While all the attention was on this year’s Super Bowl, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina began last Friday with the opening ceremony. The Games will run from February 6 to February 22.

Penn State will be represented once again this year as five Penn Staters head to Italy to represent their countries. Here’s a look at the five Penn Staters who we should be rooting for in the Winter Olympics and the sport they are competing in.

Tessa Janecke

Penn State women’s hockey forward Tessa Janecke became the first Nittany Lion in history to compete for Team USA in the Winter Olympics when she made her first appearance on Thursday in the USA’s win over Czechia. She made a huge impact in the 5-1 win, recording two assists. She didn’t record any stats in the USA’s second win over Finland on Saturday, but will play a huge role in the USA’s quest for a gold medal after finishing runner-up in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The United States will be back in action on Monday, February 9, at 2:40 p.m. EST, when it takes on Switzerland in its third group-stage game.

Jessica Adolfsson & Nicole Hall

Jessica Adolfsson is representing Team Sweden for the second consecutive Winter Olympics. She is a former Penn State women’s hockey defender who played for three seasons and graduated in 2021. In the 2022 Winter Olympics, she played all five games for the team and tallied one point.

Alongside Adolfsson, forward Nicole Hall is playing for the team after becoming the second Nittany Lion named to the Swedish national team. The sophomore has scored nine goals and assisted eight in 28 games played with Penn State this season.

Sweden has won its first three games in Olympic group play against Germany, Italy, and France. While Adolfsson didn’t make an impact in Sweden’s win over Germany, she scored her first goal in the Winter Olympics during Sweden’s 6-1 win over Italy. Hall has yet to record any stats in Sweden’s wins. Sweden will play its final group game against Japan on Tuesday, February 10, at 6:10 a.m. EST.

Matilde Fantin

Freshman Penn State women’s hockey forward Matilde Fantin is representing the host nation after being named to Italy’s Olympic team. The forward has totaled eight goals, 10 assists, and 18 points in 21 games this season for the Nittany Lions. Her eight goals lead all freshmen on the team.

Fantin scored her first goal in Olympic play during Italy’s 4-1 win over France, but Italy suffered its first loss on Saturday against Sweden. The host nation will be back in action on Monday, February 9, at 6:10 a.m. EST, when it takes on Japan in its third group-stage game.

Dan Barefoot

Outside of women’s hockey, Penn State alum Dan Barefoot will make his first-ever appearance at the Winter Olympics in the sport of skeleton. Skeleton is one of the three sled sports, alongside bobsled and luge, with a single rider flying headfirst down the track on a lightweight sled.

The 2013 Penn State graduate qualified for the Winter Olympics by winning three straight races in Lake Placid to earn his spot on Team USA. He will begin his quest for the gold medal on Monday, February 9, with heats one and two.