Hudson Williams and Connor Storey, stars of the hit TV series Heat Rivalry, have been named official torchbearers for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

The actors will carry the torch during the torch relay, which will end in Milan on February 6, the day of the opening ceremony. The torch relay will be held at the San Siro soccer stadium in the city. Organizers have not yet announced when or where Williams and Storey will participate.

Heat Rivalry, created by Canadian writer and director Jacob Tierney and based on the best-selling novel by Rachel Reid, follows the love story that unfolds on the ice between elite ice hockey players Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Story), bitter rivals. Since its debut in late 2025, the series has become a huge global hit, gaining a cult following online and quickly getting renewed for a second season.

Torchbearer announcement Made by HBO Maxis streaming Heat Rivalry internationally and holds the rights to the Olympics in the U.S. and parts of Europe. The Milan-Cortina Games will be the first time that the Winter Olympics will be streamed on Italian and German platforms.

Williams, who was waiting tables when he was spotted auditioning for the show, is already a visible presence in Milan as Olympic hopes build. During Milan Men’s Fashion Week, he walked the runway for Dsquared’s ski-inspired collection, then appeared in the front row at Giorgio Armani as the luxury brand leans into its winter sports image in the lead-up to the Olympics.