ITHACA, N.Y. - Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame member Laura Fortino '13 has been selected to represent the Italian National Team at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Fortino will be making her third appearance on the Olympic stage, and her first with Team Italy.

As a representative of Team Canada, Fortino earned gold and silver respectively at the 2014 and 2018 Olympic games. The Hamilton native has medaled with Canada in six world championships, making up of one gold, four silver, and one bronze.

Fortino, a three-time first-team All-American, helped anchor a defense that spearheaded the Big Red to four consecutive Ivy League and ECAC Hockey regular season titles, three ECAC Hockey tournament crowns, four NCAA tournament appearances and three Frozen Fours. The 2011 Ivy League Player of the Year and a three-time first-team All-Ivy and All-ECAC Hockey pick was a three-time Patty Kazmaier Award nominee (finalist in both 2011 and 2012). An assistant captain her senior year, Fortino graduated with the sixth-most assists in team history (98). Fortino closed her career with 35 goals and 133 points in 133 career contests.

The 2026 women's ice hockey Olympic Games are scheduled to begin on Friday, February 6*, and conclude on Sunday, February 22*. The Italian women's ice hockey team is scheduled to begin it's slate on Thursday, February 5** at 8:40 a.m. E.T. in preliminary action against France at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Italy is slotted in Group B, joining France, Japan, Germany, and Sweden.

* denotes date and time in Central European Time
** denotes date and time in Eastern Standard Time