Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, the breakout stars of the gay hockey drama Heated Rivalry, have been officially named as torchbearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
HBO Max announced the news in a statement this week, confirming the duo will take part in the Olympic Torch Relay in the northeast of Italy. While the exact time and location of their segment has not yet been confirmed, the flame is scheduled to pass through the region on Thursday and Friday.
Heated Rivalry will premiere in Italy on 1 February via HBO Max, one of the official Olympic broadcasters this year.
With just 16 days to go until the Opening Ceremony at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium on 6 February, the announcement adds a meaningful twist for fans of the show. In Season 1, Williams and Storrie portray fictional hockey stars Shane Hollander (Canada) and Ilya Rozanov (Russia), who faced off at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
“It’s almost life imitating art,” one fan commented, noting the poetic parallel between their characters’ Olympic storyline and their real-life involvement in the Games.
A (mild) spoiler from the series: in a dramatic turn of events, the host nation Russia is eliminated by Latvia, while Canada, led by Hollander, wins Olympic gold. With Canada favoured to take the men’s ice hockey title in 2026, Williams may be hoping for history to repeat itself — on and off screen. The U.S. are currently second favourites for the tournament.
This Olympic honour comes on the heels of a wave of success for the actors, who recently appeared as presenters at the Golden Globe Awards and have made several high-profile red carpet appearances.
The announcement was also shared via the official @milanocortina2026 account on social media:
“IT’S REAL! Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams will carry the Flame! 🔥 Connor Storrie e Hudson Williams porteranno la Fiamma!”
#MilanoCortina2026 #TorchRelay2026 #Olympics #Olimpiadi #FiammaOlimpica
LGBTQ+ Olympians and the Torch Relay Legacy
Williams and Storrie now join the ranks of LGBTQ+ figures who’ve carried the Olympic flame. Notably, Canadian Olympic champion Mark Tewksbury, figure skater Brian Orser, and swimmer Marion Lay all took part in the Vancouver 2010 torch relay.
At Sochi 2014, the Olympic Torch Relay became a symbol of protest. Russian LGBTQ+ activist Pavel Lebechev famously unfurled a rainbow Pride flag while running behind the flame in his hometown. He was arrested shortly after, in defiance of Russia’s anti-gay legislation.
Other LGBTQ+ athletes confirmed for the Milano Cortina 2026 relay include Italian Olympic bronze medallist archer Lucilla Boari (who carried the flame in Mantua on 19 January) and Swiss footballer Alisha Lehmann, set to participate in Como on 3 February.
