In Their Words: Summer Olympians say they're ready for the Winter Games. As fans

MILAN (AP) — While many summer Olympians are setting their sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Games, some are first prioritizing the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

As fans.

Amid their own training regimens and international competitions, summer athletes say they're squeezing in time to follow skiing, skating and bobsleigh, among other winter sports. They'll watch like any other spectator — by scrolling social media, tuning into television coverage and, in some cases, hosting watch parties.

The Associated Press spoke to three summer Olympians and a Paralympian ahead of the Winter Games. The Q&As have been edited for length and clarity.

Here's our chat with four summer athletes:

Chiappini, a Brazilian-Italian athlete, competed for Team Brazil in the team's hometown 2016 Rio Olympics. The 30-year-old is currently playing with SIS Roma in Italy.

What’s her favorite Winter Olympic sport? Hockey.

"Since I'm a water polo player, I really like team sports and sports that have contact.”

Who is your favorite winter athlete to watch this year? Brazilian skeleton athlete Nicole Silveira.

“She is the hope for Brazil to win their first Winter Olympic medal.”

If she were a winter athlete, which sport would she choose? Hockey.

“It's similar to water polo. I like the contact, I like to play as a team and the fact that we have to score. I think it would be a perfect match for me.”

How does she plan to watch the Milan Cortina Games? Mostly on Instagram.

“In Brazil, it's not very famous. Because it's always summer, it doesn't snow so it's not common to talk about these sports. Which is also sad, because it would be nice to talk about all the sports and not just soccer.”

The four-time American Paralympian who calls himself the “Armless Archer” won a gold medal in Paris 2024 and a silver in London 2012. The 43-year-old is retired from the sport and is currently a motivational speaker.

Favorite Winter Olympic and Paralympic sport: Bobsled.

“There's something about being like inches (centimeters) off the ice with no engine, but just gravity taking you down the hill. The focus that they have to have, that is intriguing to me."

Winter athletes to watch: American ski jumper Jason Colby, Norwegian wheelchair curler Mia Sveberg.

Colby: “As you know, ski jump isn't really dominated by the USA at all. So to have somebody who is kind of itching up towards the top like that and has a legit change of podium is pretty awesome.”

Sveberg: “It's her and a guy and they're competing against another female-male team. I think that's cool that she's kind of one of the leading females in sometimes a male sport.”

If he were a winter athlete: Curling.

“If I have to learn this in a year and get really good to try to make a Games, I think curling is what I think I could pick up pretty fast.”

Watching the Milan Cortina Games: Olympics watch party at his Iowa school; travel to the Paralympics.

“There is a very good chance that I actually will be over at the Winter Paralympics for about five or six days, doing events. So my plan is to get to as many events to see live, while I'm over there, as possible.”

The Slovenian sport climber took back-to-back gold medals at the Tokyo and Paris Games, winning the Women’s Combined in 2021 and Women’s Boulder & Lead in 2024. The 26-year-old is currently training for the upcoming World Cup season and focusing on rock climbing projects.

Favorite Winter Olympic sport: Skiing.

“Honestly, I'm such a fan of Olympics, of course, in general that I watch all the sports. But my favorite would probably be skiing. ... Slovenia has a really strong ski jumping team, men and women, so I will watch that. And also I really like to watch figure skating.”

Winter athlete to watch: American Alpine ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin, Slovenian ski jumpers.

“She is such an icon, a legend. I will be watching her, I love her dominance in her sport.”

If she were a winter athlete: Skiing or figure skating.

“I really don't like cold and I don't like winter, so probably I wouldn't be a winter athlete. But if I had to choose one, probably it would be skiing. ... As a kid I loved watching figure skating, so maybe I could see myself there as well.”

Watching the Milan Cortina Games: Cellphone and television.

“I really wanted to be there in person but my training schedule doesn't allow me that. So I will be watching either on the phone during training a little bit or, if I will be at home, definitely on TV.”

The American foil fencer won an individual bronze medal in Paris 2024 and was part of the 2021 team that took home bronze in Tokyo. The 26-year-old Californian is currently competing on the World Cup circuit.

Favorite Winter Olympic sport: Curling.

“A few weeks ago, they taught us how to curl. Now I know all the logistics and they also don't get the same kind of recognition that they deserve, like fencing.”

Winter athlete to watch: American Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn.

“She's such a GOAT (greatest of all time).”

If he were a winter athlete: Hockey.

“Some of my best memories were playing ice hockey as a little kid.”

Watching the Milan Cortina Games: At home in Los Angeles.

“It'll definitely be on 24/7 at the house.”

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Associated Press writers John Leicester in Paris, Ao Gao in Los Angeles and Tales Azzoni in Madrid contributed to this report.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

FILE - United States' Nick Itkin celebrates after winning the men's individual Foil bronze final match against Japan's Kazuki Iimura during the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Grand Palais, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

FILE - Janja Garnbret of Slovenia competes in the women's boulder and lead, lead final, during the sport climbing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aug. 10, 2024, in Le Bourget, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

FILE - Matt Stutzman, of the United States, holds the bow with his foot as he competes in the individual compound-open, during the Paralympic Games at the Sambadrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File)

FILE - Brazil's Izabella Chiappini takes a shot against Russia during their women's water polo preliminary round match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) — NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.

The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Trump's initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America's commitment to Europe's security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO's eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.

But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send "an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.

“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump’s latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who said allies knew the U.S. troop “posture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.”

U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

But Rubio said Washington’s allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. “I think there’s a broad recognition that there are going to be eventually less U.S. troops in Europe than there has historically been for a variety of reasons,” he said.

The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.

Trump's initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war.

Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.

Rubio insisted that Trump’s decision “is not a punitive thing. It’s just something that’s ongoing.”

About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.

The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.

But Trump's latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move. On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. “We have a process in place. This is normal business,” he told reporters.

At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon's aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe’s defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.

Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: “I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that.” He said the procedure “is highly classified” and declined to give details.

Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: "Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.”

Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, front second left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, front left, speak with each other during a group photo at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte look at each other as they deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže speaks at the doorstep of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting at Sea U in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives with his wife Jeanette at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden, ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, second from left, shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, as he is greeted by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard, right, before a dinner at Sofiero Castle in Helsingborg, Sweden, Thursday May 21 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)