Kyra Dossa is used to living life in the air. This week, the 22-year-old Cleveland native will continue to soar as she makes her Olympic debut in freestyle aerial skiing for Team USA at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

With a snowblower, no fear and some ingenuity, a young Birk and Svea Irving were determined to catch air and stomp tricks in the small backyard of their Winter Park home.

Ski mountaineering will make its Olympic debut this year, the first winter sport to do so since 2002. Skeleton, luge, ski jumping and moguls are also getting new events.

The United States will send eight athletes to the 2026 Winter Olympics in aerials skiing, with Olympic gold medalist Chris Lillis and two-time Olympians Winter Vinecki and Kaila Kuhn leading the pack.

NHL players will be among the top earners in Milan Cortina, but the 2026 Winter Olympics’ biggest money winner comes from the ski slopes, with an estimated $23 million.

Some individual athletes from the banned countries will be permitted to participate in the Milano Cortina Winter Games

As the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan Cortina swing into full gear Friday with the opening ceremony, it’s a great time to revisit the impact of athletes from the