Get to know the Hong Kong athletes competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano‑Cortina and their journey to the world stage.

The Hong Kong edition of fashion magazine Vogue ranked South Korean figure skater Cha Jun-hwan, a leading figure in men’s singles skating, as the top handsome athlete competing in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Singapore ranks highest, but top-of-table Norway and other nations do not pay their athletes anything for a podium finish.

The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics have brought together thousands of elite athletes, all chasing a place on the podium. While medals are the most visible reward, financial incentives also play a significant role for competitors from certain countries, where governments and sporting bodies offer substantial payouts for podium finishes.

It's the opening day of the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina in Italy, the most geographically spread‑out Games in Winter Olympic history. Athletes from more than 90 countries chase 116 gold medals across 16 sports, with new events like ski mountaineering making their Olympic debut. We speak to journalists about the main talking points so far.

Team USA's Olympic gold payout may surprise you - especially compared to the nearly $800K offered elsewhere.

According to the report, the United States is paying athletes $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze. That is the same amount athletes received for winning medals at the 2022 Winter Games and 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, according to the report.

South Korea’s leading figure skater, Cha Jun-hwan, has been named the most handsome male athlete competing at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics by fashion