Alpine ski squads announced to kick-off Olympic countdown

The world's very best Alpine skiing stars are heading to Italy, acompanied by a significant selection of new names and faces from across the planet, with the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games set to start in style on Saturday, 7 February.

With the final pre-Games Audi FIS World Cup races in Crans-Montana completed over the weekend, all eyes now turn to Cortina d'Ampezzo, host of the women's Olympic races, and Bormio, the stage on which the men will do battle.

And crucially, fans now know who will be there.

The host nation were one of the first to announce their line-up, with the King of the Stelvio, Dominik Paris (ITA/Nordica) sharing top billing with PyeongChang 2018 Olympic downhill champion Sofia Goggia (ITA/Atomic) and the returning Federica Brignone (ITA/Rossignol).

Like many of the national squads, Italy's is packed full of excitement. From sisters Nicol and Nadia Delago, to the high-flying Giovanni Franzoni (Rossignol) and the 41-year-old Christof Innerhofer (Rosignol) who will compete at a fifth Games, there are names to delight everywhere you look.

While for the Team USA, all fingers and toes are crossed that Lindsey Vonn (Head) is fit to make it to the startline in Cortina d'Ampezzo - a place she has made her own over the years.

The 2010 Downhill Olympic gold medal winner will, of course be joined in the Dolomites by Mikaela Shiffrin (Atomic) who will be looking to add to her two Olympic crowns.

The depth of talent on show in the women's roster in particular is stark, with the likes of reigning downhill world champion Breezy Johnson (Atomic) and serial World Cup podium finisher Paula Moltzan (Rossignol) also vying for top billing.

The French boast defending men's slalom champion, Clement Noël (Dynastar) plus the fast-rising Paco Rassat (Head) who may fancy stealing his teammate's crown.

Check out the full line-up here.

Meanwhile the Swiss team will be coming in hot after an emotional weekend in Crans-Montana. In a town still reeling from the tragic events on New Year's Eve, the skiers did their very best to lift spirits, with 2025 Downhill world champion Franjo von Allmen (Head) and Malorie Blanc (Atomic) both victorious.

Superstars are everywhere you look in the Swiss line-up, with none bigger, of course than Marco Odermatt (Stöckli). The reigning Olympic Giant Slalom champion will be a hot favourite to add multiple golds to his collection.

It is, naturally, very similar for Switzerland's traditional rivals, with plenty of megawatt names leading the charge for Austria.

All three of Marco Schwarz (Atomic), Manu Feller (Atomic) and Julia Scheib (Rossignol) already big-time winners this season.

Few teams will be as feared as Norway. The 'Attacking Vikings' are renowned for their camaraderie and will be targeting medals across the board in the coming weeks.

Take a look at those ready to do battle for their nation and each other:

Having not won an Olympic Alpine ski medal since Sochi 2014, the Germany team will be looking to step up to the podium once more.

All-rounder extraordinaire, Emma Aicher (Head) will have plenty of options on her own, while Slalom specialists Lena Duerr (Head) and Linus Strasser (Head) will also expect to challenge.

Elsewhere, the Canadians are ready to rock:

While the home of Olympism will be proudly represented by AJ Ginnis (GRE/Van Deer):

As the story of Tallulah Proulx (PHI) represents the multitude of nations who will be represented at the 2026 Olympic Games - underlining what a moment in sport it will be.