Winter Olympians often compete in freezing temperatures – physiology and advances in materials science help keep them warm

While physical exertion helps athletes stay warm, sweating can lead to dehydration.

By: Cara Ocobock, University of Notre Dame and Gabriel R. Burks, University of Notre Dame, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 6, 2026

Words: 1,325

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

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By Cara Ocobock, University of Notre Dame and Gabriel R. Burks, University of Notre Dame

The Winter Olympics and Paralympics are upon us once again. This year the games come to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, where weather forecasts are predicting temperatures in the upper 30s to mid-40s Fahrenheit (1 to 10 degrees Celsius).

These temperatures are a good deal warmer than one might expect for winter, particularly in a mountainous area. They’re warm …

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