Two stars of gay romance film chosen as Winter Olympic torchbearers
MILAN — Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, stars of the hit series "Heated Rivalry," have been selected as torchbearers for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
HBO Max, which holds the broadcasting rights for the series in the United States and several other regions, announced the selection. The Olympic torch relay is scheduled to conclude in Milan on Feb. 6, immediately preceding the opening ceremony.
Specific dates and locations for the actors' participation in the relay have not yet been disclosed.
"Heated Rivalry," a romantic drama centered on two rival hockey players, has become an internet phenomenon since its American debut. The show's surging popularity has propelled Williams and Storrie to global stardom, leading to appearances at major award ceremonies and securing a second season for the series.
Saigon Sentinel Analysis
The selection of the lead cast from "Heated Rivalry" as Olympic torchbearers represents a calculated pivot in the intersection of global sports and mass-market entertainment. By diversifying beyond traditional athletic icons, Olympic organizers are aggressively leveraging celebrity capital to capture a younger, social-media-centric demographic—specifically Gen Z and Millennials—whose engagement is essential to the Games' evolving commercial viability.
The move carries significant symbolic weight. The decision to elevate stars from a prominent LGBTQ-themed series signals a deliberate effort to project institutional modernity and social inclusivity, aligning the Olympic brand with the progressive values of its target audience.
From a corporate strategy perspective, the move serves as a high-stakes promotional vehicle for HBO Max. By tethering its premier intellectual property to a global event of this magnitude, the platform is effectively utilizing the "attention economy" to solidify its international footprint. This synergy is particularly potent given HBO Max’s dual role as a primary broadcaster for the Games in the U.S. and European markets, illustrating a sophisticated model of cross-platform brand integration and market positioning.