5 Christian Athletes to Cheer On During the 2026 Winter Olympics, Best TV Shows to Binge Watch

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will officially begin Friday, February 6—hopefully without any controversy surrounding the opening ceremony. Athletes from 92 countries will converge on Milan and Cortina, Italy. From the biathlon to bobsledding, ice hockey to alpine skiing, these athletes will compete for the gold while the world watches.

But some of these athletes have already been competing in another race before a “great cloud of witnesses,” not for the glory of themselves or their country but for Christ. Here are five Christian Olympians who carry their faith with them to the world’s stage.

Paul Schommer, Biathlon

Paul Schommer was introduced to the biathlon (a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting) by his coach at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. This will be his second Olympic Games, having participated in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Throughout his athletic career, Schommer has leaned on his faith in God. Speaking to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he said, “My identity doesn’t come from my results, and it doesn’t come from affirmation of others, but it comes through my identity in Christ because He’s the one who gives me my meaning.”

Elana Meyers Taylor, Bobsled

A talented softball player for George Washington University, Elana Meyers Taylor dreamed of qualifying for the Olympics in the sport that she loved. But unexpected challenges totally reshaped her life. First, a lost softball season during her sophomore year of college led her to question her purpose in life and, ultimately, find faith in Jesus. Then, after she “crashed and burned” at a tryout for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Softball Team, she realized she needed a new sport if she was to pursue her Olympic dream.

Eventually, that dream came true with the 2010 U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team. Taylor is now a five-time Olympian. And in 2022, she became the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history with her silver and bronze medal wins.

“One of the big reasons I was put in bobsled is to help people not only reach their goals, but come to Christ,” Meyers told CRU. “At the end of the day, I’m in this sport to glorify God, so if that means I come in last place or I win the gold medal, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Jaccob Slavin, Men’s Ice Hockey

If you’re a hockey fan, you might have heard of Jaccob Slavin. Drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2012, he’s an NHL All-Star and recipient of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is given to the player judged “to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” Now, Slavin joins the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team.

Despite those accolades, Slavin has not lost focus on his faith or evangelistic mission. As he relayed to His Huddle, “My faith has the biggest influence on my career. It gives me a whole different purpose in playing the game. It’s not about me or my success, but rather it’s about glorifying God. He is the one who has given me the platform that I have so I want to use it to spread the Gospel.”

Britta Curl-Salemme, Women’s Ice Hockey

Britta Curl-Salemme will also compete in ice hockey at this year’s Winter Olympics for the U.S. women’s team. Curl-Salemme won multiple national championships for the University of Wisconsin before helping the Minnesota Frost claim the Walter Cup in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Curl-Salemme aims to add an Olympic gold medal to her already impressive resume.

A devout Catholic, Curl-Salemme credits her faith as a foundational presence in her pursuit of athletic excellence. “I think my life would be pretty chaotic and stressful if I didn’t have something steady and consistent that I can go back to that I drew strength from, and that’s my Catholic faith,” she told OSV News. “Just the routine of in the morning I get up and the first thing that I’m doing is going to my Bible.”

Sam Morse, Alpine Skiing

Sam Morse is a first-time Olympian, but he has spent a decade on the U.S. Ski Team, specializing in men’s downhill skiing. He is also the founder of the Sam Morse Faith and Skiing Training Camp, which aims to “strengthen the skiing skills and faith of young ski racers through coaching and community.”

The camp’s vision is pulled from 1 Timothy 4:8, which is a great reminder to all athletes: “For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

In an interview with American Baptist Churches USA, Morse said, “My faith is my life. It is the glue that holds it all together. My goal is to be a loyal servant of my Savior and proclaim His name from the highest mountains.”