When the curtain opens on the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 this week, figure skating will be one of the first sports to grab the spotlight with the coveted team event.

Since its inception in 2014, this competition between the world's top 10 teams has been fierce, spirited and must-see TV. The U.S. earned the bronze medal in 2014 and 2018, and the gold medal in 2022 in Beijing, China.

For Vincent Zhou, a two-time Olympian and member of the gold medal team, his advice to this year's team is simple: "Each of you shines in a way that nobody else can. Lean into it, create your moment!"

Zhou created plenty of moments during his remarkable career, including finishing sixth overall at the 2018 Games in PyeonChang, South Korea, at just 17 years old, the youngest member of the entire U.S. Olympic team. He is also a two-time World medalist and six-time U.S. medalist.

But the team event in Beijing will always hold a special place in his heart. Designated to perform his free skate, Zhou recalls what he felt leading up to and during that pressure-packed moment.

"I was nervous about competing a free program before the individual short and free, a rhythm I had never competed before," Zhou said. "I mostly let the excitement of being at the Olympics override any mental disruptions that might have caused. …

"I remember that the six-minute warmup went so perfectly that I was scared to disrupt that perfection, which looking back was probably not the optimal mindset you want to be in. However, I also remember feeling so euphoric to perform under the Olympic rings, something every aspiring skater dreams of, and allowing myself to be present and bathe in that feeling."

Zhou remembers the help he received from the Team USA support staff, and the encouragement of his teammates.

"In general, team events are loads of fun," Zhou said. "Whether it's World Team Trophy or the Olympic Team Event, the typically highly isolating individual sport becomes about camaraderie, respect, friendship and enthusiasm for those around you."

Unfortunately for Zhou, he tested positive for COVID immediately after the team event and couldn't compete in the individual event. While it was a devastating blow, Zhou is remembered in how he handled that situation with courage, grace and optimism.

He went on to win the bronze medal the next month at the World Championships.

"I remember a text from someone who was very close to me saying they were just in awe of the journey I'd been through in the past few years leading up to the Olympics, and how proud they were that I'd made it," Zhou said. "It can certainly be difficult to remind yourself when you're at the destination that it's not all about the destination, so that reminder was very welcome."

This year's team event gets underway on Friday, Feb. 6 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 8. The 10 teams vying in the competition are the United States, Japan, Italy, Canada, Georgia, France, Great Britain, Korea, China and Poland. Olympic committees selected their athletes based on international results, national championships and potential. 

The top five teams after the short program advance to the free skate portion of the event.

Each country fields one man, one woman, one pair and one ice dance couple (total six athletes) for the short program, and a subset competing in the free skate/free dance, with points awarded by placement (10 for 1st, 1 for last.)

As of the posting of this story, the U.S. has not released the names of the U.S. competitors in order to best position the team against the rosters of the other countries.

"We are looking forward to competing in the team event at these Games," Justin Dillon, U.S. Figure Skating chief of high performance officer at U.S. Figure Skating, said. "Having three current World champions will be a source of strength for our athletes competing against the World's best on the biggest sporting stage."

To cheer on Team USA as they compete in the Olympic team event, visit the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 Competition Central.