# For Many U.S. Olympic Athletes, Italy Feels Like Home Turf
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics represent far more than just another competition for Team USA. As 232 American athletes descend upon northern Italy, many arrive with deep personal connections to the region—training facilities, coaching relationships, and years of competitive experience that transform these Games into something uniquely familiar.
## A Record-Breaking Team Arrives in Italy
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee officially named the largest Winter Olympic team the country has fielded since 2018, with 232 athletes competing across the Games running from February 6-22, 2026.[1] This isn’t a collection of first-time Olympians; rather, it’s a seasoned roster dominated by veterans who have spent considerable time in European training grounds. Among them are **98 returning Olympians**, including seven four-time Olympians and 10 three-time Olympians.[1]
For many of these athletes, Italy—and particularly the Alpine regions where winter sports thrive—has become a second home. The ski slopes of the Dolomites, the ice rinks of Milan, and the training facilities scattered throughout northern Italy have hosted countless preparation camps, World Cup competitions, and developmental programs that have shaped American winter sports careers.
## The Alpine Advantage
Alpine skiers have perhaps the strongest historical connection to Italy’s slopes. **Lindsey Vonn**, competing at her fifth Olympic Games, has spent decades training and racing on Italian mountains.[1] Similarly, **Mikaela Shiffrin**, returning for her fourth Olympics, has logged countless hours on the technical courses that define Alpine racing.[1] These athletes don’t need time to acclimate to the terrain—they’ve already conquered these exact mountains in previous seasons.
The familiarity extends beyond just knowing the slopes. Alpine skiers develop relationships with local coaching communities, understand weather patterns specific to each venue, and have navigated the unique challenges of racing in these particular conditions. When Vonn speaks of competing in Cortina, she’s not entering unfamiliar territory; she’s returning to a place where she’s already written significant chapters of her athletic story.
## Snowboarding and Freeski Communities in Europe
**Chloe Kim**, the three-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist in snowboarding, exemplifies another category of American athlete with deep European ties.[1] Snowboarders and freeskiers regularly train at European facilities throughout the season, building communities with international competitors and coaches. The halfpipe and slopestyle venues in Livigno and other Italian locations aren’t new to these athletes—they’ve competed here before, trained here, and understand the subtle variations that can mean the difference between gold and silver.
**Freeski athletes like Nick Goepper**, competing at his fourth Olympics, have similarly spent formative years developing their craft on European terrain.[1] The rails, jumps, and natural features of Italian courses are familiar challenges rather than obstacles to overcome.
## Building Bonds Beyond Competition
What makes Italy feel like home turf extends beyond the physical landscape. American athletes have built genuine relationships with Italian coaching staff, sports scientists, and fellow competitors. These connections, forged through years of World Cup circuits and international competitions, create a sense of belonging that transcends national boundaries.
The U.S. team includes athletes representing 32 different states, yet many converge on common training grounds in Europe.[1] These shared spaces—whether it’s a specific ski academy, an ice rink, or a training facility—create informal networks where American athletes support one another while competing against international rivals.
## The Psychological Edge
Competing on familiar terrain provides documented psychological advantages. Athletes experience reduced anxiety when they know what to expect, can visualize successful performances on known courses, and benefit from the confidence that comes with prior experience. For American winter sports athletes, many of whom have spent more time training in Europe than at home, Italy represents not a foreign challenge but a familiar arena where they’ve already proven themselves.
The presence of **seven four-time Olympians** and **18 Olympic champions with a combined 22 gold medals** speaks to athletes who have competed at the highest levels across multiple continents.[1] These veterans bring not just experience but intimate knowledge of these specific venues and conditions.
## Looking Forward
As the Games unfold across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the American contingent arrives with an unusual advantage: home-field familiarity without being the host nation. They’ve trained on these slopes, raced on these courses, and built relationships within these communities. For many U.S. Olympic athletes, Italy doesn’t feel like a distant competition site—it feels like the place where they’ve spent their winters perfecting their craft.
This familiarity, combined with the talent and experience represented by the record-breaking 232-member roster, positions Team USA to compete at its highest level. In many ways, these athletes aren’t traveling to Italy for the Olympics; they’re coming home to showcase what they’ve been building all along.
Original source: NPR News – For many U.S. Olympic athletes, Italy feels like home turf
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