\n
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nLove is in the air at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where multiple real-life couples are chasing medals across Italy.<\/p>\n
The Games are officially underway, with 116 events taking place over 19 days, culminating with the closing ceremony on February 22. Fan-favorite athletes are competing across marquee sports, including figure skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, curling, and cross-country skiing.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not all love lost between contestants, though; many athletes traveled to Italy with their significant others. Some will compete alongside each other, while couples from different nations will even find themselves competing against one another.<\/p>\n
Here are all the couples competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
Aaron Pike and Oksana Masters <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike are competing in Para Nordic skiing at the Olympics (Getty Images for USOPC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nParalympians Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike are representing Team USA at the Winter Olympics, competing in Para Nordic skiing. Pike is competing for his first gold medal, while Masters is competing for her fourth. <\/p>\n
The pair began dating in 2014, after meeting at the Para Nordic National Championships in 2013. They got engaged in 2022, and said on The Kelly Clarkson Show<\/em> in November that they\u2019re considering getting married in Italy during this year\u2019s Olympics. <\/p>\n
Brittany Bowe and Hilary Knight<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Brittany Bowe met her partner, Hilary Knight, at the 2022 Winter Olympics (@ brittanybowe \/ Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBrittany Bowe, who won two Olympic bronze medals in speed skating, is competing in her final Olympic games this year. She\u2019ll be taking part in the women\u2019s 1,000m, 1,500m, and team pursuit, representing Team USA. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, her partner, women\u2019s ice hockey star Hilary Knight, is vying for her second Olympic gold medal in her final Olympic games. She is also representing Team USA. <\/p>\n
Bowe and Knight met in 2022, during the Beijing Winter Olympics, and started dating shortly afterwards. <\/p>\n
Madison Chock and Evan Bates<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Madison Chock and Evan Bates started dating in 2009 (Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nMadison Chock and Evan Bates have been figure skating partners on the ice since 2011. Representing Team USA, they won a gold medal at the figure skating team event at the 2022 Winter Olympics. The 2026 games mark their fourth time competing in the Winter Olympics. <\/p>\n
Chock and Bates started dating in 2017, years after they became skating partners. They got engaged in 2022 before tying the knot in 2024. <\/p>\n
Nicole Silveira and Kim Meylemans<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Nicole Silveria and Kim Meylemans are competing in the women\u2019s skeleton event (@ kimmeylemans \/ Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nNicole Silveira and Kim Meylemans are both competing in the women’s skeleton event this year, but on different teams. Silveira is representing Brazil at the Winter Olympics, while Meylemans is representing Belgium. <\/p>\n
They started dating shortly after meeting at the Skeleton World Cup circuit in 2019, and officially tied the knot in January 2025. When Meylemans won the Women’s Skeleton World Cup title for the 2025\/2026 season last month, she gave a sweet shoutout to her wife on Instagram. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis team right here is something truly special though and a big part of this success – I wouldn\u2019t have achieved this goal without them, especially my wife,\u201d she wrote. \u201cDon\u2019t think anyone truly understands how much I needed her with me (pushing & supporting me) to achieve this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey started dating in 2017 (Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWomen\u2019s hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin is competing in the Winter Olympics for the fifth time this year, representing Team Canada. She\u2019ll be playing alongside her real-life partner, Laura Stacey, who\u2019s participating in her third Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
The teammates, who live in Montreal, started dating in 2017 and got married in 2024. However, when they’re on the rink together, they\u2019re both focused on their work. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not going to see us fight or argue. We know it\u2019s business and we know we\u2019re going to get the best out of each other,\u201d Poulin told <\/em>CBC Sports<\/em> in 2024. \u201cWhen we train, we do our work. It\u2019s not about us being lovey-dovey. It\u2019s us getting better, making people around us better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Magnus Nedregotten and Kristin Skaslien<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Magnus Nedregotten and Kristin Skaslien are representing Norway in the mixed doubles curling at the Olympics (Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nMagnus Nedregotten and Kristin Skaslien are competing in their third Winter Olympics as a team in mixed doubles curling, representing Norway. They previously won two Olympic medals in the sport. <\/p>\n
The pair started dating in 2011, with their relationship developing at a national curling competition, and they began competing as a mixed doubles team in 2012.<\/p>\n
Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld are a part of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard national team (Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nAshley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld are part of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard national team, which won a gold medal in the mixed team aerials event at the 2022 Winter Olympics. The 2026 games mark Caldwell\u2019s fourth and Schoenefeld\u2019s second time competing in the Winter Olympics. <\/p>\n
Caldwell and Schoenefeld started dating in 2019, shortly after they became teammates, but didn\u2019t go public with the relationship until 2022. They got married in February 2025 and welcomed their first child, Harvey, in July of that same year. <\/p>\n
Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant are representing Canada in mixed doubles curling (@jocepetterman \/ Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nJocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant are competing in the mixed doubles curling at this year\u2019s Winter Olympics, representing Canada. Gallant, who won a bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics, will also be competing in men\u2019s curling.<\/p>\n
The couple started dating in 2016, the same year they won the Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship. They tied the knot in 2022 and now share a two-year-old son, Luke. <\/p>\n
Ronja Savolainen and Anna Kjellbin<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Ronja Savolainen and Anna Kjellbin are competing for different nations at this year\u2019s Winter Olympics (@ronjasavolainen \/ Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nRonja Savolainen is competing for Team Finland in women\u2019s ice hockey at the Winter Olympics. She may face her fianc\u00e9e, Sweden\u2019s Anna Kjellbin, if both their teams make it to the medal rounds. <\/p>\n
Savolainen previously said that if she\u2019s competing with her partner on the ice, it won\u2019t change how she plays. \u201cI don\u2019t care who\u2019s in front of me \u2026 if it\u2019s going to be her, I\u2019m going to hit her,\u201d she told the Ottawa Citizen<\/em> in 2024. \u201cWe can take it up after the game. When you play, you just play. You don\u2019t really think about who\u2019s there. You\u2019re friends after. On the ice, she\u2019s my enemy. That\u2019s how it goes.\u201d<\/p>\nSavolainen and Kjellbin began dating in 2019 and got engaged in 2024. <\/p>\n
Hunter Powell and Kaysha Love<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Kaysha Love and Hunter Powell are bobsledders (@kayshajlove \/ Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nKaysha Love and Hunter Powell will represent Team USA in bobsledding at the 2026 Olympics. Love, who used to be a track and field athlete, is competing in the games for the second time, while Powell is competing for the first time.<\/p>\n
Powell was also a track and field athlete, but later switched to bobsledding, as his partner did in 2022. The pair announced their engagement in July.<\/p>\n
Emily and Dominik Fischnaller<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Emily Fischnaller and Dominik Fischnaller are competing in the luge events at the Olympics (@ecsweens \/ Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nEmily Fischnaller and Dominik Fischnaller are both luge athletes, representing different countries at the 2026 games. Emily will be participating in the women\u2019s singles luge and representing Team USA, while Dominik is competing in the men\u2019s singles luge for Team Italy. During the 2022 Winter Olympics, Dominik won the bronze medal.<\/p>\n
Emily and Dominik started dating when they were teenagers after meeting at a youth luge competition, and were in a long-distance relationship for years. They married in 2025. <\/p>\n
Charl\u00e8ne Guignard and Marco Fabbri<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Charl\u00e8ne Guignard and Marco Fabbri have been figure skating partners for 16 years (Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nCharl\u00e8ne Guignard and Marco Fabbri, who became figure skating partners in 2010, are representing Italy in the individual events at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The event marks their fourth time competing in the games.<\/p>\n
The pair have been dating since 2009. Speaking to Olympics.com last year, Fabbri said that since he and Guignard are a couple in real life and on the ice, they \u201cshare literally everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSince we achieved what we achieved together, it\u2019s even better because you are sharing very strong feelings and very strong emotions with the person you love, with the person you\u2019ve decided to spend your life with,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
M\u0101rti\u0146\u0161 Bots and El\u012bna Ieva Bota<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>M\u0101rti\u0146\u0161 Bots and El\u012bna Ieva Bota got married in 2024 (@elinaieva \/ Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nM\u0101rti\u0146\u0161 Bots and El\u012bna Ieva Bota are competing in the luge events at the Winter Olympics as part of the Latvian team. Bots will be participating in the men\u2019s doubles and team relay, while Bota will compete in the women\u2019s singles luge.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve both been a part of the Latvian national luge team since 2011, and they got married in 2024. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Love is in the air at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where multiple real-life couples are chasing medals across Italy. The Games are officially underway, with 116 events taking place over 19 days, culminating with the closing ceremony on February 22. Fan-favorite athletes are competing across marquee sports, including figure skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, curling, and cross-country skiing. It\u2019s not all love lost between contestants, though; many athletes traveled to Italy with their significant others. Some will compete alongside each other, while couples from different nations will even find themselves competing against one another. Here are all the couples competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Aaron Pike and Oksana Masters open image in gallery Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike are competing in Para Nordic skiing at the Olympics (Getty Images for USOPC) Paralympians Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike are representing Team USA at the Winter Olympics, competing in Para Nordic skiing. Pike is competing for his first gold medal…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11719,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11718"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11718\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}