Actors Hudson Williams, 24, and Connor Storrie, 25, stars of the hit television series Heated Rivalry, have been named as official torchbearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The announcement was made by HBO Max on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The actors will participate in the Olympic Torch Relay, carrying the Olympic flame on its journey to the opening ceremony scheduled for February 6. The opening ceremony will be held primarily at the San Siro stadium in Milan.

Heated Rivalry, created by Canadian screenwriter, director, and producer Jacob Tierney, is based on Rachel Reid's bestselling novels. The series follows the story of Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two elite ice hockey players whose fierce rivalry is complicated by a deep and evolving love story off the ice. Since its debut in late 2025, the series has garnered a large online fanbase and has been renewed for a second season. The series also stars François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nélisse and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.

While Williams and Storrie won’t be playing hockey for Team Canada or Russia, as their characters did in the show, their participation in the torch relay connects them to the spirit of the games. In Heated Rivalry, the characters of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov attended the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. In the show, Ilya represents Team Russia but does not medal, while Shane wins a gold medal for Team Canada.

The Olympic Torch Relay traditionally begins in Greece, at the site of the ancient Games, before traveling to the host city. Currently, the torch is in Trieste, Italy, and will pass through 13 more cities before reaching Milan for the opening ceremony. However, the specific date and location for when Williams and Storrie will carry the torch have not been revealed.

HBO Max, which streams Heated Rivalry internationally and holds Olympic broadcast rights in the US and parts of Europe, is capitalizing on the show's popularity by integrating its stars into the Olympic experience. With the Olympics airing on HBO Max in Italy beginning in February, the collaboration is a strategic move to further engage audiences. Williams has already been in Milan, attending fashion week events.

The 2026 Winter Games are scheduled to take place from February 6 to February 22.