In Person of Interest we talk to the people catching our eye right now about their projects past and present. Next up, we catch up with members of Team USA, who will be competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan.
When the snow from competition settles, the world’s best athletes swap the finish line for the dinner plate. We asked members of Team USA competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics what they crave after going for the gold. Forget rigid diets and hyper-calibrated protein shakes.
These Olympians hunger for unadulterated comfort. Think cheesy, saucy chicken parm or classic pepperoni pizza drizzled with hot honey—even surf-and-turf is on the menu. Perhaps not surprising: lots of pasta and protein. From snowboarders to figure skaters, they were all quick to mention a nostalgia-fueled favorite—considering how much they travel, can you blame them?
They prove there’s no one-size-fits-all regimen on the road to victory.
I like mixing up a couple of sushi rolls, including my favorite salmon and lemon roll, which has a little fruity flavor. It’s such a good meal to have with my family.
I’m going for chicken Parmesan because it’s salty, it’s savory. There’s a lot going on and it is really satisfying.
EVAN: We're usually going for a delivery order from Fugazzi Pizza in Montreal. We’re going with spicy pepperoni pizza and honey drizzle.
MADISON: We love the savoriness of the pizza, the spicy pepperoni, and the sweetness from honey. Plus lots of ranch dressing and some Coca-Cola to wash it down.
I’m going to have surf-and-turf: steak, a lobster, scallops, broccolini, some mashed potatoes. I grew up eating lobster out on the East Coast, and it’s always one of my favorite meals.
My favorite meal sometimes makes me feel ill because I eat too much: cheese fondue. I'm from Idaho, so I like it with potatoes. Liquid cheese, can you imagine anything better than that?
After competing, I’m eating a nice thick rib eye, medium, with a sweet potato and a Caesar salad, finished with a cheesecake. It hits all the sweet spots, literally. I have a sweet tooth for cheesecake.
When I get home I’m eating a Buffalo chicken pizza. It’s what my brother and I would eat in high school, and it’s a great bit of nostalgia.
Pumpkin pie is my number one memory growing up. The only time I ever got to eat it was when my grandma would visit us on holidays, making the six-hour drive to come visit us. She would bring pumpkin pie, and it’s been my favorite food ever since.
When you’ve been away from home for so long, the food’s not the best. I just want a frickin’ American burger, with fried egg, some bacon, jalapeños sometimes.
First thing I'm eating after the competition is sushi. I'm from Michigan, so I don't get very good sushi ever. A dragon roll? The eel and the sauce. Ooh! So good.
I'm going to have pad thai, for comfort. But on long adventure runs in the mountains, we'll have candy. Nerds Gummy Clusters, Mike & Ikes, gummy bears. Any assortment will do.
St. Louis–style baby back ribs always makes me feel right at home. Even when I'm far away and on the road, I make it a point to try ribs. I was even in Finland and had some; you can get them all over the world.