{"id":1775669,"date":"2026-02-17T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1775669"},"modified":"2026-02-17T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T05:00:00","slug":"winter-olympics-2026-the-breakout-stars-from-milano-cortina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1775669","title":{"rendered":"Winter Olympics 2026: The breakout stars from Milano Cortina"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-758-1995-1330\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437648.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"main-article standard \">\n<div class=\"article-main-content article-wrapper has-media-but-its-an-image\" data-status=\"loaded\" data-primary-article=\"true\" data-url=\"\/life-culture\/article\/69658\/1\/winter-olympics-2026-breakout-stars-milano-cortina-blade-angels-alysa-liu\" data-article-id=\"69658\">\n<header class=\"article-header has-portrait-image no-media\">\n<div class=\"wrapper dg-max-width\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<figure class=\"main-img has-figcaption\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"0.67\" data-template=\"Standard Article\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\" Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito \" class=\"img\" height=\"3000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1280\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437648.jpg\" width=\"2000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"inner\"><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Jamie <span class=\"nowrap\">Squire\/Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"inner\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-17T08:00:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"17 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"17\">17,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"titles\">\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<div class=\"sections\"><a class=\"category vertical - life-culture\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\">Life &amp; Culture<\/a><br \/>\n\/<br \/>\n<a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/feature\">Feature<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"standard-tag-container\"><a class=\"standard-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\">Life &amp; Culture<\/a> \/<br \/>\n<a class=\"standard-series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/feature\">Feature<\/a><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"title\"><span>Winter Olympics 2026: The breakout stars from <span class=\"nowrap\">Milano Cortina<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"standfirst\">\n<h2>From the Blade Angels to the Quad God and Brazil\u2019s first-ever gold medalist, these are the athletes winning hearts as well <span class=\"nowrap\">as medals<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-02-17T08:00:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"17 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"17\">17,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-02-17T08:00:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"17 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"17\">17,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"providers\">\n<div class=\"contributors\"><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/isobelvandyke\">Isobel Van Dyke<\/a><\/span><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/Alex\">Alex Peters<\/a><\/span><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/TiarnaMeehan\">Tiarna<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>The Winter Olympics 2026 have provided us with a wealth of entertainment, whether you\u2019ve been watching the games live or scrolling social media. There\u2019s been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69613\/1\/what-to-do-caught-cheating-sturla-holm-laegreid-winter-olympics\">cheating scandals<\/a>, figure skating dramas, disqualifications, marriage proposals and a whole lot of romance (the Olympic Village has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/olympics-milan-cortina-villages-athletes-condoms-valentines-day\/\">officially run out of condoms<\/a>), not to mention the avalanche of memes comparing the life-threatening Winter Olympics to the cute-in-comparison Summer Olympics. It\u2019s the gift that keeps on giving, and luckily for us, there are still five days left. Since the games began 10 days ago, however, we\u2019ve been introduced to the next wave of Gen Z Olympians. From Alysa Liu and her halo hair to the Winter Olympics\u2019 first-ever transgender athlete, Sweden\u2019s Elis Lundholm, below, we take you through the brightest breakout stars of the Milano Cortino 2026 (so far).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span>THE BLADE ANGELS (AMBER GLENN, ALYSA LIU AND ISABEAU LEVITO)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"b0fc68ca-6fbf-48bf-a6db-b3f30127c3fe\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437647.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437647.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Team USA&#8217;s Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and <span class=\"nowrap\">Isabeau Levito<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Jamie <span class=\"nowrap\">Squire\/Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Arguably the biggest breakout stars of this year\u2019s Games, the trio of US women\u2019s figure skaters have become a dream team both on and off the ice. Between triple Axels, gravity-defying spins, and gold medals for Glenn and Liu, their friendship has won over the internet \u2013 with the trio naming themselves <\/span><em><span>The Blade Angels<\/span><\/em><span> or <\/span><em><span>Babes of Glory<\/span><\/em><span>. Even if you\u2019re not watching the coverage, it\u2019s hard to miss the flood of fancam edits clipped from performances and live streams and set to pitched-up <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/fakemink\"><span>fakemink<\/span><\/a><span> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/addison-rae\"><span>Addison Rae<\/span><\/a><span> tracks. <\/span><em><span>(T)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>ILIA MALININ\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"c876cba7-e761-41e0-94c2-b3f301272a80\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437646.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.44\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ilia Malinin for Team USA\" class=\"img\" height=\"2086\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437646.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Ilia Malinin for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team USA<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Ulrik Pedersen\/NurPhoto via <span class=\"nowrap\">Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>As we\u2019ve been introduced to new stars, we\u2019ve also been introduced to their catchy nicknames. As well as The Babe Angels, we\u2019ve met The Minion, The Tiger and The Flying Dutchman, but the one that we\u2019ve seen make global headlines more than any other is The Quad God, otherwise known as Team USA\u2019s Ilia Malinin. The 21-year-old Virginia-born figure skater made his Olympic debut at Milano Cortina last week, going viral for landing a backflip on ice. The internet applauded Malinin for the risky move, while others were quick to point out that he wasn\u2019t the first to pull it off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The first person to do a backflip at the Olympics was American figure skater Terry Kubicka in 1976, which resulted in its ban, since it was seen to be too dangerous. Then, in 1998, \u200b\u200bFrance\u2019s Surya Bonaly broke the rules for her final performance as a professional figure skater, ending the last routine of her career with a backflip and landing on just one blade. In 2024, the backflip ban was lifted, meaning that Malinin made history, becoming the first person to legally land a backflip on one skate in the Olympics. Although Malinin was widely expected to score a gold medal last week, in a shocking turn of events, he fell twice during his routine and ended up placing eighth. \u201cOn the world\u2019s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside,\u201d he wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ilia_quadg0d_malinin\/?hl=en\">on Instagram<\/a>. <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>MIKHAIL SHAIDOROV\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"4ee404ef-03da-412c-bca5-b3f301265006\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437645.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.49\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kazakhstan\u2019s Mikhail Shaidorov\" class=\"img\" height=\"2011\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437645.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Mikhail Shaidorov for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team Kazakhstan<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Ulrik Pedersen\/NurPhoto via <span class=\"nowrap\">Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Swapping sand for ice, Kazakhstan\u2019s Mikhail Shaidorov skated in a <\/span><em><span>Dune<\/span><\/em><span>-inspired outfit to a mash-up of the movie\u2019s soundtrack, complete with a shaggy brown middle part that could rival <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/timothee-chalamet\"><span>Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span>. The result was a win that even shocked the star himself, as the 21-year-old earned gold, his country\u2019s first ever, with a near\u2011flawless free skate. Shaidorov wasn\u2019t alone in mining the sci\u2011fi epic for inspiration: Spanish duo Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck also drew from the movie for their performance. <\/span><em><span>(T)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>LAILA EDWARDS<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"90f29e2d-7b9e-449d-89bd-b3f30125d55c\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437644.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"0.67\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Laila Edwards for Team USA\" class=\"img\" height=\"3000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437644.jpg\" width=\"2000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Laila Edwards for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team USA<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Joe Scarnici\/Getty Images <span class=\"nowrap\">for USOPC<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Laila Edwards made history just by being at the Olympics: she is the first Black woman to play for the US ice hockey team at the tournament since the sport debuted in 1998. The 22-year-old, who plays at the University of Wisconsin, then almost immediately became the first Black woman to score a goal at the Olympics for Team USA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Since then, in the five games they\u2019ve played, Edwards has scored a total of two goals and four assists \u2013 pretty impressive for someone in defence. And if the Americans go on to take the gold medal this year, which seems likely (a tough sentence to write for me, a Canadian who can still fondly remember the first match I ever watched: team Canada\u2019s 16-0 game against Italy at the 2006 Olympics), she\u2019ll be just the second Black woman to win an ice hockey gold medal, following Canada\u2019s Sarah Nurse at the 2022 Olympics, providing some still much-needed representation in hockey. <\/span><em><span>(AP)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>VLADYSLAV HERASKEVYCH <\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"02cfed69-3627-407a-abb7-b3f30125121e\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437643.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Vladyslav Heraskevych for Team Ukraine\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437643.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Vladyslav Heraskevych for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team Ukraine<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Al <span class=\"nowrap\">Bello\/Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>This year\u2019s Olympic uniforms have had everyone talking. Whether it\u2019s been watching the athletes unbox their new kits on TikTok or coming together to support <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/fashion\/article\/69582\/1\/winter-olympics-2026-stella-jean-haiti-viral-political-kit\"><span>Team Haiti\u2019s political uniforms<\/span><\/a><span>, the Winter Olympics have been a sartorial feast. But, as Team Haiti discovered, the International Olympic Committee has strict guidelines about what athletes can and can\u2019t wear. While competing last week, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych wore a \u201chelmet of memory\u201d, showing the images of 24 Ukrainian athletes and children killed by Russia during its military invasion. As a result of wearing the helmet, Heraskevych was disappointingly disqualified from the race. Over the weekend, however, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honoured Heraskevych with the Order of Freedom, stating that \u201cRemembrance is not a violation.\u201d <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>ELIS LUNDHOLM\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"39de8d21-7523-4853-a768-b3f30124ce8e\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1024\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437642.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Elis Lundholm for Team Sweden\" class=\"img\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437642.jpg\" width=\"1024\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Elis Lundholm for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team Sweden<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by IOC via <span class=\"nowrap\">Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>23-year-old freestyle skier Elis Lundholm has made history at Milano Cortina as the first transgender athlete to compete at the Winter Olympics. Although the Swedish skier identifies as a trans man, he competes in the women\u2019s category and placed 25th in the qualifiers, meaning that he sadly didn\u2019t make it to the finals. \u201cI want everyone to be able to be themselves and just do what they want to do,\u201d Lundholm said <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/articles\/meet-sweden-elis-lundholm-first-180548568.html\">in an interview<\/a>. \u201cYou can hear the voices out there. But then I do my thing, and I don\u2019t give a damn.\u201d <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>LUCAS PINHEIRO BRAATHEN\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"222b9b40-6407-45dc-a5f1-b3f301246c4c\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437641.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins gold for Team Brazil\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437641.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins gold for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team Brazil<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Dustin <span class=\"nowrap\">Satloff\/Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Another one for the history books, on Saturday, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen clinched Brazil\u2019s first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal while competing in the giant slalom. The win also marks the first medal won by any South American country in the Winter Olympics. \u201cI was skiing completely according to my intuition, and my heart today, and that&#8217;s what enabled me to become an Olympic champion,\u201d he said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/articles\/c24dnjnp39qo#:~:text=%22I%20was%20skiing%20completely%20according,as%20the%20person%20I%20am.\">in an interview<\/a>. \u201cIt had nothing to do with the medal, it had nothing to do with the history that I had the potential of writing, I just wanted to ski as the person I am.\u201d Beyond making history, the skier has also won hearts with his samba dancing and painted nails. <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>KIRSTY MUIR\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7606866013199568150\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Of all the athletes giving us a behind-the-scenes rundown of the Olympics, one of our favourite new TikTokers has been Team GB\u2019s Kirsty Muir. The 21-year-old Scottish freestyle skier has been bringing us daily updates from the games, where she placed fourth last week in the slopestyle final. \u201cFourth place at the Olympics, the toughest place to come,\u201d she wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kirski12\/?hl=en\">on Instagram<\/a>. But today, (Feb 16), she\u2019s got another chance at the podium and will no doubt be going for gold in the big air finals. Go Kirsty! <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>EVERYONE BEHIND THE SCENES\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7586404260758261047\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>When you\u2019re watching the death-defying feats of the Winter Olympic athletes (I don\u2019t mean you, Curling teams), it\u2019s easy to pay no mind to the markings on the snow helping keep the skiers in bounds, or overlook the fact that the camera is perfectly keeping up with the dizzying speeds and spins of the figure skaters. But pull back the curtain, and you\u2019ll realise that the people who keep the games running are also immensely skilled in their own right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>This year, we\u2019ve seen these behind-the-scenes heroes get some well-deserved recognition on social media, where videos are being shared of people like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsn.ca\/olympics\/article\/former-ice-dancer-brings-olympic-figure-skating-into-close-focus-for-the-first-time\/\"><span>Jordan Cowan<\/span><\/a><span>, a former US competitive ice dancer turned camera operator, who captures intimate moments of figure skating that the overhead cameras can\u2019t. I personally would be fully invested in a documentary that follows the volunteers who ski down the mountain in a snow-plough, marking out the courses with their paint tanks and sprayers (the correct technical term, I\u2019m sure). <\/span><em><span>(AP)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>TEAM TRINIDAD &amp; TOBAGO\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"instagram-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-instagram\" data-script-depends=\"instagram-embeds\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Success at the Winter Olympics is, understandably, dominated by athletes from wintery countries. But every tournament, our imaginations and hearts are captured by those delegations from the snow-less nations. This year, Trinidad and Tobago have brought seven athletes to the Olympics, from the sports of bobsleigh (five athletes) and alpine skiing (two athletes), and the occasion marks a series of firsts. It\u2019s the first time that the Caribbean nation will compete in alpine skiing, and the first time they will compete in both the four-man and two-man bobsleigh events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Speaking to the<em> BBC<\/em>, bobsleigh athlete De Aundre John said it was a dream come true to even be competing. \u201cThe feeling is unreal, just to be here \u2013 I\u2019ve dreamt about it.\u201d The team have modest hopes, joking that they are on \u201coperation don\u2019t come last\u201d, but whatever the results, their appearance at the games is a testament to determination, following your dreams and the ever-growing diversity of the Olympics.<\/span><em><span> (AP)\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>QUINN HUGHES<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"edb2d094-adae-4e99-87e4-b3f3012371ec\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437640.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Quinn Hughs at Milano Cortina 2026\" class=\"img\" height=\"1998\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437640.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Quinn Hughs at Milano <span class=\"nowrap\">Cortina 2026<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Alex Gottschalk\/DeFodi Images\/DeFodi via <span class=\"nowrap\">Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>\u200b\u200bDespite the fact that there really isn\u2019t very much hockey in the show, one of the side effects of the popularity of <\/span><em><span>Heated Rivalry<\/span><\/em><span> is that it has brought new fans and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edgemedianetwork.com\/story\/162873\/heated-rivalry-sparks-over-20-surge-in-nhl-ticket-sales-and-draws-first-time\"><span>driven up ticket sales<\/span><\/a><span>to both <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vanityfair.com\/hollywood\/story\/heated-rivalry-winter-olympics-hockey-tickets\"><span>Olympics Ice Hockey<\/span><\/a><span> and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/winter-olympics-heated-rivalry-effect-lgbtq-inclusivity\/\"><span>NHL<\/span><\/a><span>. This also means that a whole new set of people have been introduced to Quinn Hughes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Quinn Hughes, a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, is one of the best players in the NHL. He also looks like he is being constantly tormented by at least several ghosts. His haunted expressions, moments of disassociation and general resemblance to a troubled Victorian child have become popular fodder for memes among NHL fans, and now the whole world gets to enjoy them too. <\/span><em><span>(AP)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"article-footer\">\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<div class=\"article-series\">\n<h4 class=\"heading\">More on these topics<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-series\"><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\">Life &amp; Culture<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/feature\">Feature<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/lists\">Lists<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/sport\">Sport<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/italy\">Italy<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/social-media\">social media<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/tiktok\">TikTok<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/instagram\">Instagram<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"grid\">\n<div class=\"lava-lamp\">\n<div class=\"lava-lamp-text-container\">\n<h3 class=\"lava-lamp-subheading\">Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid section-header\">\n<div class=\"section-header__link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69658\/1\/life-culture\"><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"section-header__title\">READ MORE<\/h2>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid tag-article-list\">\n<div class=\"swiper swiper-latest\">\n<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69605\/1\/impossible-to-find-love-in-the-club-dating-apps-nightclub-valentines-day\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"3895\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-1-1200-798\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436900.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Why do we think we can\u2019t find love in the club?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69645\/1\/wuthering-heights-novel-difficult-reading-emerald-fennell-tiktok\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Wuthering Heights, 2025 (Film Still)\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/137-43-1018-677\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437348.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">No, Gen-Z aren\u2019t too dumb to read Wuthering Heights<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty\/article\/69485\/1\/escentric-molecules-latest-sultry-addition-molecule-01-champaca\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"optional-paragraph\">Escentric Molecules<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"d_HR_RGB_Champaca_16 (2)\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-96-3000-1995\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/5\/1435151.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Molecule 01 + Champaca is Escentric Molecules\u2019 latest sultry scent<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69640\/1\/romance-booming-our-culture-less-romantic-ever-wuthering-heights-valentines-day\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-0-1082-720\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1380\/3\/1383697.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Romance is booming. But is our culture less romantic than ever?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69613\/1\/what-to-do-caught-cheating-sturla-holm-laegreid-winter-olympics\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid of Team Norway\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-0-1024-681\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436965.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">What to do (and not do) if you get caught cheating<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/fashion\/article\/69577\/1\/burberry-spring-summer-2026-campaign-twiggy-maya-wigram\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"optional-paragraph\"> Burberry<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Burberry SS26 campaign\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-2-2399-1595\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436432.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Twiggy, Maya Wigram and more front Burberry\u2019s SS26 campaign<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69592\/1\/does-the-internet-have-mummy-issues-ej-dickson-investigates-one-bad-mother\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Florida Project\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-1-1760-1171\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436680.jpeg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Does the internet have mummy issues? Ej Dickson investigates<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69586\/1\/jennette-mccurdy-women-are-told-not-offend-half-his-age-interview-novel\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Jennette Half His Age pro\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-54-1170-778\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436656.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Half His Age: Jennette McCurdy\u2019s new novel takes on age-gap relationships<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69579\/1\/breakdancing-sunny-choi-oakley-meta-superbowl\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"optional-paragraph\">Oakley <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Oakley Meta Sunny Choi\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-106-1080-718\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436584.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Breakdancer Sunny Choi is Super Bowl ready<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69570\/1\/jim-beam-and-dazed-are-celebrating-game-day-early\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"optional-paragraph\">Jim Beam<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Jim Beam x Dazed\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-2-2920-1942\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436639.jpeg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Jim Beam and Dazed are celebrating game day early<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69553\/1\/bright-futurism-better-future-syd-mead-utopia-rob-hopkins-zack-polanksi\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Syd Mead, Japan Rail Station (1990)\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/405-500-890-592\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436286.jpeg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Bright futurism: Who\u2019s in charge of imagining a better future for humanity?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69529\/1\/the-women-fighting-for-trans-inclusion-at-hampstead-heath-ponds-sex-matters\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GettyImages-1005639160\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-0-1024-681\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436091.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">The women fighting for trans inclusion at Hampstead ponds <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline\" data-newsletter hidden>\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>The Winter Olympics 2026 have provided us with a wealth of entertainment, whether you\u2019ve been watching the games live or scrolling social media. There\u2019s been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69613\/1\/what-to-do-caught-cheating-sturla-holm-laegreid-winter-olympics\">cheating scandals<\/a>, figure skating dramas, disqualifications, marriage proposals and a whole lot of romance (the Olympic Village has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/olympics-milan-cortina-villages-athletes-condoms-valentines-day\/\">officially run out of condoms<\/a>), not to mention the avalanche of memes comparing the life-threatening Winter Olympics to the cute-in-comparison Summer Olympics. It\u2019s the gift that keeps on giving, and luckily for us, there are still five days left. Since the games began 10 days ago, however, we\u2019ve been introduced to the next wave of Gen Z Olympians. From Alysa Liu and her halo hair to the Winter Olympics\u2019 first-ever transgender athlete, Sweden\u2019s Elis Lundholm, below, we take you through the brightest breakout stars of the Milano Cortino 2026 (so far).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span>THE BLADE ANGELS (AMBER GLENN, ALYSA LIU AND ISABEAU LEVITO)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"b0fc68ca-6fbf-48bf-a6db-b3f30127c3fe\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437647.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437647.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Team USA&#8217;s Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and <span class=\"nowrap\">Isabeau Levito<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Jamie <span class=\"nowrap\">Squire\/Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Arguably the biggest breakout stars of this year\u2019s Games, the trio of US women\u2019s figure skaters have become a dream team both on and off the ice. Between triple Axels, gravity-defying spins, and gold medals for Glenn and Liu, their friendship has won over the internet \u2013 with the trio naming themselves <\/span><em><span>The Blade Angels<\/span><\/em><span> or <\/span><em><span>Babes of Glory<\/span><\/em><span>. Even if you\u2019re not watching the coverage, it\u2019s hard to miss the flood of fancam edits clipped from performances and live streams and set to pitched-up <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/fakemink\"><span>fakemink<\/span><\/a><span> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/addison-rae\"><span>Addison Rae<\/span><\/a><span> tracks. <\/span><em><span>(T)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>ILIA MALININ\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"c876cba7-e761-41e0-94c2-b3f301272a80\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437646.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.44\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ilia Malinin for Team USA\" class=\"img\" height=\"2086\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437646.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Ilia Malinin for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team USA<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Ulrik Pedersen\/NurPhoto via <span class=\"nowrap\">Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>As we\u2019ve been introduced to new stars, we\u2019ve also been introduced to their catchy nicknames. As well as The Babe Angels, we\u2019ve met The Minion, The Tiger and The Flying Dutchman, but the one that we\u2019ve seen make global headlines more than any other is The Quad God, otherwise known as Team USA\u2019s Ilia Malinin. The 21-year-old Virginia-born figure skater made his Olympic debut at Milano Cortina last week, going viral for landing a backflip on ice. The internet applauded Malinin for the risky move, while others were quick to point out that he wasn\u2019t the first to pull it off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The first person to do a backflip at the Olympics was American figure skater Terry Kubicka in 1976, which resulted in its ban, since it was seen to be too dangerous. Then, in 1998, \u200b\u200bFrance\u2019s Surya Bonaly broke the rules for her final performance as a professional figure skater, ending the last routine of her career with a backflip and landing on just one blade. In 2024, the backflip ban was lifted, meaning that Malinin made history, becoming the first person to legally land a backflip on one skate in the Olympics. Although Malinin was widely expected to score a gold medal last week, in a shocking turn of events, he fell twice during his routine and ended up placing eighth. \u201cOn the world\u2019s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside,\u201d he wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ilia_quadg0d_malinin\/?hl=en\">on Instagram<\/a>. <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>MIKHAIL SHAIDOROV\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"4ee404ef-03da-412c-bca5-b3f301265006\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437645.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.49\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kazakhstan\u2019s Mikhail Shaidorov\" class=\"img\" height=\"2011\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437645.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Mikhail Shaidorov for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team Kazakhstan<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Ulrik Pedersen\/NurPhoto via <span class=\"nowrap\">Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Swapping sand for ice, Kazakhstan\u2019s Mikhail Shaidorov skated in a <\/span><em><span>Dune<\/span><\/em><span>-inspired outfit to a mash-up of the movie\u2019s soundtrack, complete with a shaggy brown middle part that could rival <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/timothee-chalamet\"><span>Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span>. The result was a win that even shocked the star himself, as the 21-year-old earned gold, his country\u2019s first ever, with a near\u2011flawless free skate. Shaidorov wasn\u2019t alone in mining the sci\u2011fi epic for inspiration: Spanish duo Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck also drew from the movie for their performance. <\/span><em><span>(T)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>LAILA EDWARDS<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"90f29e2d-7b9e-449d-89bd-b3f30125d55c\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437644.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"0.67\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Laila Edwards for Team USA\" class=\"img\" height=\"3000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437644.jpg\" width=\"2000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Laila Edwards for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team USA<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Joe Scarnici\/Getty Images <span class=\"nowrap\">for USOPC<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Laila Edwards made history just by being at the Olympics: she is the first Black woman to play for the US ice hockey team at the tournament since the sport debuted in 1998. The 22-year-old, who plays at the University of Wisconsin, then almost immediately became the first Black woman to score a goal at the Olympics for Team USA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Since then, in the five games they\u2019ve played, Edwards has scored a total of two goals and four assists \u2013 pretty impressive for someone in defence. And if the Americans go on to take the gold medal this year, which seems likely (a tough sentence to write for me, a Canadian who can still fondly remember the first match I ever watched: team Canada\u2019s 16-0 game against Italy at the 2006 Olympics), she\u2019ll be just the second Black woman to win an ice hockey gold medal, following Canada\u2019s Sarah Nurse at the 2022 Olympics, providing some still much-needed representation in hockey. <\/span><em><span>(AP)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>VLADYSLAV HERASKEVYCH <\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"02cfed69-3627-407a-abb7-b3f30125121e\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437643.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Vladyslav Heraskevych for Team Ukraine\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437643.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Vladyslav Heraskevych for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team Ukraine<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Al <span class=\"nowrap\">Bello\/Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>This year\u2019s Olympic uniforms have had everyone talking. Whether it\u2019s been watching the athletes unbox their new kits on TikTok or coming together to support <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/fashion\/article\/69582\/1\/winter-olympics-2026-stella-jean-haiti-viral-political-kit\"><span>Team Haiti\u2019s political uniforms<\/span><\/a><span>, the Winter Olympics have been a sartorial feast. But, as Team Haiti discovered, the International Olympic Committee has strict guidelines about what athletes can and can\u2019t wear. While competing last week, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych wore a \u201chelmet of memory\u201d, showing the images of 24 Ukrainian athletes and children killed by Russia during its military invasion. As a result of wearing the helmet, Heraskevych was disappointingly disqualified from the race. Over the weekend, however, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honoured Heraskevych with the Order of Freedom, stating that \u201cRemembrance is not a violation.\u201d <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>ELIS LUNDHOLM\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"39de8d21-7523-4853-a768-b3f30124ce8e\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1024\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437642.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Elis Lundholm for Team Sweden\" class=\"img\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437642.jpg\" width=\"1024\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Elis Lundholm for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team Sweden<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by IOC via <span class=\"nowrap\">Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>23-year-old freestyle skier Elis Lundholm has made history at Milano Cortina as the first transgender athlete to compete at the Winter Olympics. Although the Swedish skier identifies as a trans man, he competes in the women\u2019s category and placed 25th in the qualifiers, meaning that he sadly didn\u2019t make it to the finals. \u201cI want everyone to be able to be themselves and just do what they want to do,\u201d Lundholm said <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/articles\/meet-sweden-elis-lundholm-first-180548568.html\">in an interview<\/a>. \u201cYou can hear the voices out there. But then I do my thing, and I don\u2019t give a damn.\u201d <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>LUCAS PINHEIRO BRAATHEN\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"222b9b40-6407-45dc-a5f1-b3f301246c4c\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437641.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins gold for Team Brazil\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437641.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins gold for <span class=\"nowrap\">Team Brazil<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Dustin <span class=\"nowrap\">Satloff\/Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Another one for the history books, on Saturday, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen clinched Brazil\u2019s first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal while competing in the giant slalom. The win also marks the first medal won by any South American country in the Winter Olympics. \u201cI was skiing completely according to my intuition, and my heart today, and that&#8217;s what enabled me to become an Olympic champion,\u201d he said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/articles\/c24dnjnp39qo#:~:text=%22I%20was%20skiing%20completely%20according,as%20the%20person%20I%20am.\">in an interview<\/a>. \u201cIt had nothing to do with the medal, it had nothing to do with the history that I had the potential of writing, I just wanted to ski as the person I am.\u201d Beyond making history, the skier has also won hearts with his samba dancing and painted nails. <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>KIRSTY MUIR\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7606866013199568150\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Of all the athletes giving us a behind-the-scenes rundown of the Olympics, one of our favourite new TikTokers has been Team GB\u2019s Kirsty Muir. The 21-year-old Scottish freestyle skier has been bringing us daily updates from the games, where she placed fourth last week in the slopestyle final. \u201cFourth place at the Olympics, the toughest place to come,\u201d she wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kirski12\/?hl=en\">on Instagram<\/a>. But today, (Feb 16), she\u2019s got another chance at the podium and will no doubt be going for gold in the big air finals. Go Kirsty! <\/span><em><span>(IVD)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>EVERYONE BEHIND THE SCENES\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7586404260758261047\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>When you\u2019re watching the death-defying feats of the Winter Olympic athletes (I don\u2019t mean you, Curling teams), it\u2019s easy to pay no mind to the markings on the snow helping keep the skiers in bounds, or overlook the fact that the camera is perfectly keeping up with the dizzying speeds and spins of the figure skaters. But pull back the curtain, and you\u2019ll realise that the people who keep the games running are also immensely skilled in their own right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>This year, we\u2019ve seen these behind-the-scenes heroes get some well-deserved recognition on social media, where videos are being shared of people like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsn.ca\/olympics\/article\/former-ice-dancer-brings-olympic-figure-skating-into-close-focus-for-the-first-time\/\"><span>Jordan Cowan<\/span><\/a><span>, a former US competitive ice dancer turned camera operator, who captures intimate moments of figure skating that the overhead cameras can\u2019t. I personally would be fully invested in a documentary that follows the volunteers who ski down the mountain in a snow-plough, marking out the courses with their paint tanks and sprayers (the correct technical term, I\u2019m sure). <\/span><em><span>(AP)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>TEAM TRINIDAD &amp; TOBAGO\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"instagram-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-instagram\" data-script-depends=\"instagram-embeds\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Success at the Winter Olympics is, understandably, dominated by athletes from wintery countries. But every tournament, our imaginations and hearts are captured by those delegations from the snow-less nations. This year, Trinidad and Tobago have brought seven athletes to the Olympics, from the sports of bobsleigh (five athletes) and alpine skiing (two athletes), and the occasion marks a series of firsts. It\u2019s the first time that the Caribbean nation will compete in alpine skiing, and the first time they will compete in both the four-man and two-man bobsleigh events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Speaking to the<em> BBC<\/em>, bobsleigh athlete De Aundre John said it was a dream come true to even be competing. \u201cThe feeling is unreal, just to be here \u2013 I\u2019ve dreamt about it.\u201d The team have modest hopes, joking that they are on \u201coperation don\u2019t come last\u201d, but whatever the results, their appearance at the games is a testament to determination, following your dreams and the ever-growing diversity of the Olympics.<\/span><em><span> (AP)\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1><span>QUINN HUGHES<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"edb2d094-adae-4e99-87e4-b3f3012371ec\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437640.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Quinn Hughs at Milano Cortina 2026\" class=\"img\" height=\"1998\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437640.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Quinn Hughs at Milano <span class=\"nowrap\">Cortina 2026<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photo by Alex Gottschalk\/DeFodi Images\/DeFodi via <span class=\"nowrap\">Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>\u200b\u200bDespite the fact that there really isn\u2019t very much hockey in the show, one of the side effects of the popularity of <\/span><em><span>Heated Rivalry<\/span><\/em><span> is that it has brought new fans and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edgemedianetwork.com\/story\/162873\/heated-rivalry-sparks-over-20-surge-in-nhl-ticket-sales-and-draws-first-time\"><span>driven up ticket sales<\/span><\/a><span>to both <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vanityfair.com\/hollywood\/story\/heated-rivalry-winter-olympics-hockey-tickets\"><span>Olympics Ice Hockey<\/span><\/a><span> and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/winter-olympics-heated-rivalry-effect-lgbtq-inclusivity\/\"><span>NHL<\/span><\/a><span>. This also means that a whole new set of people have been introduced to Quinn Hughes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Quinn Hughes, a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, is one of the best players in the NHL. He also looks like he is being constantly tormented by at least several ghosts. His haunted expressions, moments of disassociation and general resemblance to a troubled Victorian child have become popular fodder for memes among NHL fans, and now the whole world gets to enjoy them too. <\/span><em><span>(AP)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69658\/1\/winter-olympics-2026-breakout-stars-milano-cortina-blade-angels-alysa-liu&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-758-1995-1330\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437648.jpg&#8221;] Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images February\u00a0 17,\u00a0 2026 Life &amp; Culture \/ Feature Life &amp; Culture \/ Feature Winter Olympics 2026: The breakout stars from Milano Cortina From the Blade Angels to the Quad God and Brazil\u2019s first-ever gold medalist, these are the athletes winning hearts as well as medals February\u00a0 17,\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,76],"class_list":["post-1775669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1775669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1775669"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1775669\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1775669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1775669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1775669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}