With the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics fast approaching, fans everywhere are getting ready to watch their favorite events. But have you ever watched all 16 events and wondered which events were the most dangerous?
The Winter Olympic Games showcase elite athleticism under some of the most extreme conditions in sport. High speeds, variable terrain, and altitude place athletes at significant risk for traumatic injury.
For nurses, especially those with experience in emergency, trauma, orthopedic, or sports medicine settings, the Winter Olympics offer a unique lens into injury prevention, rapid assessment, and high-stakes care delivery.
Top 5 most dangerous Winter Olympic sports
While all Olympic sports carry inherent risks, several Winter Olympic events consistently rank highest for injury severity due to speed, impact forces, and environmental exposure.
Alpine skiing
Being one of the oldest Olympic sports, dating back to 1936, alpine skiing is one of the most injury-prone sports. Athletes reach speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour (mph) while navigating tight turns and variable snow conditions.
Accidents from alpine skiing can result in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, tibial plateau fractures, shoulder dislocations, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), according to an orthopedic surgeon at Mass General Brigham. Nurses supporting alpine events must be prepared for rapid trauma assessment, immobilization, and coordination of advanced imaging and surgical care.
Bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton
Sliding sports can be considered among the most dangerous events in the Winter Olympics due to the sheer speed that the athletes reach during their descent. Athletes can reach speeds over 90 mph while navigating narrow, icy tracks with extreme G-forces.
Injuries often involve high-impact trauma, including TBIs, concussions, cervical spine injuries, thoracic injuries, and vascular strain from repeated acceleration and deceleration, according to NPR. On-site nurses must be vigilant for subtle neurologic changes and delayed symptom onset.
Cross-country skiing
These events combine high speed, jumps, and close-proximity racing, significantly increasing collision risk. While one of the most common injuries for cross-country skiing is non-traumatic and overuse injuries, athletes can often sustain polytrauma, including clavicle fractures, wrist fractures, concussions, rib fractures, and internal injuries. The unpredictable nature of multi-athlete crashes can require nurses to triage multiple patients simultaneously while maintaining spinal precautions and airway awareness.
Freestyle skiing and snowboarding
Freestyle skiing and snowboarding involve riders performing complex aerial maneuvers with high rotational forces, often off of large jumps. Missed landings can result in injuries, such as axial loading injuries, vertebral compression fractures, wrist and ankle fractures, and significant head trauma. Nurses working these events must be skilled in neurologic assessment and post-concussion monitoring.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey remains one of the most physically demanding sports in the Winter Olympics. High-speed collisions, checking, and puck impact contribute to head and facial injuries, including concussions, facial fractures, and lacerations, as well as injuries to the shoulder and upper extremities, according to one study. Nurses often manage acute bleeding, suspected head injuries, and musculoskeletal trauma in fast-paced environments where return-to-play decisions are closely scrutinized.
Winter Olympics injuries: Common patterns and clinical considerations
Common injury concerns during the Winter Olympics include TBIs, spinal trauma, complex fractures, ligamentous injuries, and cold-related conditions, such as frostbite and hypothermia. Nurses must also consider altitude-related physiologic stress, dehydration masked by cold environments, and delayed inflammatory responses.
Advanced nursing assessment skills are critical, particularly in identifying evolving neurologic deficits, internal injuries, and early signs of compartment syndrome. The Olympic environment demands rapid yet precise clinical judgment, often with limited time and high public visibility.
How to work as a nurse at the Olympics
Working as a nurse at the Olympic Games is highly competitive and typically requires years of specialized experience. Nurses selected for Olympic medical teams often have backgrounds in emergency nursing, trauma care, orthopedic nursing, sports medicine, or critical care. Many may hold advanced certifications such as Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN), or sports medicine credentials.
Positions are often coordinated through national Olympic committees, international sports federations, host country medical organizations, or volunteer medical programs. Prior experience at elite sporting events, mass gatherings, or disaster response operations is often expected and preferred. Strong interdisciplinary collaboration skills are essential, as nurses work closely with physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and emergency responders.
How nurses prepare to provide care at the Olympics
Preparation for Olympic medical care extends far beyond standard clinical readiness. Nurses must be proficient in trauma protocols, rapid triage, and emergency response while adapting care to outdoor, cold-weather environments. Familiarity with sport-specific injury mechanisms allows nurses to anticipate likely injuries and intervene early.
Environmental preparation is equally important. Nurses must understand the effects of cold exposure on circulation, wound healing, and medication absorption. Equipment checks, layered personal protective gear, and contingency planning for weather-related delays are routine. Simulation training, mass-casualty drills, and pre-event coordination meetings help ensure seamless response during competition.
Psychological readiness also plays a role. Olympic athletes face intense pressure, and nurses must balance empathetic support with objective clinical decision-making, particularly when managing injuries that could end an athlete’s competition.
FAQs
What are the most dangerous Winter Olympic sports?
The most dangerous Winter Olympic sports are those involving high speeds, significant impact forces, or aerial maneuvers. These include alpine skiing, snowboard cross, ski cross, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, freestyle skiing, snowboarding events (halfpipe and slopestyle), and ice hockey. These sports carry a higher risk of TBIs, spinal trauma, complex fractures, and polytrauma due to crashes, collisions, and high-energy landings.
What types of injuries are most common in the Winter Olympics?
Common Winter Olympic injuries include concussions and other TBIs, cervical and thoracic spine injuries, ACL and other ligament tears, upper- and lower-extremity fractures, shoulder dislocations, and soft tissue injuries.
Cold-related conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia may also occur, particularly during prolonged outdoor events. Injury mechanisms often involve high-velocity impact, rotational forces, and axial loading.
Do nurses work directly with athletes at the Olympics?
Yes, nurses are integral members of Olympic medical teams. They work alongside physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and emergency responders to provide on-site assessments, triage, acute treatment, and ongoing injury management. They may staff competition venues, athlete villages, training facilities, and transport teams, depending on their role and specialization.
What experience is needed to work as a nurse at the Olympics?
Nurses who work at the Olympics typically have extensive experience in emergency nursing, trauma care, orthopedic nursing, sports medicine, or critical care. Advanced certifications, such as CEN, TCRN, CCRN, or sports medicine credentials, are often preferred. Experience with mass gathering medicine, disaster response, or elite athletic events is also highly valued.
