Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 Early Qualification Predictions

[TeamGB 186]

  On 11/25/2024 at 7:19 PM, Josh said:

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… 

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I'll give you the curling comments based on your expertise. But, I will say that GB have only ever not qualified a curling team once, the mixed pair in 2018. They just have a way of upping their game when the olympics come around. 

 

I hope I'm wrong but I have a funny feeling that Huw Nightingale won't qualify and as such neither will the Mixed Team. It feels a bit like the Mixed Team Skeet in Paris, where Ben Llewellin missed out on qualifying for the individual so the team couldn't compete, despite being World Champions 2 years prior. 

 

Again, you definately know more about ice hockey than me but I feel like, apart from vs Norway, the Team wasn't outplayed in the final qualifier. Albeit intermittently, the team has been in the top division of the world championships for a few years now, so they do have the quality to compete for an Olympic Berth

[orangeman 2,015]

  On 11/25/2024 at 7:29 PM, hckošice said:

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)

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  Quote

Hail to the god Slafkovský everyone

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As a Montreal Canadien fan, I am in agreement. However, he is struggling recently and is demoted to the 4th line this week. Hoping he can turn it around. 

[hckošice 15,073]

  On 11/26/2024 at 3:08 PM, orangeman said:

As a Montreal Canadien fan, I am in agreement. However, he is struggling recently and is demoted to the 4th line this week. Hoping he can turn it around. 

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He will recover soon, I have no worries about

[rafalgorka 1,634]

Do you think there will be some new NOCs which will compete in 2026 Olympics but never competed in the winter Games before?