NHL stars and a massive ice fest: How to get in on Olympic action from Czechia

Czechia officially enters a new era of winter sports today as the 2026 Winter Olympics kick off in Italy. Sending a record-breaking 114 athletes, the largest delegation in the nation’s history, the Czech team is determined to bury the memory of Beijing 2022, where the country took home just two medals in its quietest showing since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

The Games officially begin this Friday, Feb. 6, with a historic split opening ceremony. While the main spectacle ignites Milan’s San Siro stadium at 8 p.m. local time, a simultaneous celebration will light up Cortina d'Ampezzo, bridging the city and the mountains under the theme of "Armonia" (Harmony).

With NHL superstars returning to the Olympic stage for the first time in 12 years and a roster blending legendary veterans with 69 hungry newcomers, the stage is set for a Czech resurgence. From the high-speed slopes of the Dolomites to the comfort of your couch (or local), here is your essential guide to following Team Czechia at Milan-Cortina 2026.

Ice hockey remains the backbone of the Czech delegation and among Czechia’s best chances of scoring medals. Both the men’s and women’s teams have qualified, accounting for 48 players and making hockey the country’s largest Olympic sport.

The men’s tournament will be a major draw, with NHL players competing for the first time since 2014. Czechia’s roster includes David Pastrňák, Martin Nečas, Tomáš Hertl, Ondřej Palát, and Radko Gudas, all currently in the NHL and many of whom helped the national team win gold at the 2024 World Championships in Prague. 

The women’s squad also arrives with strong credentials. After bronze medals at the 2022 and 2023 world championships and recent fourth-place finishes, the team features several players from North America’s Professional Women’s Hockey League, including Kristýna Kaltounková and Aneta Tejralová.

Speed skating will again be a focus, led by Martina Sáblíková, who will compete in her sixth and final Olympics. The three-time Olympic champion debuted in Turin in 2006 and has won seven Olympic medals, including three golds.

She will be joined by Nikola Zdráhalová and 19-year-old Metoděj Jílek, one of the breakout talents of the Olympic cycle. Jílek’s rapid rise in long-distance events has made him one of Czechia’s most closely watched medal hopes in Italy.

Three-time Olympic champion Ester Ledecká remains the country’s most versatile winter sports star and will hope to replicate her gold medal win from 2022. She will again compete in alpine skiing, targeting the super-G, and in snowboarding, aiming for the parallel giant slalom. 

Eva Adamczyková, a two-time Olympic medalist returning after missing Beijing, will join her in snowboard events. Skiing disciplines form a strong part of the Czech team. Twelve cross-country skiers will compete in Italy, alongside representatives in ski jumping, Nordic combined, and alpine skiing.

Figure skating adds another point of interest, with sibling pairs Natálie and Filip Taschler and Kateřina and Daniel Mrázk competing. All four bring solid international experience and recent World Cup results.

In sliding sports, skeleton racer Anna Fernstädtová is considered a medal contender after consistent top finishes, while luger Ondřej Hyman competes in his fourth Olympics. Czech bobsleigh will be absent for the first time since 1992.

Biathlon remains a key medal prospect, led by Markéta Davidová and Michal Krčmář. Curling continues to grow, with mixed team events featuring Czech entries.

Overall, 69 Czech athletes will make their Olympic debut. The youngest is 18-year-old ski cross racer Lucie Krausová, while curler Radek Boháč, 48, is the oldest. With a blend of experience, youth, and NHL star power returning to the ice, Czech fans have plenty to follow in Italy.

Spectators can view all the latest schedules, highlights, and action at the official 2026 Winter Olympics website, with Sport.cz offering daily news, live updates, and interviews.