for the 2026 Olympics, long standing records were put to the test, but some rising stars managed to make history in their own way.
Among the notable athletes who called the Olympic Village home during the sporting event was Laila Edwards, who became the first black woman to represent the United States in Olympic hockey. In fact, she and her teammates defeated Team Canada 2-1 on February 19th, ultimately winning the gold medal.
“I’m very proud and grateful to have the ability to lead by example and to hear that people look up to me,” Laila, 22, said in an interview with ESPN published on February 4.
Alpine skier Talulah Proulx also broke barriers in her own right as the first woman to represent the Philippines at the Winter Olympics. And just like Laila, the 17-year-old aimed to influence a young audience who might not have otherwise seen themselves represented on the slopes.
