Today's Milan Cortina Olympics Headlines

Wednesday, February 4

Greetings from Milan and the 25th Olympic Winter Games, where I am getting a feel for the athletes who will compete. Overall, 2,900 athletes from 93 countries are ready to go. Yesterday we heard from Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old skiing superstar, who ruptured her ACL in a crash on Saturday in Switzerland. But the fearless five-time Olympian is not giving up the fight, she said. I also went one-on-one with Erin Jackson, who was named a flag bearer for Team USA. Jackson told me, “It’s such a big honor, and I’m proud to do this.” Erin won a gold in speed skating in 2022, becoming the first Black woman to win gold in an individual event in the history of the Winter Olympics. And I caught up with three other local athletes. Danny Casper from Briarcliff is the skip of the U.S. curling team; Jared Firestone is a skeleton racer who went to law school with my son; and Michael A.J. Edelman, who you'll see on the bobsled. I can’t wait for the Opening Ceremony on Friday and look forward to watching stars such as Mikaela Shiffrin, Jordan Stolz, and Ilia Malinin go for gold in the days ahead. -Bruce

Our Bruce Beck is on the ground in Milan Cortina! Follow along on NBC New York:

Here are the top stories we're following today ⬇️

“TODAY” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie will not host the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony as Arizona authorities continue to investigate her mother’s possible abduction.

“Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time,” an NBC Sports spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. “Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother. We will share additional information about our Opening Ceremony coverage plans soon.”

Savannah Guthrie was set to depart for Italy ahead of Friday’s Opening Ceremony to co-host with Terry Gannon. She was to be joined later by former “TODAY ”co-host Hoda Kotb for the rest of the Games.

Of course it would take those mischievous Minions to thrust what has become a yearslong musical nightmare for figure skaters into the global spotlight just days before they step onto the ice for the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Spanish skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate revealed this week that the music he has used all season, a medley from the animated comedy film “Minions” from Illumination Entertainment, could not be used in the biggest event of his career.

“I was informed that I am no longer permitted to use this program due to copyright clearance issues,” Sabate explained Monday, four days before the opening ceremony. “I will face this challenge head-on and do everything I can to make the best of the situation.”

It’s always one of the most anticipated parts of the Olympic Games, and we have the full schedule breakdown and how to watch every figure skating event at Milan Cortina 2026.

For Team USA, it’s an opportunity to repeat as Olympic gold medalists in two events: Nathan Chen won gold in the men’s singles event and then helped lead the team to gold in overall team event in 2022.

This time, Chen isn’t competing, with the team now being led by Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, and the ice dancing duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates.

Lindsey Vonn says she will make her Olympic comeback at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games despite suffering a torn ACL.

The 41-year-old American made the announcement at a press conference from Cortina, Italy, on Tuesday.

“This is not, obviously, what I had hoped for,” Vonn said. “I’ve been working really hard to come into these Games in a much different position. I know what my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today, but I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance, I will try.”

Speed skater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca have been tapped to lead Team USA during the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Team USA named Jackson and Del Duca as Team USA’s Opening Ceremony flag bearers on Tuesday with an exclusive announcement on “TODAY.”

Jackson and Del Duca were chosen through a vote of fellow Olympic teammates led by the Team USA Athletes’ Commission.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will call both Milan and Cortina home. It’s the first time in Olympic history, winter or summer, that two cities officially are assuming host duties. Cortina d’Ampezzo, however, is no stranger to the global spotlight. 

The resort town w