Slaloms, Spins, and Soaring Spirits: 2026 Winter Olympics

For Hopkins students who are experts in sports featured in the Winter Olympics, including skiing, ice hockey, and figure skating, the worldwide event serves as a way to better understand their sport and improve their own performances. Internationally recognized figure skater Ella Sangiovanni ’27 stated, “When I am watching the Olympics, it is usually easy to see strong technical elements, like a clean jump or fast, well-centered spins, specifically for singles.” In particular, Sangiovanni looks to see “ if a skater is able to go beyond the technical aspect of their program and really connect to their music to make the audience or whoever is watching feel connected to their performance too.” To improve her own skiing ability, Vivian Winkleman ’26 watches athletes’ “carving and how close they are able to get towards the ground as well as just how insanely fast they are able to go.” Instead of paying sole attention to the sporting action on screen, skier Thomas Pittard ’27 expressed that he pays close attention to the announcers to “[see] if I can pick up on what the commentators see out of the run. For instance, if someone gets late on a gate, I want to notice that.”

Students note differences between the sport they are familiar with and the way it appears in the Olympics. Sangiovanni noted the difference between figure and synchronized skating: “My discipline is synchronized skating so there is a noticeable difference between what I train for and what is shown at the Olympics, especially since the discipline is not in the Olympics yet.” Similarly, while Pittard is a racer, he watches park competitions such as the half pipe or big air jumps “because there is more variety.”  While hockey does not have different events like skating or skiing, John O’Connell ’28 compared his experience in peewee hockey to the Olympics as the international competition being “essentially more fast-paced, physical, and competitive. Usually they play on a slightly bigger rink. Also, kids grow and mature at different rates, so some kids will be much bigger and stronger, but in the Olympics most players are at a similar level.”

Olympic hockey has featured numerous major changes over the years, including the inclusion of professional players, and both student and faculty enthusiasts have begun to take greater interest in the event. Math teacher and Hockey Club faculty advisor Robert Studley said that when he was a child, “It used to only be amateurs, essentially college players in the USA, competing on the ice. Having the pros playing means the level of hockey is the best it has ever been, but Team USA was more of an underdog when we sent our college guys and part of me misses that aspect of the competition.” Will Forrest ’27 discussed the raised awareness that the Olympics brings to the sport and that “having [National Hockey League] players in the Olympics definitely puts a bigger spotlight on the sport and increases the all-around speed and skill in the game.” Studley mentioned that the Winter Olympics “is a fun way to watch the professional players that I know go against each other or play with each other, rather than being on their NHL teams.” O’Connell commented on the importance of fans being able to track their favorite players: “It allows NHL fans to support different countries based on who plays for their team. For instance, a [Washington] Capitals fan might cheer for Russia because of [Alexander] Ovechkin or a [Pittsburgh] Penguins fan might support Canada for [Sidney] Crosby.”

The hard work of the athletes competing provide inspiration for many within the Hopkins community. The Winter Olympics motivate Sangiovanni to reach the pinnacle of the ice skating world: “While watching the skaters who have reached the highest level after all their years and years of dedicated time to the sport, it reminds me why I train so hard, why I push myself on and off the ice, and why I love the sport.” She added that “seeing the amount of effort and discipline it takes to get to that level of competition and skill puts my own training into perspective and makes the tough practices worth it.” Winkleman also noted the training of the highest performers, stating, “The Olympics is a more inspiring thing for me because I know the level those skiers are at. Plus the amount of training those skiers have had and how long they have done it.” Forrest discussed the multiple dimensions of performing on the world’s biggest stage: “I think that representing your country for any player definitely adds pride, but it also comes with more pressure that can cause players to rise or fall.” Studley explained that players take advantage of the opportunity: “The Olympics only come around once every four years, so the players seem to cherish the opportunity to play for their country. There is an enormous sense of pride.”

With the peak of winter sports in January and February, students and teachers alike are eager for the Olympics; they can watch their favorite athletes compete at the highest level and improve their own techniques while enjoying the games.