With each pass Olympic Gamesthere is something new to admire. Usually, it’s a cool costume for the opening ceremony, or a new cauldron for the Olympic flame, or maybe a new fancy stadium that the host city hasn’t used in 10 years. Then there are the new records set at each Games, breathtaking examples of human strength, talent, and mental perseverance.

But for 2026 Winter Olympicssome of the most popular firsts will emerge from the Olympic Village rather than individual venues. They are the ones pushing their games forward and making history in the process. Here are 12 athletes who are set to make history at this year’s Winter Olympics.

Sports: Figure Skating

Amber Glenn, one of the most interesting and multi-faceted figure skaters in recent history, has won three US national titles and one Grand Prix Final championship. Apparently pansexual, he is known for taking victory laps wrapped in the Pride flag. Even Glenn frankly speaking about his struggles with mental health and ADHD. (He is also a huge fan of Star Wars, Pokémon, and Magic: The Gathering.) While his Madonna-themed short program is worth watching, his 2024 exhibition performance set to “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo even better.

Notable quote: “The fear of not being accepted is a huge struggle for me. Being recognized as (going through) ‘just a phase’ or (being) ‘indecisive’ is a common thing for bisexual/pansexual women. I don’t want to shove my sexuality in people’s faces, but I also don’t want to hide who I am.” —Amber Glenn on The Voice of Dallas

Sports: Ice Hockey

If you (or anyone watching Hot Rivalry) think of a “hockey player,” the image that usually comes to mind is a strong Russo-Canadian, fast on his skates and his stick but missing a few teeth. Laila Edwards is anything but that. As the first Black woman to play on the US Olympic hockey team, Edwards is breaking new ground. He’s gotten a little help along the way, too, with fellow Cleveland Heights, Ohio natives Travis and Jason Kelce donated $10,000 to a GoFundMe set up by the Edwards family to pay for the trip to watch their daughter in the games.

Notable quote: “Walking into a rink and having someone say ‘that’s the basketball court,’ having the experience of microaggression, taught me lessons and made me grow a thicker skin in a predominantly white game.” —Laila Edwards on TV station KARE 11

Sports: Alpine Skiing

At just 17 years old, Tallulah Proulx has already broken records, becoming not only the first Filipino to qualify for the Winter Olympics but also the youngest Filipino ever to qualify. Although he was born in California and now lives in Utah, Proulx competed in the Games under the Philippine flag. Even if he doesn’t win a medal, after finishing 16th at the Asian Winter Games, his slalom and giant slalom runs in Milano—and his entrance during the opening ceremony—should be one to watch.

Notable quote: “I am really happy, and I hope that I can be a role model for other Filipina girls and Filipinos in general.” —Tallulah Proulx on ABS-CBN News in the Philippines

Kim Meylemans and Nicole Silveira, and Anna Kjellbin and Ronja Savolainen

Sports: Skeleton (Meylemans and Silveira), Ice Hockey (Kjellbin and Savolainen)

OK, sure, maybe it’s possible that wives have played on opposing teams in the Olympics before, but the fact that BOTH The sets of wives competing against each other at the 2026 Winter Games felt so good. For the skeleton competition, Kim Meylemans of Belgium is looking to best her partner, Nicole Silveira of Brazil. In the ice hockey rink, it was the Swedish Team of Anna Kjellbin who sought to overcome the Finnish squad of wife Ronja Savolainen. And for Meylemans and Silveira, going out and competing in these games is more than just a cute story. As the couple posted on Instagram“On the Games being held in Italy and the current Italian government making decisions/laws that harm the LGBTQ+ community (read it if you don’t believe it), it feels extra special to be able to compete as a couple and shine a light on marriage equality while doing so.