Hudson Williams and Connor Storey are looking to add excitement to the Milan Winter Olympics.
The stars of “Heated Rivalry” have been chosen as the official torchbearers for the Olympic Torch Relay, which concludes in Milan on February 6 ahead of the opening ceremony. It has not yet been announced when and where Williams and Storey will carry the Olympic torch.
The news was announced by HBO Max, which owns the rights to the original series Crave, which depicts a passionate romance between two hockey players from rival teams who cannot ignore their feelings for each other in the United States, Australia, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Sphere Abacus is a leader in global distribution.
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will be available to stream on HBO Max for the first time in Europe, including Italy and Germany, as part of the streamer’s expansion. In the United States, the Olympics will be broadcast on NBC and streamed live on Peacock.
Since its U.S. premiere in late November, the “Heated Rivals” craze has captivated the internet and catapulted Williams and Story to fame worldwide. This hype led to the duo’s presentation at the Golden Globes, a late-night appearance, a sellout of Rachel Reid’s book series on which the show is based, and a renewal for a second season.
Following the show’s renewal, Story told Variety that she hopes the next season remains true to Reed’s book. “These are obviously very well-constructed stories that a lot of people are hooked on,” he said. “The only way to make this meaningful is to stay true to the book and also respect the fandom of the people who are spearheading this whole thing.”
