An East Boothbay couple will see the 2026 Winter Olympics from a unique perspective. Byron Cortez and Elliot Schwartz will work the games as International Olympic Committee volunteers. Schwartz had worked for the U.S. Olympic Committee, most recently as a data analyst, for 5.5 years. 

In 2024, he worked the Paris games for the USOC and brought his husband, Cortez, to the games as an IOC volunteer. Jan. 28, the couple is off to Milan to work the winter Olympics which run from Feb. 4 to Feb. 18.

Schwartz knew a woman at the IOC in charge of hiring volunteers. "She told me about a website where you could go to bypass the preliminary interview process," he said. Schwartz and Cortez made the cut, but they don't know exactly what they will do. "That is still up in the air. I'm thinking figure skating, but we won't know until we get there," Schwartz said. 

If they are assigned to work the figure skating, it will last eight days between the team, ice dance, pairs and men's and women's singles. "If it's figure skating, we will likely spend a lot of time at the rink. We would sign in athletes, open and close the boards when skaters enter the ice, it all depends upon what is needed," he said. 

Prior to the Winter Olympics, Schwartz completed a special assignment for the U.S. Olympic committee. He did an analytics assessment for American figure skating and other winter sports. So, he has a special understanding of Team USA and the elite world competition.

In men's figure skating, he believes Team USA has an excellent chance to win the gold with three major contenders. No. 1 contender is three-time defending world champion Ilia Malinan. "He is also known as the 'Quad god' because he is the only one who has ever done one in competition, and he did it four times at the U.S. championships." No. 2 is Andrew Torgashev, a 2025 and 2026  U.S. National silver medalist. No. 3 is Maxim Naumov. He won the bronze medal at the 2026 U.S. Championships. Like his American teammates, Naumov is an American with parents with Russian heritage. Naumov's parents were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The couple competed for Russia, and won the 1994 world pairs championship. The couple moved to the U.S. and became figure skating coaches. The couple and other coaches, figure skaters and family members died Jan. 29, 2025 when their flight crashed returning from a development camp in Wichita, Kansas.

"He is the sentimental favorite. During NBC's coverage of the U.S. championships, they covered this story and I expect they will do so again in Italy," Schwartz said.

In the women's competition, three Americans are among seven contenders to claim the gold medal. Alysa Liu is the first woman to land a quad lutz in competition. She is the 2025 world champion. Amber Glenn is a two-time Grand Prix and three-time national champion. Isabeau Levito is the 2024 World silver medalist and 2023 U.S. National champion. 

In women's ice hockey, Schwartz expects a rematch between Canadians and Americans in the Gold medal round. "They have been in the final for the past five Olympics," he said.

On the men's side, Schwartz expects Canada will be the favorite. "I don't really follow it that closely. Canada is always tough, and I will have to see how the American squad will do," he said. One member of Team USA's men's hockey is former UMaine and Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman.

Russia is a prominent men's hockey contender, but won't compete in Milan. The Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted in Russia's being banned, but some Russian athletes will compete. "Russia was banned from team sports, but some individual athletes will be allowed to compete," Schwartz said.

Probably, the most well-known Team USA athletes are skiers Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shriffin. Vonn, 41, won the gold medal in the downhill in the 2010 games. Shriffin, 30, has more Alpine skiing victories than any man or woman in history. She is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist. "They are both competing and winning on the grand prix circuit. So, they are definitely contenders," he said.

Schwartz also expects Team USA to have a stronger than expected showing in speed skating. Jordan Stolz is the 500M, 1,000M and 1,500M world champion. Erin Jackson is the defending women's Olympic champion in the 500M.

American men are also expected to be competitive in the pursuit competition, a three-person race with competitors using advanced drafting and synchronized movements to achieve the fastest time over several laps

For Schwartz, the biggest thrill is watching the American athletes striving for their best performance. "It is so great watching athletes that we help develop go out there striving for their best performance," he said. Schwartz also has his own Olympic dream. He hopes one day, he will be selected as a figure skating judge. At age 60, he still has two more Olympics as possible opportunities.

"International judges age out at 70, so I have two more chances and I will always make myself available for the Olympics," Schwartz said.

In April, Schwartz will travel to Saltzburg, Austria and be a judge at the synchronized skating world championships. Synchronized skating is not an Olympic sport.