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Young stars often get hyped up at the Winter Olympics. Teen skiers and early-20s snowboarders usually shape the games. Yet another group deserves just as much praise. These are the athletes who stayed in elite sport long after most of their peers retired. Competing past 40 is rare in winter sports. Injuries add up over time. Recovery takes longer. Selection gets tougher each cycle.
Data from past U.S. teams shows how hard this is. The average age of Team USA at the 2018 Winter Games was just 26.5. That makes every athlete over 40 an outlier. Some left their sport to raise children. Others stopped because of injury. Many came back when few expected it.
History proves age is not a wall. Sweden’s Oscar Swahn won Olympic gold at 60 and silver at 72. No one has matched that mark since. Still, the Milan Cortina Games feature several athletes in their 40s and even 50s. For many, this will be a final run. These competitors show that long careers are still possible with skill, care, and belief.
Below is a list of the oldest athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Faye Gulini (USA) in the Women’s Snowboard Cross during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Genting Snow Park. Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Faye Gulini returns as one of the veteran riders in women’s snowboarding. She brings years of World Cup and Olympic experience. Her role is not just to race but to guide younger teammates. Consistency has kept her in the lineup well into her 30s.
MORE: 8 US-born athletes representing other countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Federica Brignone of Italy holds up her gold medal after the women’s alpine skiing giant slalom during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Italian star Federica Brignone enters the Games at 35. She recently won gold in both giant slalom and super-G. Those were her first Olympic titles after podium finishes in 2018 and 2022. Her late peak shows how technical skill can grow with age.
Hilary Knight, Hockey, speaks to the media during the U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in preparation for the 2026 Milan Olympic Winter Games at Javits Center. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Hilary Knight remains a leader for U.S. women’s hockey. Her power game and scoring touch still stand out. Experience helps in pressure moments. Few players in her sport stay at this level for so long.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States of America skate after receiving their medals during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Evan Bates continues to compete in figure skating pairs events. Skaters in their mid-30s are rare at the Olympics. His career reflects long-term training and careful injury control.
Kaillie Humphries (USA) in the women’s monobob during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Yanqing Sliding Centre. Credit: Harrison Hill-USA TODAY Sports
Kaillie Humphries is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. She first competed for Canada before switching to the United States in 2019. Motherhood became part of her story in 2024 after fertility struggles. She has said that being a mom and an Olympian are equally hard in different ways.
MORE: Team USA athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics who grew up abroad
Lindsey Vonn of the United States in women’s downhill training during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Ski legend Lindsey Vonn returned to the Winter Olympics after retiring in 2019. She owns three Olympic medals and a record number of downhill and super-G wins. While her torn ACL and other injuries derailed her medal hope, Vonn remains an inspirational figure for choosing to compete despite the injuries.
Elana Meyers Taylor of the United States celebrates with the gold medal after winning the women’s bobsleigh monobob competition during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre. Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Five-time medalist Elana Meyers Taylor races in monobob and two-man. She holds the record for most Winter Olympic medals by a Black athlete. Her sons Nico and Noah, who are deaf, travel with her on tour. She says parenting has made her more adaptable on the track.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada compete in the pairs free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Deanna Stellato-Dudek represents Canada in pairs skating. A long break from the sport once seemed final. A return later in life brought her back to Olympics. Her story is built on patience and renewed drive.
MORE: Top 15 athletes with the most Olympic medals
Nick Baumgartner of the United States reacts after a mixed snowboard cross team quarterfinals during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nick Baumgartner became the oldest Olympic snowboard medalist in 2022 at age 40. He won gold in the mixed team event. The Michigan native began snowboarding at 15 and left college to race full-time. Hard training in later years helped extend his career.
Sarah Schleper (MEX) during the first run of the alpine skiing ladies giant slalom during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Yongpyong Alpine Centre. Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Sarah Schleper competes for Mexico in women’s alpine skiing. Her age places her among the oldest skiers in the field. Few racers reach this level after 45. Technique and race craft keep her competitive.
Claudia Riegler of Austria during women’s parallel giant slalom 1/8 finals during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Claudia Riegler lines up for Austria at 52. Snowboarding rarely features athletes past 40. Her place in the field proves that balance and control can last longer than raw speed.
Rich Ruohonen of United States reacts during the match against Switzerland in a men’s curling round robin match during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Credit: Issei Kato/Reuters via Imagn Images
Rich Ruohonen is a personal injury lawyer from Minnesota. He started curling in fifth grade and has played since 1981 with only one season off. Two world championship teams featured him. If he competes, he will be the oldest American ever at a Winter Olympics.
Age rarely favors winter athletes. These competitors challenge that idea. Some returned after injury. Others balanced sport with family life. All reached the Games through skill and effort. Their presence at Milan Cortina proves long careers still have a place in Olympics sport.
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The post Oldest athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics appeared first on The Big Lead.
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Data from past U.S. teams shows how hard this is. The average age of Team USA at the 2018 Winter Games was just 26.5. That makes every athlete over 40 an outlier. Some left their sport to raise children. Others stopped because of injury. Many came back when few expected it.
History proves age is not a wall. Sweden’s Oscar Swahn won Olympic gold at 60 and silver at 72. No one has matched that mark since. Still, the Milan Cortina Games feature several athletes in their 40s and even 50s. For many, this will be a final run. These competitors show that long careers are still possible with skill, care, and belief.
Below is a list of the oldest athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Faye Gulini – Team USA (33), Snowboarding
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Faye Gulini (USA) in the Women’s Snowboard Cross during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Genting Snow Park. Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Faye Gulini returns as one of the veteran riders in women’s snowboarding. She brings years of World Cup and Olympic experience. Her role is not just to race but to guide younger teammates. Consistency has kept her in the lineup well into her 30s.
MORE: 8 US-born athletes representing other countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Federica Brignone – Italy (35), Alpine Skiing
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Federica Brignone of Italy holds up her gold medal after the women’s alpine skiing giant slalom during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Italian star Federica Brignone enters the Games at 35. She recently won gold in both giant slalom and super-G. Those were her first Olympic titles after podium finishes in 2018 and 2022. Her late peak shows how technical skill can grow with age.
Hilary Knight – Team USA (36), Ice Hockey
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Hilary Knight, Hockey, speaks to the media during the U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in preparation for the 2026 Milan Olympic Winter Games at Javits Center. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Hilary Knight remains a leader for U.S. women’s hockey. Her power game and scoring touch still stand out. Experience helps in pressure moments. Few players in her sport stay at this level for so long.
Evan Bates – Team USA (36), Figure Skating (Pairs/Dance)
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Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States of America skate after receiving their medals during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Evan Bates continues to compete in figure skating pairs events. Skaters in their mid-30s are rare at the Olympics. His career reflects long-term training and careful injury control.
Kaillie Humphries – Team USA (40), Bobsled
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Kaillie Humphries (USA) in the women’s monobob during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Yanqing Sliding Centre. Credit: Harrison Hill-USA TODAY Sports
Kaillie Humphries is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. She first competed for Canada before switching to the United States in 2019. Motherhood became part of her story in 2024 after fertility struggles. She has said that being a mom and an Olympian are equally hard in different ways.
MORE: Team USA athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics who grew up abroad
Lindsey Vonn – Team USA (41), Alpine Skiing
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Lindsey Vonn of the United States in women’s downhill training during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Ski legend Lindsey Vonn returned to the Winter Olympics after retiring in 2019. She owns three Olympic medals and a record number of downhill and super-G wins. While her torn ACL and other injuries derailed her medal hope, Vonn remains an inspirational figure for choosing to compete despite the injuries.
Elana Meyers Taylor – Team USA (41), Bobsled
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Elana Meyers Taylor of the United States celebrates with the gold medal after winning the women’s bobsleigh monobob competition during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre. Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Five-time medalist Elana Meyers Taylor races in monobob and two-man. She holds the record for most Winter Olympic medals by a Black athlete. Her sons Nico and Noah, who are deaf, travel with her on tour. She says parenting has made her more adaptable on the track.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek – Canada (42), Figure Skating (Pairs)
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Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada compete in the pairs free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Deanna Stellato-Dudek represents Canada in pairs skating. A long break from the sport once seemed final. A return later in life brought her back to Olympics. Her story is built on patience and renewed drive.
MORE: Top 15 athletes with the most Olympic medals
Nick Baumgartner – Team USA (44), Snowboard Cross
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Nick Baumgartner of the United States reacts after a mixed snowboard cross team quarterfinals during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nick Baumgartner became the oldest Olympic snowboard medalist in 2022 at age 40. He won gold in the mixed team event. The Michigan native began snowboarding at 15 and left college to race full-time. Hard training in later years helped extend his career.
Sarah Schleper – Mexico (46), Alpine Skiing
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Sarah Schleper (MEX) during the first run of the alpine skiing ladies giant slalom during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Yongpyong Alpine Centre. Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Sarah Schleper competes for Mexico in women’s alpine skiing. Her age places her among the oldest skiers in the field. Few racers reach this level after 45. Technique and race craft keep her competitive.
Claudia Riegler – Austria (52), Snowboarding
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Claudia Riegler of Austria during women’s parallel giant slalom 1/8 finals during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Claudia Riegler lines up for Austria at 52. Snowboarding rarely features athletes past 40. Her place in the field proves that balance and control can last longer than raw speed.
Rich Ruohonen – Team USA (54), Curling (Alternate)
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Rich Ruohonen of United States reacts during the match against Switzerland in a men’s curling round robin match during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Credit: Issei Kato/Reuters via Imagn Images
Rich Ruohonen is a personal injury lawyer from Minnesota. He started curling in fifth grade and has played since 1981 with only one season off. Two world championship teams featured him. If he competes, he will be the oldest American ever at a Winter Olympics.
Conclusion
Age rarely favors winter athletes. These competitors challenge that idea. Some returned after injury. Others balanced sport with family life. All reached the Games through skill and effort. Their presence at Milan Cortina proves long careers still have a place in Olympics sport.
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OLYMPICS: USA figure skater Isabeau Levito gushes over Olympic Village
NFL: Tyreek Hill makes hilarious first move after Dolphins release
CBB: 2026 college basketball rankings, updated AP Top 25 after Week 15
MLB: Tigers infielder from Taiwan apologizes to Koreans after trash talk goes viral
SPORTS MEDIA: College Hall of Famer, father of Chicago Bulls coach, dies
VIRAL: Chloe Kim ‘obsessed’ with $100k gift from NFL star Myles Garrett after Olympics
The post Oldest athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics appeared first on The Big Lead.
Continue reading...
