As the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics officially begin, U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight, 35, is preparing for a milestone few athletes ever reach: her fifth Olympic Games.
While the achievement adds another milestone to Knight’s decorated career, the gold medalist tells Entertainment Now that her mindset heading into the 2026 Games is less about records and more about embracing gratitude and finding joy in the moment.
Hilary Knight Ready to ‘Bring Home Another Gold’ at 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to bring home another gold medal to the United States,” Knight told Entertainment Now. “We have a fantastic group, and really looking forward to that, just, like, as a sheer competitor, best on best tournament, the biggest stage in the world, so that’s exciting.”
While Knight remains focused on the competition ahead, she said gratitude has also become central to her mindset.
“I have incredible gratitude for all the people who have been able to support me and have been there my entire career,” she said.
That appreciation extends to her teammates, whose company Knight said she values during the demanding stretches of the season.
“I really enjoy the team aspect of everything and just being around teammates,” Knight said. “Whether that’s playing mindless games on an iPad, talking about different stories, or just cracking jokes.”
Hilary Knight on Finding Happiness in ‘Quiet Moments’ Amid Olympic Pressure
As one of several Olympic athletes featured in “Hershey’s. It’s Your Happy Place” campaign, Knight said the brand’s message that happiness is “the real gold” reflects what she has learned over years of elite competition.
“You see us in, like, the brightest moments, the biggest stage, the biggest spotlight,” Knight said. “And really, it’s about, like, the team behind the team, and then the team behind that team. And that’s, like, all of our personal lives.”
During a long season, Knight said happiness often shows up in surprisingly ordinary moments.
“They’re the quiet moments, right? They’re not in the spotlight,” she said. “Sometimes it’s just going for sort of, like, a mindless walk. It’s … that warm, like, embrace after a game, regardless if it was a win or loss.”
Knight added that she also finds comfort in traditions and small personal rituals, including a thoughtful gesture from her partner ahead of the World Championships.
“One thing my partner did for me was, going into World Championships, just preparing different notes and stuff, sort of like a good luck note for the day, and, yeah, the Hershey bar is in there.”
As Knight prepares to take the Olympic stage for a fifth time, she is focused on staying healthy, present and appreciative of the people and moments that have helped her reach this point.
Comments
US Hockey Captain Hilary Knight Enters Winter Olympics 2026 Focused on Gold & Growth (Exclusive)