Hungary Aims for Winter Olympics Medals as Milan-Cortina 2026 Countdown Hits 100 Days

100-Day Countdown to Milan-Cortina 2026

As the clock ticks down to exactly 100 days before the commencement of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Hungary's sporting authorities have articulated their ambitions for the upcoming global spectacle. The Games are scheduled to run from February 6 to 22, 2026, with competitions beginning two days prior to the official opening ceremony.

The Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) has expressed cautious optimism regarding the nation's medal prospects, particularly highlighting short track speed skating and figure skating as key disciplines. MOB President Zsolt Gyulay stated that Hungary hopes to achieve strong results and 'possibly secure one or two medals.'

Short Track Speed Skating: A Legacy and New Hopes

Short track speed skating has historically been Hungary's most successful winter sport. The nation made history at the PyeongChang 2018 Games by winning its first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal in the men's 5,000-meter relay. This success was significantly driven by the performances of brothers Shaolin Sándor Liu and Shaoang Liu, with Shaoang Liu later securing Hungary's first individual Winter Olympic gold in the men's 500-meter event at the Beijing 2022 Games.

However, a significant development since then is the brothers' decision to change their national allegiance to China in late 2022 and early 2023. Despite this, Lajos Kosa, president of the Hungarian National Skating Association, remains positive, noting that 'behind them, many young Hungarian skaters have achieved notable results, including at the European championships.' The association aims to qualify for all short track distances and relay events, buoyed by a significant increase in the number of registered short track skaters in Hungary since the Beijing Olympics. Additionally, Petra Jászapáti is a notable European champion in the 500m short track.

In a boost for long-track speed skating, Kim Minseok, a South Korean athlete with three Olympic medals, has been naturalized as a Hungarian citizen and is expected to compete for Hungary, with potential medal chances in the 1000m and 1500m events.

Figure Skating and Broader Delegation Goals

Figure skating is another area where Hungary is targeting medal success, although it is acknowledged as a 'very competitive' field. Hungary has already secured one quota spot in pair skating at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships. Csaba Bálint, the sports director for figure skating, is confident about qualification in pairs and sees ice dancing as a realistic goal, with men's singles also a possibility. Historically, six of Hungary's ten Winter Olympic medals have come from pairs figure skating.

The Hungarian delegation is projected to comprise between 17 and 19 athletes, potentially ranging from 14 to 22, or even 16 to 25, across various disciplines. Beyond skating, Hungary plans to have representation in sports such as cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, curling, and snowboarding. The mixed doubles curling pair of Raul Karasz and Linda Joo are actively working towards Olympic qualification. László Fábián serves as the head of mission for the Hungarian team.