North Carolina Athletes Shine at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan‑Cortina, Italy, are underway, and North Carolina fans have plenty to cheer for. From sled hockey to skeleton racing, Tar Heel State athletes are making their mark on the world stage — along with Carolina Hurricanes players competing in men’s hockey.

Kayden Beasley — Paralympic Sled Hockey Star

From Coats, North Carolina, 19-year-old Kayden Beasley will make his Paralympic debut with the U.S. sled hockey team. Born with congenital bilateral amputations and adopted at age three, Beasley discovered sled hockey through the Carolina Hurricanes Sled Hockey program in 2019.

Since then, he has quickly risen through the ranks. Beasley made his international debut at the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championships, helping Team USA capture gold. Known for his speed and agility on the ice, he is considered one of the U.S. team’s rising stars. Off the ice, Beasley enjoys mentoring younger players in sled hockey programs across North Carolina, giving back to the community that helped him thrive.

Kayden Beasley from Coats, NC

Eunice Lee — Duke University Short-Track Speed Skater

Eunice Lee, a student at Duke University in Durham, combines her academic ambitions with elite athletic training. A short-track speed skater, Lee helped Team USA earn silver in the 3000m relay at the 2024 World Championships. She made her Olympic debut earlier in her career at a World Cup event and is now competing at Milan‑Cortina 2026.

Originally from the West Coast, Lee moved to North Carolina for college and credits Duke’s training facilities and coaching staff for helping her reach the Olympic level. Known for her determination on and off the ice, she balances a rigorous pre-med curriculum in chemistry and biology with the demands of elite sport — embodying the student-athlete spirit of North Carolina.

Eunice Lee, a Duke University student

Mystique Ro — Skeleton Racer from Charlotte

A former Queens University of Charlotte track star, Mystique Ro transitioned to skeleton racing, sliding head-first down ice tracks at speeds exceeding 80 mph. After dominating in collegiate athletics, she discovered skeleton through a USA Bobsled/Skeleton combine and quickly made her mark on the international scene.

Ro won silver in the women’s skeleton and gold in the mixed team event at the 2025 IBSF World Championships, earning her spot on Team USA for Milan‑Cortina 2026. Known for her fearless approach and mental toughness, Ro represents how Carolina athletes can excel in unexpected winter sports. She continues to inspire young athletes in Charlotte, showing that winter sports success is possible even in a warm-weather state.

Mystic Ro attended Queens University in Charlotte.

Carolina Hurricanes on the Olympic Ice

Several Carolina Hurricanes players will compete in men’s hockey for countries around the world:

• Sebastian Aho — Finland

• Frederik Andersen — Denmark

• Nikolaj Ehlers — Denmark

• Jaccob Slavin — Team USA

• Seth Jarvis — Team Canada

With these stars on ice, Carolina hockey fans have plenty to follow during the Olympic tournament.

Cheer on the Carolinas

From sled hockey rinks to skeleton tracks and Olympic ice arenas, North Carolina athletes are proving that Tar Heel talent thrives even in winter sports.

Here’s how to catch them in action:

• Kayden Beasley and the U.S. Paralympic sled hockey team compete March 7–15, with the gold medal game on March 15.

• Eunice Lee races in short-track speed skating events throughout the Olympic schedule from February 10–20.

• Mystique Ro slides in skeleton events on February 13–16.

• Carolina Hurricanes players compete in men’s Olympic hockey, which runs February 10–24.

Fans in North Carolina can watch the Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics on NBC, USA Network, and other NBCUniversal channels, with live streams, full replays, and highlights available on Peacock. Don’t miss a moment of Carolina pride on the world stage!