Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie Carry Olympic Torch for Milano Cortina 2026

Actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, known for their breakout roles in the queer hockey drama Heated Rivalry have been named torchbearers for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on Thursday. The announcement was shared by HBO Max, highlighting the actors’ growing prominence. The Olympic Torch Relay, a central prelude to the Games, carries the flame across multiple countries and cities, symbolising unity and the Olympic spirit ahead of the opening ceremony.

Williams and Storrie play rival hockey players whose intense competition slowly transforms into a romantic relationship in Heated Rivalry, based on Rachel Reid’s book series. The show premiered on November 28, 2025, and streams on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the United States. Their performances have received critical acclaim, elevating both actors to international attention.

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Outside the series, Hudson Williams recently walked the runway for Dsquared2 at Milan Fashion Week, while Connor Storrie appeared on popular U.S. television shows, including Late Night with Seth Meyers and Today.

The success of Heated Rivalry has led HBO Max to renew the series for a second season. Rachel Reid, the original author, has also announced a new book titled Unrivalled, which will continue the story of Shane and Ilya, the characters portrayed by Williams and Storrie. The selection of the actors as torchbearers underscores the cultural impact of Heated Rivalry and reflects the growing representation of LGBTQ+ stories in international sporting events.

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