By Zachary Sturgill
The Winter Olympics are underway, creating a buzz in the sports world that few events can match. However, on the University of Maryland campus, the games are unfolding in a quieter manner.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, also referred to as the Milano Cortina 2026, kicked off on Feb. 6 in Italy. Students can watch athletes compete in winter sports such as figure skating, snowboarding, luge, curling and ice hockey.
“I’m passively watching the Olympics,” sophomore biology major Brian Won said. “I’ll spend a few minutes each day watching clips and looking up who won certain medals.”
This method of watching the Olympics appears to be the consensus for students on campus. As classes are starting to become more demanding, some students do not have the time to watch an entire event. Regardless, some sports that have created intrigue.
“Skiing is the one sport so far that I have actually sat down and watched,” Won said.
These difficult sports have caught the eye of some students, like junior computer science major Rushil Patel.
“I’ve been really into snowboarding and skiing,” Patel said. “Those two sports require a really high level of skill, so it’s entertaining to watch it at the highest level.”
While the Winter Games have produced great athletic feats, they have not been without controversy.
American skier Hunter Hess recently said that representing his country brings “mixed emotions” due to the current political climate and administration. Hess’ feeling drew a wide range of feedback. Some claim he said nothing wrong, while others believe he should simply be proud to represent his country.
His comments have also drawn mixed feedback from UMD students.
“I think he has the right to say whatever he wants,” Won said. “I believe supporting your country on a big stage like the Olympics does look better, but he can say whatever he wants.”
That sentiment was echoed throughout campus, with some also speculating on the effect it could have on his performance.
“In a perfect world, U.S. athletes would live and breathe U.S. culture,” said A.J. Church, a sophomore business major. “Him saying that makes me think he may not be fully invested, but I also respect that that’s his opinion.”
After his comments received heavy coverage, Hess said he “cannot wait to represent Team USA.” Hess is scheduled to make his Olympic debut on Feb. 19.
Even though this is a tense time in the country, some UMD students expressed a positive outlook on the Olympics.
“I’ll always root for the U.S.,” Won said.
Featured Image: A student stands in front of a TerpZone TV in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union as the US men’s Olympic hockey team plays Latvia on the afternoon of Feb. 12, 2026. Photo by Anika Stikeleather.