Love and Competition Collide at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy are not just a showcase of athletic prowess but also a celebration of love, with multiple real-life couples competing across various sports. The Games, running until the closing ceremony on February 22, feature 116 events over 19 days, including figure skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, curling, and cross-country skiing. While athletes from around the world vie for medals, many have brought their significant others along, creating unique dynamics both on and off the ice.
Couples Competing Together and Against Each Other
Some couples are teammates, while others represent different nations, setting the stage for friendly rivalries. This blend of personal and professional relationships adds a heartfelt dimension to the intense competition.
Notable Couples at the Games
Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike: These Paralympians from Team USA are competing in Para Nordic skiing. Pike aims for his first gold, while Masters seeks her fourth. They began dating in 2014 after meeting at the Para Nordic National Championships and got engaged in 2022. The couple is considering marrying in Italy during the Olympics.
Brittany Bowe and Hilary Knight: Both representing Team USA, Bowe is a speed skater in her final Olympics, competing in the women’s 1,000m, 1,500m, and team pursuit. Knight, a women’s ice hockey star, is also in her final Games, vying for her second gold medal. They met at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and started dating shortly after.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates: This figure skating duo from Team USA has been partners since 2011 and won gold in the team event at the 2022 Olympics. Dating since 2017, they got engaged in 2022 and married in 2024, making their fourth Olympic appearance together.
Nicole Silveira and Kim Meylemans: Competing in women’s skeleton, Silveira represents Brazil, and Meylemans represents Belgium. They started dating after meeting on the Skeleton World Cup circuit in 2019 and married in January 2025. Meylemans recently credited her wife for her World Cup success.
Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey: Both women’s hockey players for Team Canada, Poulin is in her fifth Olympics, and Stacey her third. They started dating in 2017, married in 2024, and emphasize professionalism on the ice, focusing on teamwork over romance.
Magnus Nedregotten and Kristin Skaslien: Representing Norway in mixed doubles curling, this couple is in their third Olympics together, having previously won two medals. They began dating in 2011 and started competing as a team in 2012.
Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld: Part of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard national team, they won gold in mixed team aerials in 2022. Caldwell is in her fourth Olympics, Schoenefeld his second. They started dating in 2019, married in February 2025, and have a son born in July 2025.
Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant: Competing for Canada in mixed doubles curling, Gallant also participates in men’s curling. They started dating in 2016, won the Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship that year, married in 2022, and have a two-year-old son.
Ronja Savolainen and Anna Kjellbin: Savolainen plays for Finland in women’s ice hockey, while Kjellbin represents Sweden. They began dating in 2019 and got engaged in 2024. Savolainen has stated she will compete fiercely against her fiancée if they meet on the ice.
Kaysha Love and Hunter Powell: Both bobsledders for Team USA, Love is in her second Olympics, Powell his first. Former track and field athletes, they switched to bobsledding and announced their engagement in July.
Emily and Dominik Fischnaller: Luge athletes representing different countries—Emily for Team USA and Dominik for Italy. They started dating as teenagers after meeting at a youth competition, were in a long-distance relationship, and married in 2025.
Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri: Figure skating partners since 2010, representing Italy in individual events. Dating since 2009, they are in their fourth Olympics together and describe sharing everything, both on and off the ice.
Mārtiņš Bots and Elīna Ieva Bota: Competing in luge for Latvia, Bots is in men’s doubles and team relay, while Bota is in women’s singles. Both have been on the national team since 2011 and married in 2024.
The Human Side of the Olympics
These stories highlight how the Winter Olympics blend high-stakes competition with personal connections, offering a glimpse into the lives of athletes beyond their sporting achievements. As the Games unfold, these couples will navigate the pressures of performance while celebrating their relationships on a global stage.
