Nordic skiing | Tennis: a tennis player rather than a winter sports athlete to carry the flame in last place in Milan/Cortina?
Jannik Sinner’s popularity is well established. The world’s number one tennis player since 10 June 2024, the Italian reigns over his sport with a title at the prestigious Wimbledon tournament last July. Although he has been pushed around by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in recent weeks, the Transalpine has not lost any of his aura.
With the Winter Olympics set to open in his homeland on 6 February 2026 in Milan/Cortina (Italy), the 24-year-old tennis player could well have an important role to play on home soil. For several weeks now, he has been one of the favourites to be the last torchbearer at the opening ceremony.
While we were no doubt expecting an athlete from a winter sports background, and why not a Nordic athlete, the young man could well win the bid to light the Olympic cauldron in the legendary San Siro stadium, as revealed by our Corriere colleagues.
However, no official information has yet been released. But five days after a potential final at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, Jannik Sinner could be in for another career highlight.
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