Meet the two Pinoys competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February
When the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics kicks off on Feb. 6 in Italy, two Filipino athletes will be proudly representing the Philippines.
Skiers Francis Ceccarelli and Tallulah Proulx of the Philippine Ski Team will be competing in the giant slalom and slalom events.
The Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, is not the team's first foray into international ski competitions. They also represented the Philippines at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, though they did not win a medal.
Here's what we know about our Alpine ski racers.
Tallulah Proulx
Proulx is the first Filipino woman to qualify for the Winter Olympics and, at 17, is the youngest Filipino Winter Olympian.
According to a report by the Olympic Council of Asia, Proulx, a Filipino-American, has been skiing since she was three years old and competing since she was seven. Living in Utah, within proximity to snow-capped mountains, helped cement Proulx's passion for skiing.
Having recently graduated from high school, it has been Proulx's dream to compete in the Winter Olympics. She reached her goal by earning 120 International Ski and Snowboarding Federation points, the required points for qualification.
Francis Ceccarelli
Filipino-Italian Francis Ceccarelli's first Winter Olympic appearance is dotted with milestones. In qualifying, he has become the first Filipino alpine skier to earn a quota spot in the Olympic Winter Games and only the fifth to compete in it.
Ceccarelli, 22, was born in Quezon City, adopted by his Italian parents at the age of eight, and raised in Italy. He currently lives in Abetone, Tuscany.
Growing up Italian did not diminish Ceccarelli's desire to stay connected to his Philippine roots. His adoptive mother, a former professional skier, supported her son's desire to gain Filipino citizenship so he could represent the Philippines in international competitions.
After gaining citizenship, he has been wearing the Philippine flag in international ski competitions since 2023, building up to his 2026 Winter Olympics medal bid. He has earned the unique right to compete in his home country while representing his country of birth.
Even the athletes Ceccarelli looks up to represent his loyalties: boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and Italian football icon Francesco Totti.
Followers in the Philippines may get real-time updates on the 2026 Winter Olympics via the Olympic Games App or select local sports channels.
