The Opening Ceremonies at the Milano Cortina games begin Friday in Italy. For some sports, preliminary competition has already begun. While Florida is experiencing wintery conditions this week, a number of athletes with Sunshine State connection will compete for Olympic glory.
Long track speed skater Brittany Bowe (Ocala) is competing in her fourth Olympic games. Bowe has a pair of bronze medals in her Olympic history, winning in the team pursuit competition in 2018 and in the 1000 meters in 2022.
Another Ocala native, Erin Jackson, will also compete in long track speedskating. The 2022 gold medalist will race in the 500 meters and 1000 meters.
Fort Walton Beach-born speed skater Mia Kilburg, who was a part of the 2018 team pursuit team that won bronze, will compete in her third Olympic games in the 1000 meters and women’s mass start.
The 1000 meter final is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 9, and the 500 meters is Sunday, Feb. 15. The women’s mass start is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21.
Josh Williamson (Lake Mary/FSU) is a push athlete in the two-man and four-man bobsled. He is competing in his second Olympic games. Heats for the two-man bobsled begin on Monday, Feb. 16. Four-man bobsled heats begin on Feb. 21
Three NHL stars who play for Florida teams will compete in ice hockey for Team USA.
Winger Matthew Tkachuk and defenseman Seth Jones, who both play professionally for the Florida Panthers, will represent the Stars and Stripes. So will Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel. None of the trio are from Florida originally. The United States begins group play on Thursday, Feb.12, against Latvia in Group C.
Finally, Tampa-area native Declan Farmer is set to compete in his fourth Winter Paralympics in ice sled hockey. The bilateral amputee will have to wait until March for the Paralympics to open in Milano Cortina.
