The stars of the hit television series Heated Rivalry are taking their story from the screen to the Olympic stage. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie have been selected as official torchbearers for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. HBO Max, which streams the series globally and holds broadcast rights for the Games in several countries, made the announcement on January 22, 2026. The actors will carry the Olympic flame during the torch relay in the days before the Opening Ceremony on February 6.
Official Announcement and Torch Relay Details
The news was confirmed in an official statement from HBO Max. The announcement did not specify the exact date or location where Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will run with the torch. The torch relay is currently traveling through Italy. The flame began its journey in Rome in December 2025 and will conclude in Milan on the day of the Opening Ceremony.
The selection ties directly to the storyline of Heated Rivalry. In the show, the characters played by Williams and Storrie are elite hockey players who compete at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The announcement brings a touch of real-life symbolism to the fictional tale.
From Actors to Olympic Torchbearers
For Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, the invitation to join the torch relay is the latest milestone in a sudden rise to fame. The series premiered in November 2025 and quickly became a major success. Before landing their breakout roles, both actors had relatively low profiles. Williams has shared that he was working as a server when he auditioned for the show.
In Heated Rivalry, Hudson Williams plays Shane Hollander, a Canadian hockey star, while Connor Storrie plays his rival and secret love interest, Ilya Rozanov, a Russian player. The show is based on the Game Changers book series by Canadian author Rachel Reid.
Since the show’s debut, the actors have been on a non-stop press tour, presenting awards at the Golden Globes and appearing on major talk shows. Williams has also been seen in Milan during Men’s Fashion Week, attending shows for brands like Giorgio Armani and walking the runway for Dsquared2.
The Meteoric Success of Heated Rivalry
Heated Rivalry has been a genuine phenomenon. Originally produced for the Canadian streaming service Crave, its instant popularity led to a quick international distribution deal with HBO Max. The show became the number one series on the platform in the United States. Its success has already secured a renewal for a second season.
The show’s creator, writer, and director is Jacob Tierney, known for his work on the Canadian series Letterkenny and Shoresy. Storrie has credited Tierney’s passionate approach as key to the show’s authentic feel.
“I think the love, the spice, the world, the connection. I think he was just a really, really big fan, and I think that love poured over into his interpretation of it,” Storrie told TODAY.com.
The series has sparked wider conversations about representation and identity in sports, with Williams noting that he has heard from closeted professional athletes who connected with the story.
Strategic Timing with Olympics and Italian Release
The torchbearer announcement aligns with a major strategic push for Heated Rivalry in Italy. The series is scheduled to begin streaming on HBO Max in Italy on February 1, 2026. This is just five days before the Olympic Opening Ceremony and as the torch relay reaches its final stages.
HBO Max is an official Olympic rights holder for the Milano-Cortina Games in several markets, including Italy and Germany. This marks the first time the Winter Olympics will be available on the streaming service in those countries. Featuring the stars of a popular new series as part of the Olympic festivities creates a natural link for viewers.
In the United States and Canada, fans can continue to watch Heated Rivalry on HBO Max and Crave, respectively.
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A Full-Circle Olympic Moment
The torchbearer role creates a unique, full-circle moment that blends the actors’ fictional roles with a real-world Olympic event. In Season 1 of Heated Rivalry, the characters of Shane and Ilya navigate their secret relationship during the 2014 Sochi Games. In a notable story point from the show, Ilya’s Russian team suffers a surprise loss to Latvia.
Carrying the Olympic flame for the 2026 Winter Games brings the actors into the very world their characters inhabit. The Olympic torch relay has previously included other LGBTQ athletes and allies, such as Canadian swimmer Mark Tewksbury, who carried the torch ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Games.
The Opening Ceremony for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will be held at Milan’s famous San Siro stadium on February 6. While the exact schedule for Williams and Storrie’s leg of the torch relay is not public, their participation is confirmed for the final days leading up to the ceremony.
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