U.S. Olympians Welcomed in Milan

In Milan, Italy, Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio greeted American Olympians as they prepare for the Winter Games. Vance was accompanied by his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their three children: Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel. They interacted warmly with the athletes while holding hands with their kids, wishing them good luck. Interestingly, Vance shared that his younger daughter isn’t really into sports, yet she loves the Olympics. It’s kind of fascinating how the Olympics seem to unite people, even those who don’t typically follow sports.

“This is one of the few things that unites an entire country,” Vance remarked to the athletes. “If we can get people who aren’t big sports fans to watch the Olympics so passionately, then you know it’s something special.” His message was clear: “Everyone is rooting for you.”

Milan-Cortina Olympics 2026

Vance expressed awe at the “combination of excellence and hard work” required to reach the Olympic level, acknowledging the sacrifices athletes and their families make for Team USA. He encouraged the athletes to soak in the experience, saying, “I hope you win as many medals as possible, but most of all, I hope you enjoy it. Democrats, Republicans, independents—everyone is cheering for you.”

While Rubio didn’t speak during the event, he later posed for a group photo alongside his wife, Janet Rubio, and the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, Tillman Fertitta, who also joined in.

The athletes present hailed from freestyle ski aerial and freestyle halfpipe teams across eight states, including California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Utah. Notable names included Connor Curran, Quinn Dillinger, and Nicholas Goepper, among others.

Some athletes will be making their Olympic debuts, while others have prior experience. The opening ceremony is set for Friday, February 6th.