Sports

Northern Virginians competing in the Winter Olympics

From figure skating to sled hockey, four different NOVA locals will be competing on Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

January 27, 2026 • 
Ava Wojnowski
The Olympic and Paralympic Symbols in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Let the games begin. | Photo via Pexels

The Winter Olympics are fast approaching, taking place Friday, Feb. 6-Sunday, Feb. 22. Team USA has been announced, and includes four NOVA athletes.

Competing in his first Games, Fairfax’s own Brandon Kim will skate in multiple speedskating disciplines. He began speedskating at the age of nine.

Vienna’s Ilia Malinin will compete in the men’s singles figure skating event at his first Olympics. You may know him by his nickname, “QuadGod,” earned for his signature quad jumps.

Nokesville’s own Mystique Ro will make her Olympic debut in skeleton. A former track and field athlete at Queens University of Charlotte, she was recruited to a Team USA bobsled and skeleton rookie camp in 2016.

Don’t miss the Paralympic Games from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 15. Evan Nichols is from Haymarket and will be competing on the sled hockey Paralympic team. He was the youngest player on the USA sled hockey team when they won gold back in 2022.

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