MILAN, Feb 7 - The Super Bowl will unfold in Santa Clara, California, while many American athletes at the Milano Cortina Winter Games will be trying to sleep through the championship showdown. Kickoff is set for half-past midnight Central European Time, a slot that places the game squarely during most competitors' rest windows.
For some U.S. athletes, the game's timing makes staying awake an unappealing choice given their competition schedules. "I will be heavily cheering on the Patriots in my dreams," said Beijing Super-G silver medallist Ryan Cochran-Siegle. The Burlington, Vermont, native is among those who plan to prioritise sleep ahead of his team combined event the day after the Super Bowl.
Reflecting his allegiance to New England, Cochran-Siegle said he packed up a team jersey earlier in the winter. "I did pack my (Patriots quarterback) Drake Maye jersey back on January 10th for this late playoff push to the Super Bowl, so I’ll probably be wearing that to bed," he said. "If they win then I’ll try to sneak it under my suit for the race."
Other U.S. athletes based at the Winter Games expressed similar plans to sacrifice live viewing in favor of rest or a social media blackout. U.S. mixed doubles curler Korey Dropkin, a Boston native, said he expects it will be hard to fall asleep knowing his team is playing, but disconnecting from online updates will help him manage the night. "I’m going to wear my Pats jersey to bed," Dropkin said. "I’m logged out from everything. I’m disconnected. So I’m going to wake up in the morning and hear the Patriots won."
Not all American competitors will surrender the night. Several short-track speed skaters engaged in good-natured pregame banter about the outcome. Seattle native Corinne Stoddard confidently backed the Seahawks. "We have the Games - we don’t want to be up all night watching that game," Stoddard said. "Seahawks gonna win. I don’t have many doubts in my mind about that one."
Her teammate Julie Letai, who identifies as from New England, countered with a competitive streak and even suggested a friendly wager. "I would love to profit from that. You don’t have to worry about the Patriots when you go into the Super Bowl. We know how to win," Letai said.
American freestyle skier Chris Lillis, a supporter of the Buffalo Bills, is among the minority of U.S. athletes who will be able to watch the title game live. Lillis noted his event timetable allows for late-night viewing: "We don’t compete until the 17th of February, so I wouldn’t say that watching a football game is really going to affect our competition," he said. Concerned about divisional rivals, Lillis added he hoped the Seahawks prevail. "Definitely, rooting for the Seahawks. Cannot really abide Patriots winning the Super Bowl again before the Bills do."
Across the Olympic village and competition venues, the contrast between global schedules and U.S. broadcast timings has produced a mix of acceptance, humor and practical planning. Many athletes described rituals that balance fandom with the demands of elite competition: wearing team jerseys to bed, logging off social platforms to avoid spoilers, and reserving hope for a discrete celebration after events.
Summary of key details
- Kickoff for the Super Bowl is at 00:30 Central European Time, placing the game in the middle of the night for Winter Games competitors in Italy.
- Several U.S. athletes say they will prioritise rest ahead of competitions, while a smaller number with later schedules plan to watch the game live.
- Athletes expressed team allegiances and used tactics such as wearing jerseys to bed or disconnecting from social media to manage viewing and spoilers.