Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 Early Qualification Predictions

[Topicmaster1010 4,182]

With the World Cup season in most of the winter sports about to begin and qualification in some sports already underway, I think it's about time for this thread. 

 

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Team Size Prediction for Winter Olympic Games 2026 Milano Cortina

 

Ski Sports

 

Alpine Skiing  () -

Cross Country Skiing  () -

Ski Jumping  () -

Nordic Combined  () -

Freestyle Skiing  () -

Snowboarding  () -

Biathlon  () -

Ski Mountaineering  () -

 

 

Skating Sports

 

Speed Skating  () -

Short Track Speed Skating  () -

Figure Skating  () -

 

 

Sleigh Sports

 

Luge  () -

Skeleton  () -

Bobsleigh  () -

 

 

Team Sports

 

Curling  () -

Ice Hockey  () -

 

 

 

Total Optimistic Prediction  -  ()

Total Pessimistic Prediction  - ()

 

Total Realistic Prediction  -  ()

[Topicmaster1010 4,182]

 Canada

Team Size Prediction for Winter Olympic Games 2026 Milano Cortina

 

Ski Sports

 

Alpine Skiing  (13) - That's been the team size the last couple of Olympics so it's a safe bet again.

Cross Country Skiing  (10) - Not too familiar with the qualification system. Probably around 6 men and 4 women.

Ski Jumping  (5) - Loutitt, Strate and Maurer for sure on the women's side. Possibly a 4th will qualify. On the men's side, if Bowd-Clowes returns, then he should also qualify.

Nordic Combined  (0) - Been a nonexistent sport for a while. No athletes competing in the World Cup or Continental Cup.

Freestyle Skiing  (32) - Should qualify a team in mixed aerials which means a maximum team size of 32 athletes. Which athletes in which disciplines to be determined.

Snowboarding  (24) - Full teams in slopestyle and big air. Then somewhere between 1-4 athletes in the other disciplines.

Biathlon  (6) - Based on the Nations Cup last year, the men finished outside the top 20 and wouldn't qualify a relay team (and that's without Russia and Belarus). With Christian Gow's retirement, that makes things even more difficult. Women's relay should still qualify though.

Ski Mountaineering  (1) - Gonna be optimistic here and say that one athlete will qualify either through the World Rankings or continental quota.

 

 

Skating Sports

 

Speed Skating  (16) - 7 to 8 men, 8 to 9 women. For now, I'll say 8 of each gender.

Short Track Speed Skating  (10) - Full team size. With the current skill level of the team, anything else would be a tragedy.

Figure Skating  (12) - Most likely 1 man (I hope) and 1 woman, then 2-3 pairs and 2-3 ice dance couples. For now, let's say 2 in pairs and 3 in ice dance.

 

 

Sleigh Sports

 

Luge  (7) - 2 women + 1 entry in each of the other disciplines

Skeleton  (4) - 1 or 2 men + 2 or 3 women

Bobsleigh  (14) - 2 men's crews (in both events) and 3 women's crews (in both events)

 

 

Team Sports

 

Curling  (12) - Full team or else you might as well burn the federation to the ground.

Ice Hockey  (48) - Both men's and women's teams already qualified

 

 

 

Total Optimistic Prediction  -  (229)

Total Pessimistic Prediction  - (184)

 

Total Realistic Prediction  -  (214)

Edited November 22 by Topicmaster1010

[Topicmaster1010 4,182]

Anybody?

[dobar_73 66]

 

Team Size Prediction for Winter Olympic Games 2026 Milano Cortina

 

Let's do this for a country that is not actually that good in winter sports as well as our Olympic Committee Declining lots of places. In Beijing we had 7 quotas and used 2   

 

(also I am a very optimistic person in relation to sport in general and always hope for the best. ) 

 

Ski Sports

 

Alpine Skiing  (2) - Emilija Djurović and Aleksa Tomović

Cross Country Skiing  (2) - Anja Ilić (the olympic committee cancelled her participation just before Bejing) and Andrija Tošić

Ski Jumping  (0) - Basically not existent in Serbia

Nordic Combined  (0) - Basically not existent in Serbia

Freestyle Skiing  (0) - Basically not existent in Serbia

Snowboarding  (1) - Matija Milenković 

Biathlon  (2) - We had two juniors at the YOG 2024, maybe they can get better, I will be optimistic 

(Lamija Salihagić and/or Hanna Jelena Braun)

Ski Mountaineering  (0) - I don't think it will be existing 

 

 

Skating Sports

 

Speed Skating  (0) - Basically not existent in Serbia

Short Track Speed Skating  (1) - Out first EYOF winter medal in a long time came from Luka Jašić

Figure Skating  (0) - Maybe we will have a good junior come 

 

 

Sleigh Sports

 

Luge  (0) - Basically not existent in Serbia

Skeleton  (1) - We had two juniors at the YOG 2024, maybe they can get better, I will be optimistic

Bobsleigh  (0) - Not existent anymore 

 

 

Team Sports

 

Curling  (0) - Basically not existent in Serbia

Ice Hockey  (0) - Qualifier for women's team cancelled, and mens team eliminated

 

 

 

Total  VERY Optimistic Prediction  -  (9)

Total Pessimistic Prediction  - (3)

 

Total Realistic Prediction  -  (3)

[TeamGB 174]

 - Great Britain

Team Size Prediction for Winter Olympic Games 2026 Milano Cortina

 

Ski Sports

 

Alpine Skiing  (4) - The qualification system is a bit confusing, but from what I gather the team is Guaranteed 2 quotas (one for each gender), and then more are given for rankings. I can only see 1 female qualifying, but the men's team is a bit stronger, and could improve with some juniors coming through. I would say a baseline of 3, with a max of 5, 6 if things really improve. 

Cross Country Skiing  (3) - The men's team came 11th in the world cup last year, and with some good results could move up to top 10 which would give 3 quotas, The women's team is non existant. 

Ski Jumping  (0) - Nope

Nordic Combined  (0) - Nope

Freestyle Skiing  (6) - Based on last year rankings, the athletes are ranked: M Moguls (26/30), M Ski Cross (26/32), M Halfpipe (33/25), M Slopestyle (39+40/30) W Moguls (23+42/30), W Halfpipe (3/25), W Big Air (5/30), W Slopestyle (19+22/30)  Barring Injury , thats 2 quotas on the women's side, and I would predict 4 more, with a max team of 7 or 8.

Snowboarding  (2) - W Halfpipe (34/25) is the only unknown quota, as both Charlotte Bankes and Mia Brookes should qualify easily. Huw Nightlingale may get a spot for the Mixed Team snowboard cross but I don't know how it works.

Biathlon  (0) - Nope

Ski Mountaineering  (0) - Nope

 

 

Skating Sports

 

Speed Skating  (2) - Cornelius Kersten and Elia Smelding should qualify, although they both haven't competed this year.

Short Track Speed Skating  (2) - A team of 5 went to the world but only a couple could really qualify

Figure Skating  (4) - Fear and Gibson should qualify, and the pair team is ranked 16th in the world with 19 qualifiers. 

 

 

Sleigh Sports

 

Luge  (0) - Nope

Skeleton  (6) - A full team is certainly on the cards, but with only ranking points from the next season counting a lot could change

Bobsleigh  (6) - Brad Hall and Co should qualify for both 2 and 4 man. I doubt any more will qualify from the mens side. Adele Nicholl on the womens should also qualify in both events

 

 

Team Sports

 

Curling  (12) - Anything but a full team would be a dissapointment

Ice Hockey  (0) - The men were the only chance

 

 

 

Total Optimistic Prediction  -  (60)

Total Pessimistic Prediction  - (32)

 

Total Realistic Prediction  -  (47)

[Josh 10,519]

4 hours ago, TeamGB said:

 - Great Britain

Team Size Prediction for Winter Olympic Games 2026 Milano Cortina

 

Freestyle Skiing  (6) - Based on last year rankings, the athletes are ranked: M Moguls (26/30), M Ski Cross (26/32), M Halfpipe (33/25), M Slopestyle (39+40/30) W Moguls (23+42/30), W Halfpipe (3/25), W Big Air (5/30), W Slopestyle (19+22/30)  Barring Injury , thats 2 quotas on the women's side, and I would predict 4 more, with a max team of 7 or 8.

Snowboarding  (2) - W Halfpipe (34/25) is the only unknown quota, as both Charlotte Bankes and Mia Brookes should qualify easily. Huw Nightlingale may get a spot for the Mixed Team snowboard cross but I don't know how it works.

 

Team Sports

 

Curling  (12) - Anything but a full team would be a dissapointment

Ice Hockey  (0) - The men were the only chance

I’m no expert on British athletes/sport, but as an avid watcher of a ton of sporting events (not saying you don’t), particularly curling and hockey so I have a few conflicting viewpoints here.

 

In freestyle skiing, I think your predictions are good but I’d say 3 on the men’s side. Davies in ski cross, and Fenely and Jeannesson in moguls will probably qualify. 
 

In snowboarding, more specifically snowboard cross, I think Nightingale will qualify. FYI there’s no specific qualification pathway for mixed team, you just need to qualify one person per gender. 
 

In curling, I’d have to assume your opinion has changed since the European Championships? British women’s curling didn’t have the greatest of seasons in 2023-24. I personally think it’ll be close; Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, South Korea, United States, Japan (and Italy) for sure. Then a couple of Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, and maybe China or Turkey. 

 

As for hockey…. had to chuckle when I read that because sorry, but your men’s team had no chance at all, especially in the most stacked group of the tournament with both Denmark and Norway… 

Edited Monday at 07:19 PM by Josh

[hckošice 14,836]

Slovakia

 

Team Size Prediction for Winter Olympic Games 2026 Milano Cortina

 

Ski Sports

 

Alpine Skiing  (5) -

As usual, 3 W & 2 M. Petra Vlhová will be accompanied by 2 other girls, I guess Rebeka Jančová should be one of them, no idea who will be the other one. For the men team, it is going to be again the Žampa bros clan with one last dance for Adam and once again joind by his younger brother Andreas.

Cross Country Skiing  (4) -

As always in the last couple of games, I expect a Coubertine-like participation in this sport with a perfect Bach-esque gender equality with 2 M and 2 W in order to start in both Team sprints semifinals. Do not ask me the names, I have absolutely no idea

Ski Jumping  (2) -

There a quite solid chance to finally return in this beautiful sport for Slovakia since the extinction of the dinosaurs. The young Kapustík siblings, Hektor and his sister Kira are the biggest chances for this history making, Among women it would be an absolute premiere, plus there a minor chance that Kira Kapustíková may be, if all planets align perfectly accompanied by another girl Tamara Mesíková.

Nordic Combined  (0) -

Maybe in Abu Dhabi 2042 or New Trumpopolis 2046

Freestyle Skiing  (1) -

Michael Oravec in Freeski Big Air & Slopestyle is the only realistic chance, there some young girls trying ski cross, but still too long way to go here

Snowboarding  (2) -

Klaudia Medlová once returned from injuries should qualify for her last games in Big Air + Slopestyle. Among men in the same disciplines we may have an olympic debut with Samuel Jaroš.

Biathlon  (6) -

Hopefully with the returns of Paja Fialková (now Batovská) and Nastya Kuzmina we will win enough points to qualify a full female squad alongside the young Ema Kapustová and one of the Remeňová sisters to form a relay. Among men, the situation is more complicated, I hope at least 2 guys will make it (The biggest chances I see for the young talent Borguľa and maybe Sklenárik to join him) to have at least a mixed relay, a full men relay hope is utopic

Ski Mountaineering  (2) -

Funny enough, probably our biggest medal chance is this niche sport with Marianna Jagerčíková in W Sprint, alongside her male partner Jakub Šiarnik we should start also in the Mixed relay

 

 

Skating Sports

 

Speed Skating  (1) -

There a fresh young czech import who can qualify us for the very first time in this sport, his name is Lukáš Steklý, but since I have zero clue about this sport I can not say how much it is also realistic though

Short Track Speed Skating  (0) -

Would be nice to have again a participation in this, we have a couple of talented young girls, but still far from the required level, so probably none again

Figure Skating  (1) -

The young Adam Hagara is our solid chance for participating, he will need a good dose of luck in the process though, and as knowing the good old mathematical laws about the equation between Slovakia and Luck it will end by Zero athletes

 

 

Sleigh Sports

 

Luge  (5) -

2 guys in Singles with the immortal Highlander Ninis, a pair in Doubles and at least one female should qualify, at least I hope so

Skeleton  (0) -

There one kid trying the stuff, but no chance unless he swithc nationality to Benin or Tuvalu for the free pass

Bobsleigh  (1) -

Viki Čerňanská I do believe shoud repeat her Olympic experience from Beijing in the monobobs once again

 

 

Team Sports

 

Curling  (0) -

lol

Ice Hockey  (25) -

Embarassement and national mourning avoided, The National pride qualified again and continue the streak of never missing any winter olympic tournament since the independence. With very likely the most talented generation our hockey ever had, Cortina is a great journey we are looking forward.

Hail to the god Slafkovský everyone

 

 

 

 

Total Optimistic Prediction  -  (57)

Total Pessimistic Prediction  - (30)

 

Total Realistic Prediction  -  (50)

[Topicmaster1010 4,182]

1 hour ago, hckošice said:

Maybe in Abu Dhabi 2042 or New Trumpopolis 2046

[intoronto 5,645]

"

There one kid trying the stuff, but no chance unless he swithc nationality to Benin or Tuvalu for the free pass" - There is no universality quotas at the WOG

[Dragon 1,845]

7 hours ago, TeamGB said:

 - Great Britain

Team Size Prediction for Winter Olympic Games 2026 Milano Cortina

 

Ski Sports

 

Alpine Skiing  (4) - The qualification system is a bit confusing, but from what I gather the team is Guaranteed 2 quotas (one for each gender), and then more are given for rankings. I can only see 1 female qualifying, but the men's team is a bit stronger, and could improve with some juniors coming through. I would say a baseline of 3, with a max of 5, 6 if things really improve. 

Think you're you're being a little pessimistic here. In men's slalom the #3 GB skier is in the world top 40 and the 3 Carrick-Smith teenagers are jumping up the rankings too. I'd actually be slightly disappointed if we didn't have a full team of 4 slalom skiers plus 2 in the women's event. The speed events are going to be a big challenge though

 

EDIT - Sorry, #3 GB slalom skier is actually ranked #41 in the world

Edited Monday at 09:29 PM by Dragon
correction