Quick Facts:
- Parity athletes competing at 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics span skeleton, aerial skiing, curling, ice hockey, bobsleigh, and figure skating across multiple countries
- Elana Meyers Taylor is history's most decorated Black Winter Olympic athlete with 5 medals (3 silver, 2 bronze) plus 10+ World Championship medals – the only thing missing from her collection is Olympic gold
- Inspiring comeback stories: Katrin Beierl returns to her 3rd Olympics after recovering from a stroke at age 28, while Mystique Ro brought home Team USA's first skeleton medal in 12 years at 2025 World Championships
Feb 19, 2022; Yanqing, China; Elana Meyers Taylor and Sylvia Hoffman (USA) celebrate after winning the bronze medal in 2-woman bobsleigh during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Yanqing Sliding Centre. Credit: Andrew P. Scott-Imagn Images
There is a lot happening in the world right now: lots of sadness and uncertainty, lots of pain, despair and hope. But our community continues to prove that the best things in life come from love and sports, preferably at the same time. We’ve seen our athletes showing up for their communities, as they always have done and will continue to do, and we can’t wait to lift them up as they prepare to take center stage in Italy.
Get to know a few of our favorite Parity winter goddesses (plus one power duo) heading to Milano Cortina in just a few short days!!
Sport: Skeleton
Country: Belgium
Olympic Appearances: 2018, 2022, 2026
Nickname: Lil Belgian
World championship silver medallist and 2x European champion in skeleton, to watch Kim Meylemans is to be in complete awe of her speed and bravery. Off the sled, Kim is an ambassador for Out for the Win, an organization that strives to create a world in which LGBTQIA+ athletes are welcome everywhere. Also, looking for relationship goals? Kim is married to Brazilian skeleton athlete Nicole Silveira, and the pair will be heading to their second Olympics together before celebrating the beach wedding of their dreams later this year.
Sport: Aerial Skiing
Country: USA
Olympic Appearances: 2022, 2026
Fun Fact: First “Winter” to compete in the Winter Games!
Winter Vinecki is one of those people who must have extra hours in her days. She was the youngest person to run a marathon on all seven continents, and was one half of the first mother/daughter duo to ever complete the feat. She’s a law student at St. Mary’s and the founder of Team Winter, an organization dedicated to eradicating prostate cancer in honor of her father, who passed away when she was just 9 years old. After making a full recovery from a scary cervical injury last year, you don’t want to miss Winter shooting for the (literal) stars. Also, if you’ve never watched aerial skiing, do yourself a favor and go check out some highlights, like, now.
Sport: Curling
Country: Canada
Olympic Appearances: 2018, 2022, 2026 (Rachel); 2018, 2026 (Emma)
We are a family: 6 babies (3 human and 3 doggos) between them!
What’s better than going to the Olympics? Going with your best friend, of course. Emma and Rachel are both 36 years old and have been curling for 31 years. You do the math. Both representing Team Homan, Rachel is the team’s skip, while Emma is now the team’s second. This means that Emma throws the team’s 3rd and 4th stones, and plays a large sweeping role. Rachel is in charge of team strategy and throws the final 2 stones. Their combined accomplishments are simply too numerous to list here, but they are 3x World Champions (current defending World Champs), 5x Canadian Champions and went undefeated at the Scotties in 2025. Add this to the list of winter sports that I could never do in one million years.
Sport: Ice hockey
Country: Canada
Olympic Appearances: 2022 (Gold Medal), 2026
Favorite Motto: Today is someday
Erin will have to clear space in her trophy case at home if Team Canada brings home any more hardware. With 7 World Championship Medals (3x Gold, 3x Silver, 1x Bronze) and a PyeongChang Gold medal already sitting pretty at home, Erin knows what it takes to win. Off the ice, Erin is also shooting slapshots. In June of last year Erin and hockey brand CCM launched a Pride line together, with the 100+ year old hockey brand actually changing their logo to rainbow. Now that’s goals. Also! Once the Olympics are over don’t forget to follow Erin back to the PWHL where she holds down the defense for the Montréal Victoire.
Jan 13, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Montreal defender Erin Ambrose (23) plays the puck against Boston during the second period in a PWHL ice hockey game at Verdun Auditorium. Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Sport: Bobsleigh
Country: Austria
Olympic Appearances: 2018, 2022, 2026
Got it from: Her mama
Kati suffered a freak stroke when she was only 28 while on vacation in Peru in 2022. She didn’t know if she would ever be able to drive a sled again, much less go to another Olympic Games. Not only is she now heading to her third games, but she never lost her sense of fun along the way. You can catch her singing duets with teammates (often), starting an impromptu concert while lifting, or just plain messing around. Kati lifts up everyone around her, and will continue to take care of her community after sport and she works towards becoming a police officer! But don’t worry! Even beyond the sled, the musical shenanigans will continue.
Sport: Skeleton
Country: USA
Olympic Debut: 2026
Proud Dog Mama to: Tatanka the Beagle
Second of 11 children, Mystique has always been a little quiet. It was so hard to be heard over all the other voices in the house that she developed a fear of public speaking. Always up for facing her fears, Mystique decided to minor in Theater Performance & Stage Combat at Queens University to fight her previous phobia. A former track and field athlete, Mystique was scouted for a bobsled camp, and the coaches there encouraged her to try skeleton. Talk about facing fears head on. At the 2025 World Champs, Mystique brought home Team USA’s first medal in skeleton in 12 years before partnering with teammate Austin Florian to secure gold in the skeleton mixed team event. She’s just getting started folks; hop on the Ro train!
Sport: Bobsleigh
Country: USA
Olympic Appearances: 2012, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026
Only thing missing? A gold medal to go with her crown
Our Winter Queen. Elana freaking Meyers Taylor. Elana is history’s most decorated black Winter Olympic athlete with 3 silver and 2 bronze medals to her name. She also has no fewer than 10 World Championship medals and countless other accolades. But all of this pales in comparison when put beside her true treasures: her two boys, Noah and Nico, who travel with her and her husband Nic. Both Noah and Nico live with disabilities, and it takes a small village of fellow moms and nannies to create a supportive and enriching environment for them on the road. Over the years Elana has become an advocate for families like hers, everywhere from her Instagram to the White House. We spoke to Elana last year about how the heck she does it all, and are still convinced that really only she could ever pull it off.
Last but not least, we wanted to give a shout out to our favorite Olympic alternate:
Sport: Figure Skating
Country: USA
Olympic Appearances: Alternate for 2026
Been a Diva Since: 2010
There aren’t many people in the world who can do what Starr Andrews can. Cutting through big pressure moments on the thinnest of blades. But there probably isn’t anyone else in the world who has skated to her own voice. One of one. Starr is also helping break down barriers for what a winter Olympian should look like. In 2022 she became the first black female skater to win a Grand Prix Medal at Skate Canada, and the following year became the first black female skater to win a medal at the US National Championships in 35 years. We know the future is bright for this rising… Starr. 😉
These are just a few of the athletes we are excited to see hit the track, slopes, rink and jumps in Italy. Whether it’s death defying twists or sweeping perfection, the Winter Olympians are on a whole other level. Who are you excited to watch? Let us know in the comments!
About Parity, a Group 1001 Company
Parity is the leading platform for professional women athlete partnerships. With a mission to close the gender income gap in sports and beyond, Parity connects brands with a diverse network of more than 1,400 women athletes from 85 sports. Through sponsorship activations, content collaborations, and strategic advisory, Parity helps brands authentically engage the most trusted voices in sports today. For more information, visit www.paritynow.co, or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
