With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan scheduled to start in just under two months, all eyes are on Team USA as America anticipates a strong performance bringing home many medals. Though the team rosters won’t be finalized until early 2026, the past several Winter Games have seen plenty of Illinois natives win big. Among them are hockey forward Abbey Murphy, ski jumper Kevin Bickner, and figure skater Alexa Knierim — each of them a story of extreme dedication, determination, and intense passion for the sports they love.

Born and raised in Evergreen Park, Illinois, Abbey Murphy has become one of the most exciting young talents in American women’s hockey. A forward who shoots right, Murphy began skating at a young age and achieved high distinction in the sport while still in her teens, making it to the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship three times in high school and joining the University of Minnesota’s NCAA team her first year of college, where she plays still today.

Murphy made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where she helped Team USA capture a silver medal as part of the women’s hockey squad — a remarkable achievement at the age of only 19. Known for her toughness, grit, and aggressive playing style, she has also excelled at World Championships, earning both gold and silver medals with the national team. Murphy is highly favored to represent Team USA once again in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.

Born in Chicago and raised in Wauconda, Illinois, Kevin Bickner discovered ski jumping at age 9 through the local Norge Ski Club. Bickner went on to become one of the top U.S. ski jumpers, setting the American distance record with a remarkable 244.5-meter leap in Vikersund, Norway.

He represented the United States in both the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics, consistently performing among the world’s best. Bickner has also finished strong in various World Cup performances and has made a dedicated effort to growing ski jumping in a country where the sport remains niche.

Figure skater Alexa Knierim — born Alexa Paige Scimeca in Addison, Illinois — has been a prominent figure in U.S. pairs skating for over a decade. Competing in both the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games, she has earned two Olympic medals: a bronze in 2018 and a gold in 2022. Beyond the Olympics, Knierim is a World Champion and multi-time U.S. National Champion, known for her athleticism, resilience and artistry.

Knierim’s career included a successful partnership with Brandon Frazier, with whom she won the World Figure Skating Championships. Since her retirement, she has returned to Illinois as a coach, where she may very well train the next Illinois athletes to make their mark at upcoming Olympics.

These three athletes serve as the ultimate inspiration to countless Illinois athletes hoping one day to reach the peak of athletic competition and make their own mark on sports history.