New Zealand Unveils Strong 17-Athlete Team for 2026 Winter Olympics

New Zealand has confirmed a record contingent of 17 athletes set to compete in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics from February 6-22, 2026. This marks the largest group of snow sports competitors the country has ever sent to a Winter Olympics. The announcement follows the selection of nine athletes on Friday, joining the eight who were conditionally selected in October 2023. All athletes have now secured their Olympic quota spots.

Among the notable selections is Freeski Halfpipe athlete Ben Harrington, whose selection is particularly special as his younger brother, Luca Harrington, was also chosen for the team. “I’m super stoked to join the New Zealand Team for Milano Cortina 2026 … It’s also pretty cool to be in the same team as my younger brother,” Harrington remarked. He aims to leverage his experience from the Beijing 2022 Olympics to enhance his performance this time.

The Freeski Halfpipe team includes Gustav Legnavsky, who made his Olympic debut in Beijing at just 16 years old, and Mischa Thomas, who brings experience from the Winter Youth Olympic Games held in Gangwon 2024. Thomas has demonstrated impressive form recently, winning the European Cup in Halfpipe in Corvatsch, Switzerland, and the European Cup Premium in Slopestyle at Laax, Switzerland.

The Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air disciplines will see the addition of Sylvia Trotter and Lucas Ball, raising the total to five athletes in this category. Trotter recently finished tenth in her World Cup debut at the Stubai Freeski Slopestyle World Cup and seventh at the Secret Garden Freeski Big Air World Cup.

In snowboarding, Lucia Georgalli and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott will represent New Zealand in the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air events. Georgalli has previously won a silver medal in Snowboard Slopestyle and a bronze in Big Air at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

The Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air will feature three talented athletes. Dane Menzies has shown commendable results in 2025, finishing fourth in the World Cup in Aspen, USA, and fifth in Beijing. His performances included third place in Snowmass, USA. Rocco Jamieson, who landed on the podium at World Cups in Cardrona and Switzerland, also secured a bronze medal at the X Games in Aspen. Lyon Farrell rounds out this group with consistent top 10 finishes in Big Air events across the USA and China.

The chief executive of Snow Sports NZ, Nic Cavanagh, praised the athletes for representing the pinnacle of talent in New Zealand’s snow sports scene. “In addition to experienced Olympians and World Champions, we are seeing a crop of fearless, young athletes emerge and stamp their mark on the international stage,” he stated.

Cavanagh highlighted the supportive community behind these athletes, including parents, coaches, and clubs, who have played a vital role in their development. “As a community, we should be very proud of their accomplishments,” he added, emphasizing the bright future for snow sports in New Zealand.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games promises to be an exciting showcase of talent and dedication from New Zealand’s best snow sports athletes. The full list of selected athletes includes:

– Ruby Star Andrews – Women’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
– Lucas Ball – Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
– Ben Barclay – Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
– Lyon Farrell – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
– Lucia Georgalli – Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
– Ben Harrington – Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
– Luca Harrington – Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
– Luke Harrold – Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
– Rocco Jamieson – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
– Gustav Legnavsky – Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
– Cam Melville Ives – Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe
– Fin Melville Ives – Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
– Dane Menzies – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
– Alice Robinson – Women’s Alpine Skiing
– Zoi Sadowski-Synnott – Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
– Mischa Thomas – Women’s Freeski Halfpipe
– Sylvia Trotter – Women’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air

As the athletes prepare to represent New Zealand on the world stage, anticipation builds for their performances in the heart of the Italian Alps.