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

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

The 21-year-old has gone from family ski trips to becoming a city flag bearer and competing in the women's slalom at the highest level Hong Kong alpine skier Eloise King Yung-shih has settled into Cortina d'Ampezzo,

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.

Winning an Olympic medal brings pride to any athlete. Many countries also add cash rewards for those podium finishes. Using data shared by USA Today for the 2026 Winter Olympics (25 countries responded to the site’s query),