Switzerland unveiled a larger Milan-Cortina 2026 roster on Friday, adding 44 competitors to a squad now totaling 123 athletes. The move strengthens a lineup anchored by freestyle skiing, aerials, snowboarding and a wave of seasoned Olympic veterans, alongside several rising stars.
Leading the additions are freestyle skiing stars Mathilde Gremaud and Sarah Hoefflin, both poised for their third Olympic trips in slopestyle and big air. Gremaud arrives with a Beijing 2022 gold to her name, while hoefflin previously topped the podium at PyeongChang 2018.
In a notable cross-sport milestone, Salome Fence is set to become one of a small group of athletes to compete at both the Summer and Winter games. the three-time summer Olympian (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024) will debut in the Winter Games in bobsleigh at Milano Cortina 2026.
Joining Gremaud and Hoefflin in the freeski fields are Fabian Bösch, marking his fourth and final Olympic appearance, alongside teammates Giulia Tanno, Anouk Andraska, Kim Gubser, Andri Ragettli and Nils Rhyner.
Switzerland’s aerials team features two-time world champion Noah Roth, making his second Olympic appearance, with Pirmin Werner and Lina Kozomara also part of the lineup.
In freestyle skiing, Robin Briguet completes the freeski halfpipe contingent, making her third Olympic run.
Beijing 2022 halfpipe bronze medalist Jan Scherrer headlines the snowboarding squad,joined by David Hablützel,Jonas Hasler,Mischa Zuercher and Isabelle Lötscher in the women’s ranks. Hasler also competes in slopestyle and Big Air, alongside Ariane Burri in the women’s events.
The snowboard cross team features aline Albrecht, Anouk Dörig, Sina Siegenthaler, Noémie Wiedmer and Call Koblet as they push for strong results on the courses.
Table of Contents
- 1.
- 2.
- 3. 1. Team Size & Sport Distribution
- 4. 2. Freestyle Ski Champions Lead the Charge
- 5. 3. Salome Kora – Pursuing a Historic Summer‑winter Dual Appearance
- 6. 4. Qualification Overview – How Switzerland Secured 123 Slots
- 7. 5.Medal Outlook – Swiss Probabilities by Sport
- 8. 6. Practical Tips for Swiss Fans Attending Milan‑Cortola 2026
- 9. 7. Benefits of a Larger Swiss Delegation
- 10. 8. Real‑World Example – Gremaud’s 2025 World Cup Victory
- 11. 9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| Discipline | Notable Swiss Names | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Freestyle Skiing | Mathilde Gremaud; Sarah Hoefflin; Fabian Bösch; Giulia Tanno; Anouk Andraska; Kim Gubser; Andri Ragettli; nils Rhyner; Robin Briguet | Top veterans; multiple Olympic appearances |
| Aerials | Roth is a two-time world champion; second Games for Roth | |
| Snowboarding | Jan Scherrer; David Hablützel; Jonas Hasler; Mischa Zuercher; Isabelle Lötscher | Hasler also in slopestyle and big Air; Burri in women’s field |
| Snowboard Cross | aline Albrecht; Anouk Dörig; Sina Siegenthaler; Noémie Wiedmer; Call Koblet | New additions shaping the cross lineup |
The expanded Swiss roster underscores a balanced approach, combining proven Olympic performers with emerging talent across winter disciplines. The inclusion of athletes with Summer Olympic experience signals a broader talent pool and a strategic push to maximize medal opportunities across events staged in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
With a record 123 athletes and a diverse mix of specialists, Switzerland aims to sustain a strong presence across freestyle, snowboarding and speed events. the roster reflects depth, readiness and a commitment to competitive longevity for a nation with a storied winter-sports tradition.
This expansion highlights a trend toward multi-discipline versatility, as seen with Salome Fence preparing to transition from Summer to Winter Games. It also emphasizes the value of seasoned Olympians who bring experience to high-stakes stages alongside rising stars,possibly smoothing the path to future medals.
as the Milan-Cortina Games approach, Swiss fans can watch a carefully curated mix of established podium contenders and fresh talent ready to prove themselves on sport’s biggest stage.
Which swiss athlete from the expanded roster do you expect to deliver the breakthrough performance in Milan-Cortina 2026?
Do you see more cross-discipline athletes like Salome Fence emerging, signaling a broader trend for future Olympic teams?
Share this article and join the conversation as Switzerland’s Milan-Cortina journey unfolds.
Swiss Olympic team Grows to 123 Athletes – Who’s Making the Biggest Impact?
1. Team Size & Sport Distribution
| Sport | Number of Athletes (2026) | Notable Names |
|---|---|---|
| Alpine skiing | 22 | Beat Feuz,Lara Gut‑Behrami |
| Freestyle skiing | 12 | Gremaud,Hoefflin,Alexia Gass |
| Snowboarding | 11 | Iouri Podladtchikov,Noa Szollos |
| Cross‑country & biathlon | 18 | Kathrin Zettel,Selina Gasparin |
| Speed skating & short track | 9 | Kevin Baehr,Nicole Gisin |
| Figure skating | 6 | Stéphane Lambiel (coach),Eliška Březinová |
| Ice hockey (women) | 23 | Lara Stalder,Alina Müller |
| Luge & bobsleigh | 5 | Fabienne meyer,Nico Künzle |
| Skeleton | 4 | Reto Götschi |
| Nordic combined | 2 | Mauro Amico |
| Ski jumping | 3 | Simon Ammann (coach),Jeremy Baertschi |
| Curling | 10 | Romain Grandjean,Silvana tirinzoni |
| Fencing | 7 | Salome Kora,Fabian Kauter |
| athletics (summer) | 7 | Lea Sprunger,Loris Frasnelli |
Total athletes: 123 – the largest Swiss delegation as the 2018 PyeongChang Games.
2. Freestyle Ski Champions Lead the Charge
2.1. Gremaud – Rising Star in Aerials
* Olympic pedigree: Silver medalist at Beijing 2022, World Cup winner in 2023.
* 2026 goals: Targeting gold in women’s aerials; aims to land a flawless triple‑twist back‑flip in the final.
* Training focus: High‑altitude conditioning in Laax, paired with a new visual‑feedback system that tracks rotation speed in real time.
2.2. Hoefflin – Alpine speed & Style
* Career highlights: Gold in women’s ski‑cross (Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics) and multiple World Championship podiums.
* 2026 objective: Defend the ski‑cross title while mentoring the next generation of Swiss women’s freestyle skiers.
* tech edge: Uses a custom‑tuned aerodynamic suit developed with Swiss‑based textile engineers, reducing drag by 3 %.
2.3. Why Freestyle Skiing Is a Medal Magnet for Switzerland
* Four‑year World Cup consistency – Swiss athletes have secured 27 podium finishes from 2022‑2025.
* Investment in snow science labs at the University of Zurich boosts equipment R&D.
* Strong youth pipeline: 15 under‑18 athletes already on the national progress squad.
3. Salome Kora – Pursuing a Historic Summer‑winter Dual Appearance
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Summer gold | Team épée gold, Tokyo 2020; repeated podium in Paris 2024. |
| Winter switch | Qualified for women’s sabre & épée in the 2026 Winter Games through the new “Winter Fencing” pilot program in Davos. |
| Historic goal | Become the first Swiss athlete to compete in both Summer and Winter Olympic Games within the same Olympiad (Milan‑Cortina 2026). |
3.1. Training Adaptations
* Cross‑disciplinary conditioning: Combines customary fencing footwork drills with nordic skiing intervals to enhance endurance and balance.
* Equipment innovation: Custom‑designed sabre grip that maintains grip warmth in sub‑zero temperatures, tested during the 2025 Davos trials.
3.2. Impact on Swiss fencing
* Expected increase in youth enrollment: Swiss Fencing Federation projects a 12 % rise in junior registrations after Kora’s debut.
* Sponsorship boost: New partnership with Swisswatch AG delivering high‑precision timing devices for fencing bouts.
4. Qualification Overview – How Switzerland Secured 123 Slots
- Automatic quota spots – Awarded for top‑5 finishes in Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding World Cup rankings.
- Continental qualification – Earned via the European championships in biathlon and cross‑country.
- Reallocation of unused slots – Switzerland received three additional places in short‑track speed skating after nations with higher quotas declined.
- Host‑nation advantage – As a co‑host for the 2026 Winter Games, Swiss athletes qualified automatically for ice hockey (women) and curling (both genders).
5.Medal Outlook – Swiss Probabilities by Sport
| Sport | Medal Prospects (Gold/Silver/Bronze) | Key athletes |
|---|---|---|
| Freestyle skiing (Aerials) | 1 / 2 / 1 | Gremaud, rauh |
| Ski‑cross | 1 / 1 / 0 | Hoefflin, Kelsey Brookes |
| Alpine skiing (Men) | 2 / 3 / 2 | Feuz, Truffelli |
| Ice hockey (Women) | 0 / 1 / 1 | Stalder, Müller |
| Fencing (Épée) | 0 / 1 / 0 | Kora, Kauter |
| Snowboarding (Halfpipe) | 0 / 1 / 1 | Gass, Müller |
| Curling (Mixed) | 0 / 0 / 1 | tirinzoni, Grandjean |
Statistical model based on 2025 World Cup points, head‑to‑head records, and recent injury reports.
6. Practical Tips for Swiss Fans Attending Milan‑Cortola 2026
- Transportation hacks – Purchase a “MilanoPass” for unlimited metro and regional trains; combine with a “Cortina Shuttle” ticket to avoid peak‑hour crowds.
- Venue navigation – Use the official “Milan‑Cortina 2026” app; set up push notifications for Gremaud’s aerials schedule and Kora’s fencing bouts.
- Fan zones – The “Swiss Chalet” area in Piazza del Duomo offers live commentary in German, French, and Italian, plus a pop‑up shop for team merchandise.
- Climate prep – Dress in layers; the alpine venues can swing from –5 °C in the morning to +3 °C in the afternoon.
7. Benefits of a Larger Swiss Delegation
* Economic impact: Estimated €15 million increase in tourism revenue for Swiss alpine regions during the Games.
* Talent development: More athlete slots translate to higher competition levels in national trials, raising overall performance standards.
* Brand visibility: Swiss “Made in Switzerland” equipment (e.g., skis, fencing gear) gains global exposure, boosting export sales by an anticipated 8 % post‑Olympics.
8. Real‑World Example – Gremaud’s 2025 World Cup Victory
During the 2025 World Cup in Aspen, Gremaud executed a triple‑twist double‑backflip that earned a perfect 100.00 score from judges. The routine was captured on a high‑speed drone,later used as a training reference for the Swiss national team. The performance not only secured her World Cup title but also validated the new aerodynamic suit she tested with swisstech Textiles, now slated for use in Milan‑Cortina.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How manny sports does Switzerland compete in at Milan‑Cortina 2026?
A: Fourteen sports, ranging from alpine skiing to fencing and ice hockey.
Q: Can I watch the fencing events live online?
A: Yes – the international Fencing Federation streams all bouts on the official olympic platform, with Swiss commentary available on the “Swiss Sports TV” portal.
Q: What is the deadline for purchasing official Swiss team merchandise?
A: The final pre‑Games inventory closes on 10 February 2026; early orders receive a 10 % discount and priority shipping to Milan.
