Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are set to carry the Olympic flame as part of the torch relay before Milano Cortina Winter Games 2026. The Heated rivalry fellow players have been appointed as official torchbearers for the opening ceremony on February 6placing the breakout series at the center of one of the sport’s most iconic traditions.
Details of when and where Williams and Storrie will participate in the relay have not yet been revealed. The announcement was made by HBO Max, which holds the series’ streaming rights across the US, Europe and several international territories. Sphere Abacus is handling the show’s global distribution.
The relay will end in Milan, one of two host locations for Winter Olympics 2026. For the first time in the history of the Winter Games, the Olympic flame will be lit in double cauldrons, one in Milan, where the hockey tournaments will take place, and another in the mountains of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The casting of Williams and Storrie reflects the rapid ascent of Heated rivalrya romance centered on rival professional hockey players whose story has struck a nerve with audiences since its debut in the US late last year. The series has fueled sustained online conversation, sparked renewed demand for Rachel Reid’s novels and received a second-season renewal, while also pushing its leads into the wider entertainment spotlight through awards appearances and talk shows.
In a fitting bit of symmetry, a fictional Olympic rivalry from the show now finds an echo in real life, as Williams and Storrie step into the global frame just weeks before the Games begin.
What do you think of their Olympics moment? Share your thoughts on X/Twitter and visit ThePlayerLounge for more entertainment stories.
