January 27, 2026

#hakinakina Seventeen Kiwis Set to Wear the Fern at Milano Cortina 2026

Matthew Tukaki Posted On January 27, 2026

Aotearoa’s Winter Olympic team has taken another step closer to Italy with nine new athletes confirmed to join the New Zealand squad for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, bringing the total to 17 confirmed representatives.

The announcement, made on 23 January, means New Zealand will send one of its largest ever snow-sports contingents to a Winter Olympics, with competitors spread across freeskiing, snowboarding and alpine skiing disciplines.

Among those officially named to the team are freeski and snowboard stars:

Ben Harrington (Men’s Freeski Halfpipe), joining his younger brother Luca-a rare family double at the Games.
Gustav Legnavsky (Men’s Freeski Halfpipe), a strong young talent returning after international competition.
Mischa Thomas (Women’s Freeski Halfpipe), who has impressed on the European Cup circuit.
Lucas Ball and Sylvia Trotter in men’s and women’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air respectively.
A strong snowboard cohort including Lyon Farrell, Dane Menzies, Rocco Jamieson and Lucia Georgalli.

These athletes join eight team mates named late last year-including iconic names like Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, who has already written Kiwi winter-sports history with medals from past Olympics, and Alice Robinson, one of New Zealand’s leading alpine skiers.

New Zealand Olympic Committee Chief Executive Nicki Nicol congratulated the full team and reflected on the hard work behind every selection. She acknowledged the support of coaches, families and the wider snow sports community, and emphasised the pride the whole nation feels as the athletes prepare to represent Aotearoa on one of sport’s biggest global stages.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will take place from 6 to 22 February 2026 across iconic venues in northern Italy, bringing together the world’s best on snow and ice.

For whānau and supporters watching from home, this growing team of courageous New Zealand athletes reflects not only sporting excellence, but the whakapapa of dedication-from grassroots clubs and mountain towns to the Olympic slopes of Europe.