The 2026 Milan‑Cortina Winter Games are bringing together not just elite athletes, but a host of “power couples of the 2026 Winter Games” who train, compete, and now share their lives off the snow and ice. From Paralympic legends to ice‑dance royalty, these relationships add a personal storyline to the high‑stakes competition, offering fans a glimpse into how love and sport intersect on the world stage.
While the Games showcase athletic prowess, many participants have found companionship within the Olympic village, often bonding over shared training regimes, travel schedules, and even a love of coffee. Below is a look at several of the most notable pairs representing the United States and beyond, based on interviews and profiles released ahead of the 2026 event.
Paralympic Power Duo: Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike
U.S. Paralympians Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike compete across multiple summer and winter disciplines, making them one of the most versatile teams in elite sport. Their story began at a Para Nordic competition in 2013, where they “bonded over their love of coffee.” The connection deepened at the 2014 Sochi Games, where Masters recalled a pivotal moment on a gondola: “We had a really special moment where we kind of realized on a gondola that What we have is more than just a friend — like a hug that spoke a thousand words kind of thing…[I] realized, ‘Oh my gosh, this is not just something like a small attraction here.’” [NBC Olympics]
In 2022, Pike proposed to Masters on a gondola in Wyoming. Since then, Masters has publicly gone dress shopping, even bringing her two Paris 2024 gold medals along for good luck. The couple is weighing a wedding after the Paralympics in Italy, with Masters noting, “In Italy would be a perfect way for our forever journey to start together, because of skiing in the mountains…but you need to inquire him, too — because he’s doing nothing for the planning at all.”
Pike responded with humor when asked about the proposal: “I made a joke one time like: I proposed, now it’s your turn,” he said, laughing, “and she will not let that go.”
Both athletes have amassed impressive medal counts: Masters holds 19 Paralympic medals, while Pike is a nine‑time World Championship medalist and has set American wheelchair marathon records. Their combined achievements underscore how a supportive partnership can amplify athletic success. [Paralympic.org]
Ice and Speed: Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe
Women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight, the all‑time leading scorer for Team USA, and long‑track speed skater Brittany Bowe first connected during the socially‑distanced Beijing 2022 Games. Knight asked Bowe for a walk around the Olympic Village, a routine that “became our routine,” Bowe recalled. Their friendship grew into a romance that endured through the pandemic bubble, providing a steady source of support amid the isolation of competition.
Now both are heading to Milan‑Cortina together. This will be Knight’s fifth Olympic appearance and Bowe’s fourth, with Bowe noting, “It’s always nice to be able to support Hilary, and when You can see each other’s events, it brings additional energy to the atmosphere.”
Bobsled Romance: Kaysha Love and Hunter Powell
Bobsledders Kaysha Love and Hunter Powell met as collegiate track‑and‑field athletes before transitioning to the ice track. Love persuaded Powell to attend the USA recruitment event “#SlideToGlory,” saying, “She convinced me to go to #SlideToGlory…I was incredibly resistant, but she talked me into it, and I’m so thankful that she did.”
The pair announced their engagement in July 2025 and now compete side‑by‑side as Olympic teammates. Powell summed up the experience: “It’s the coolest thing in the world. I’m travelling the world for the first time in my life, chasing the dream, with the woman I love and my best friend.”
Snowboarding Sweethearts: Red Gerard and Hailey Langland
Red Gerard and Hailey Langland have known each other since they were 12, and their eight‑year relationship has weathered multiple Olympic cycles. Both competed in Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022, with Gerard securing gold in 2018. Gerard will again represent the United States in 2026, while Langland, sidelined by an ACL injury, will accompany him and her parents in Italy, offering moral support during the competition.
Ice Dance: Madison Chock and Evan Bates
Ice‑dance partners Madison Chock and Evan Bates first crossed paths when Bates took Chock on a date for her 16th birthday. Their partnership on the ice began in 2011, and six years later Bates confessed his feelings. The couple announced their engagement in 2022 and married in the summer of 2024 in Hawaii, Chock’s family’s home.
Reflecting on their journey, Bates told NPR, “The skating career is short and finite, the relationship is much, much longer.” Chock added, “We love what we do, but we too really love each other…We’re able to take this passion and employ it to foster our connection as a couple.”
Other Notable Olympic Couples
Beyond the United States, several other power couples are set to compete in Milan‑Cortina:
- Canada’s hockey stars Marie‑Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey, together since 2017 and married in 2024.
- Skeleton racers Kim Meylemans (Belgium) and Nicole Silveira (Brazil), newlyweds who met during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
- Swedish‑Finnish hockey fiancées Anna Kjellbin and Ronja Savolainen, now representing separate nations.
- Mixed‑doubles curling couples: Italy’s Charlene Guignard & Marco Fabbri, Canada’s Jocelyn Peterman & Brett Gallant, Switzerland’s Yannick Schwaller & Briar Schwaller‑Hürlimann, and Norway’s Kristin Skaslien & Magnus Nedregotten.
As the 2026 Winter Games approach, these relationships add a human dimension to the fierce competition, reminding viewers that behind every medal is a story of partnership, support, and shared ambition. Fans will be watching not only for athletic triumphs but also for moments when love and sport intersect on the world stage.
Stay tuned for live updates from Milan‑Cortina, share your favorite athlete couples in the comments, and follow our coverage for behind‑the‑scenes insights as the Games unfold.
