Today, the 25th Winter Olympic Games 2026 will be officially opened at the San Siro Stadium. 14 athletes will compete for Croatia, and two Croatian skaters with roots in Herceg-Bosnia County will bring special interest.
In total 14 Croatian athletes in total four sports will perform at the upcoming, 25th in a row Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
With an exception alpine skierswho are somewhat known to the wider sports public because we are used to seeing them compete successfully in the World Ski Cup, the rest of the Croatian delegation is almost unknown to those who are not involved in sports in detail.
As an additional reminder, at the time of “of the Kostelić dynasty“, exactly 20 years ago Croatia had record number of athletes in Turin. At that time, 22 of them competed in six sports in Turin.
Let’s go in order. He will perform in speed skating Valentina Ascic and Katarina Burić. In Beijing, Valentina “glided” to 23rd place in the 500 meters and 26th place in the 1500 meters, while her best placing at the WC was 12th place in Seoul 2023. Katarina is making her debut at the Games.
One can hardly expect anything special from them unless they surprise the sports world, and the same is the case with the 20-year-old debutant. Matija Legovićwho will try to provide the maximum in biathlon among the world’s elite.
She will be a debutant, just like Legović Anika Kožicawhile will Krešimir Crnkovićwho competed in cross-country skiing in PyeongChang 2018, and now in biathlon, will become the first Croatian to compete in two different sports at the Olympic Games.
Although by “vocation” biathlete, Emma Sobol (18) will be a member of the “delegation” in cross-country skiing because in this discipline it was easier for her to find a place among the participants of the ZOI.
Among the cross-country skiers, the list of Croatian participants includes Tena Hadzic and Marko Skender. Neither of them achieved particularly notable results at the last Games, and they are also expected to improve them.
Speed skating, biathlon and cross-country skiing have practically never been the flagships of Croatian sports, but that’s why our alpine skiers should offer much more in Italy, who, despite the miracles they once did Janica and Ivica Kostelica very notable “face” on the ski map of the world.
True, this year’s results, especially those he achieves Zrinka Ljutićare not at the level of last year, but all that can change in Bormio and Cortina d’Ampezzo. At the ZOI, she can save a not-so-fabulous season that is not on the trail of last year’s, when she won small slalom globe.
The situation is similar Leon Popovićwho is coming back from injury and won points in slalom only once this season. Her performances at the last two editions of ZOI were not special; in Pyeongchang she fell and injured her knee, in Beijing she was 23rd in the slalom. Now she hopes for better.
With the two of them is the youngest participant of the Games, 16 years old Pia Vučinić. She came to the Olympic Games to compete in slalom and giant slalom as a reward for her great progress in FIS races.
The three Alpine women will be joined by three Alpine men; is the first Filip Zubcicthe oldest in the expedition, for whom this will be his fourth Olympic appearance. He hopes to repeat the best achievements so far. Samuel Colleague hopes for something in slalom; the best was 15th in the slalom in PyeongChang. East Rhodes concludes the census of Croats at the ZOI.
All in all, if Croatian sport gets a medal at the Games, it will be a real miracle, but one should always hope, they write. Sports news.
In addition to official data, the portal Tomislavnews.com he also shared those less known to the general public:
Katarina Burić Duvanjka’s mother, from Eminova Selo, gave birth to Ružica Perić. Valentina Ascic she was born in neighboring Livno, and the RTL sports reporter who will cover the ZOI 2026 will be Kristina Livaja (daughter of Kata Livaj, born Gudelj and father Tadij Livaj) born in the Duvanj village of Vojkovića-Roško Polje.
FAST SKATING ⛸️
At the Winter Olympics, under the spotlights of the Milano Ice Skating Arena, speed skaters and skaters will race on short tracks. 🚀
A sport in which surprises are possible, and Valentina Aščić and Katarina Burić wish for something like that 🥰. Enjoy the track! ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/mcWe9Qjtlx
— Croatian Olympic Committee (@hrv_olimp_odbor) February 1, 2026
(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: X)
