⛸️ Minnesota's favorite Winter Olympic sport depends on who you ask

By Craig Helmstetter, guest author

Minnesota is sending more athletes to this year’s Winter Olympics than any other state besides Colorado. And many of us are planning to tune in.

The North Star State’s 24 Olympians include skiing legends Lindsey Vonn (Alpine) and Jessie Diggins (Nordic), four members of the men’s hockey team and five of the women’s hockey team, according to Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin is sending six athletes.

Much of Team USA’s curling squad either grew up in Minnesota or now trains here.

Still, figure skating holds a special place in Minnesotans’ hearts, with over 1 in 3 saying it is their favorite Winter Olympics sport. Hockey comes in a distant second (1 in 5), followed by Alpine skiing (1 in 10), according to a Minnesota Community survey of 914 adults conducted Jan. 22 to Feb. 4, 2026.

Fewer than 10% of Minnesotans say snowboarding, the sledding events (bobsled, luge, and skeleton), curling or speedskating is their favorite Winter Olympic sport. And only 1% of Minnesotans agree with me (Editor’s note: Craig) that cross-country skiing should receive top billing.

Figure skating is the most popular Winter Olympic sport for nearly all major groups of Minnesotans, from young to old, rich to poor, rural to urban, and even both Democratic and Republican.

Over half of Minnesota women say figure skating is their favorite Winter Olympic sport, with ice hockey a distant second.

Minnesota men, by contrast, most favor ice hockey followed by Alpine skiing (i.e. downhill). Figure skating ranks as the third-most popular sport, tied with sledding events.

Minnesotans have a lot on their minds these days. Even so, over one-third say they will follow the Olympics at least somewhat closely. Among that group are the Winter Olympics superfans: the 10% who plan to follow the Games “very closely.”

The most popular sports among Minnesota’s Olympic fans, or those who plan to follow the Games either very or somewhat closely? Figure skating (28%), followed by ice hockey (24%), Alpine skiing (15%) and snowboarding (14%).

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics kick off on Feb. 6, and whether you're tuning in for figure skating, hockey, or yes, even cross-country skiing, Minnesotans will have plenty to cheer for.

Craig Helmstetter, Ph.D., is a guest author. He was APM Research Lab's founding Managing Partner and led the organization until 2025. A member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, he serves on its Transparency Initiative Coordinating Committee.