With the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Games on the horizon, anticipation is already starting to frost over the U.S. From edge-of-your-seat finishes to gravity-defying performances on ice and snow, winter sports have always had a way of capturing our attention long before the opening ceremony even begins.
To get a sneak peek at America’s growing Winter Olympics obsession, we took a look at Google Trends search data to see what fans are already looking forward to. Using search interest from the PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Games, as well as the past two months leading up to Milan–Cortina 2026, we identified the most popular Winter Olympic sport in every state and nationwide, along with the most searched-for athlete among 30 top contenders competing in the Milan Winter Games.
Ready to see which icy events have your state dreaming of gold? Let’s take a look!
The Most Popular Winter Olympic Sport in Every State
After tallying the top-searched sport in each state, a clear leaderboard emerged. Below are the Winter Olympic sports that ranked first in two or more states, based on Google Trends search interest:
- Figure Skating – 18 states
- Bobsleigh – 8 states
- Ice Hockey – 5 states
- Skeleton – 5 states
- Luge – 3 states
- Short Track Speed Skating – 3 states
- Snowboarding – 3 states
- Curling – 2 states
- Nordic Combined – 2 states
Figure skating glided into first place by a wide margin, topping searches in 18 states. Interest clusters loosely across parts of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast, with states like New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington all showing strong search activity for the sport.
Bobsleigh and skeleton also made surprisingly strong showings. These high-speed sliding sports captured attention in southern states like Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina, where the thrill factor may outweigh any local climate connection. These states prove that watching athletes rocket down an icy track at highway speeds is gripping, no matter where you live.
Ice hockey also held its ground, topping searches in five states: Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. Most of these states cluster in the Northeast, where frozen ponds, packed rinks, and a deep-rooted hockey culture make the sport a natural favorite.
Then there are the more niche favorites. Curling topped searches in North Dakota and South Dakota, perhaps thanks to its strategic gameplay and cult following, while Nordic combined led in Alaska and Montana, two states with strong ties to endurance sports and winter traditions.
One surprising takeaway is perhaps what didn’t dominate the list. Traditional skiing events appear only occasionally, with Alpine skiing taking the top spot in Vermont alone.
The Most Popular Winter Olympic Athlete in Every State
After analyzing which Olympic competitors were searched the most in each state, a standout group of stars rose to the top. Below are the Winter Olympic athletes who ranked first in two or more states, based on Google Trends search interest:
- Evan Bates (Figure Skating) – 9 states
- Erin Jackson (Speed Skating) – 7 states
- Kaillie Humphries (Bobsleigh) – 6 states
- Auston Matthews (Ice Hockey) – 5 states
- Chloe Kim (Snowboarding) – 4 states
- Eileen Gu (Freestyle Skiing) – 4 states
- Matthew Tkachuk (Ice Hockey) – 4 states
- Ilia Malinin (Figure Skating) – 2 states
- Kendall Coyne Schofield (Ice Hockey) – 2 states
- Lindsey Vonn (Alpine Skiing) – 2 states
Figure skating once again takes center ice, led by Evan Bates, who topped searches in nine states. A U.S. ice dancer with three World Championship medals and an Olympic gold medal from the Beijing 2022 Winter Games alongside partner Madison Chock, Bates has become a familiar name for fans who follow the sport beyond headline moments. Bates’ popularity stretches across much of the Midwest and Appalachia, including Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. As a Michigan native from Ann Arbor, it’s no shock that Bates also tops searches in his home state.
Speed skater Erin Jackson has a clear regional following, leading searches in seven states across the South and Mid-Atlantic, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Maryland. Given her background as an American Olympic gold medalist and one of the fastest women ever on the ice, it’s apparent her story resonates far beyond traditional winter-sport regions, especially in states where speed skating feels both thrilling and unfamiliar.
Ice hockey stars like Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk topped searches in states such as Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania, showing hockey’s strong roots in colder regions as well as its growing popularity in warmer markets with NHL teams.
Matthew Tkachuk’s dominance in Florida searches comes as little surprise. He plays for the Florida Panthers, who have won the last two Stanley Cup titles, cementing his status as a household name in the state. His popularity also reflects a larger shift heading into the Milan–Cortina 2026 games, where NHL players will officially return to Olympic competition for the first time since Sochi 2014.
Meanwhile, snowboarding Olympian Chloe Kim and freestyle skiing legend Eileen Gu, both Olympic gold medalists, dominated searches in places like California (where Gu is from San Francisco), Hawaii, New York, Texas, and Washington, highlighting strong interest along the West Coast and major media markets where snow sports regularly draw mainstream attention.
From Ice Rinks to Crayon Boxes
By looking at what people are searching for ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026, we took a snapshot of the sports and athletes sparking the most excitement across the country. Whether your state is drawn to elegant performances on the ice or heart-racing action on the track, one thing is clear: The countdown to the next Winter Games is already well underway.
At Yay! Coloring Pages, we love turning moments of shared excitement into hands-on fun. We created this campaign to capture the iconic imagery, inspiring competition, and unforgettable moments that the Winter Olympics are all about.
Ready to bring that Olympic energy to your own home? Download our free winter sports coloring pages and let your kids color their way through skating spins and snowy slopes.
Methodology
We first analyzed Google Trends search data for all 16 Winter Olympic sports, examining search interest during the PyeongChang 2018 Games, the Beijing 2022 Games, and the past two months leading up to the upcoming Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This allowed us to identify the most-searched Winter Olympic sports in every state as well as nationwide.
Next, we analyzed search volume for 30 of the most anticipated Olympic athletes competing in the Milan Cortina 2026 Games, using five years of Google Trends data. From this, we determined the most-searched Winter Olympian in each state and across the country.
Fair Use
You are welcome to use, reference, and share non-commercial excerpts of this study with proper attribution. If you cite or cover our findings, please link back to this page so readers can view the full methodology, charts, and context.
