Summary:
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The breakout stars of Heated Rivalry to carry Olympic torch, adding pop culture twist to tradition. Details TBD.
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HBO Max announces torchbearers also star in series, strategically linking show with Winter Olympics coverage.
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Since debut, Heated Rivalry stars have made waves at awards shows, renewed for Season 2, and honored fanbase.
The breakout stars of Heated Rivalry have been selected as torchbearers for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, adding a pop culture jolt to one of the Games’ most symbolic traditions.
The Olympic Torch Relay concludes Feb. 6 in Milan, just ahead of the opening ceremony. Specific details on when and where the actors will carry the torch have not yet been announced.
No, we will *not* be calm about this (!)#HeatedRivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie to carry the Olympic torch! 🔥https://t.co/xE8qY3PUmx pic.twitter.com/7YLaNmUZKd
— GAY TIMES (@gaytimes) January 22, 2026
The announcement was shared by HBO Max, which holds U.S. rights to the Crave Original series, along with distribution across Australia, Asia, Latin America, and parts of Europe. Global sales are handled by Sphere Abacus.
The move also doubles as strategic synergy. The 2026 Winter Olympics will stream on HBO Max in several European markets, including Italy and Germany, marking the platform’s first time carrying the Games in those regions. In the U.S., coverage will air on NBC and stream live on Peacock.
Since its U.S. debut in late November, Heated Rivalry has become a full-blown internet fixation. Adapted from Rachel Reid’s popular romance novels, the series follows two elite hockey players on rival teams whose competitive fire turns into something far more complicated.
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That momentum has translated into real-world milestones. Williams and Storrie have already presented at the Golden Globes, made multiple late-night TV appearances, and helped push Reid’s book series back onto bestseller lists. HBO Max renewed the show for Season 2 just weeks after its premiere.
Speaking to Variety after the renewal, Storrie emphasized the importance of honoring the existing fanbase. “These are obviously really well-constructed stories that a lot of people are really into,” he said. “The only way to make this make sense is to stick to the books and also honor the fandom of the people who are really spearheading this whole thing.”
As the countdown to Milan continues, Williams and Storrie’s inclusion adds a distinctly modern chapter to Olympic tradition, one shaped as much by streaming fandoms as by sport itself.
