2026 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Teams Reunite in Washington, D.C.
The 2026 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Teams reunited last week as nearly 140 athletes gathered in Washington, D.C., to celebrate their accomplishments in Italy, reconnect with teammates and peers and learn about the resources available to support them in the next chapter of their journeys. From near and far, athletes traveled to the nation’s capital to take part in a special Team USA tradition and celebrate the shared experience of representing the United States on the world stage.
The D.C. Celebration kicked off with a commemorative reception, giving athletes the opportunity to reconnect with peers they may not have crossed paths with across clusters during the Games and reflect on their unforgettable experiences in Italy—six months to the day after the Olympic Opening Ceremony. The evening was filled with stories, laughter and plenty of reminiscing as athletes celebrated the memories and milestones they created together.
Thursday morning marked the start of the Athlete Summit, hosted by a familiar face who knows firsthand what it means to stand in the athletes’ shoes: eight-time Olympic medalist and Olympic Hall of Famer Apolo Anton Ohno. Drawing from his own experiences both on and beyond the Olympic stage, Ohno shared insights and encouragement with the group, setting the tone for a day focused on reflection, connection and looking ahead. He challenged athletes to recognize the value of their experiences and consider how they can use the lessons, relationships and skills gained through sport to power whatever comes next.
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“Your sport is what you do. It has never been the whole of who you are. The discipline. The ability to suffer well. To adapt on the fly. To lose on a Sunday and still show up on a Monday. To deliver when everything is on the line. Those didn’t stay on the ice when I left. They were never skating skills. They were me. And yours… are you. Everything that made you world-class transfers to your next play. Every bit of it.”
The Athlete Summit featured breakout sessions, resource expos, professional headshots and more, with programming designed to help athletes strengthen their networks, learn from industry experts and explore opportunities that support long-term success. From building personal brands and navigating career opportunities to connecting with fellow athletes, Team USA partners and professionals across a variety of industries, the Summit equipped athletes with valuable tools, insights and connections to carry with them both during and beyond their competitive careers. Partners in attendance included Cisco, Airbnb, Eli Lilly, Guild, VISA, Pennymac and Delta.
“Team USA athletes reach the highest level of sport by deferring nearly everything else. Guild's role is to create opportunity beyond the Games by providing athletes access to education and skilling programs that fit around training, along with career coaching that helps them plan for what's next. The Athlete Summit made clear that this class is motivated and ready to grow in their next chapters. Athletes spoke about their aspirations to become engineers and lawyers, and even build nonprofits that support future Olympians and Paralympians. It was a joy to be a part of the event, and it's an honor to be a partner to Team USA athletes as they pursue their dreams,” said Stacie Kronthal, Employer Partnerships, Guild.
"This D.C. Celebration was really special to me," said Paralympic alpine skier Kyle Taulman. “As athletes, we sacrifice physically on the snow and ice, but we also give a lot of our time to be the best in the world. Learning about the resources that have been gathered to help us succeed in our lives during and after our sport careers gives me the peace of mind I need to be the best I can be outside of sport as well. On top of that, the opportunity to connect with fellow athletes who we typically don’t get to see in person gave us the chance to form memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
The celebration continued with a visit to the White House, where athletes heard remarks from the President and toured a portion of the historic landmark. The White House visit is a longstanding Team USA tradition dating back decades, and the Milano Cortina cohort had the opportunity to add its own chapter to that history.
To conclude the event, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Class of 2026 Olympians and Paralympians for a special closing reception. The evening brought athletes together one final time for food, music and connection as they celebrated all they had accomplished.
Rocky Harris, USOPC Chief of Sport & Athlete Services, shared his perspective on the event: “Seeing the joy and pride on the faces of Team USA athletes as Olympians and Paralympians came together to celebrate their remarkable journeys was truly inspiring. From the Athlete Summit to the White House and Oval Office, these moments gave us an opportunity to honor their accomplishments, strengthen the bonds that unite Team USA and celebrate the incredible camaraderie among this group. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from athletes reinforced just how meaningful it is to create opportunities to reconnect, celebrate one another and find motivation for whatever comes next.”
The D.C. Celebration offered a meaningful opportunity for athletes to reflect on the road to the Games, celebrate the experiences and relationships that made it special and look toward what comes next. Whether their next chapter continues in sport or takes them somewhere entirely new, the Class of 2026 left Washington equipped with new connections, resources and inspiration to maximize the road ahead.
