When figure skaters at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan glide off the rink after their routines, the cameras don’t stop rolling. A man in an all-white tuxedo and matching white skates glides right alongside them, capturing every raw, unfiltered emotion in the moments just after the music fades. That man is Jordan Cowan, a 35-year-old former competitive ice dancer from Los Angeles, and he has become one of the most talked-about figures of the entire Games. Videos of him skating gracefully backward, sometimes on one leg, while holding a camera, spread across social media almost overnight.
Cowan made history in Milan as the first cameraman ever permitted to film from the ice surface at the Olympic Games, according to Reuters. He describes what he’s capturing out there as “unexplored territory” in sports broadcasting, and the world seems to agree that nobody has filled that territory quite like him. “It’s a special feeling,” he told reporters. “This is the first time something like this has been done and I couldn’t wish for a better experience.” The reception to his now-iconic look clearly caught even him off guard.
Speaking to CNN Sports, Cowan laughed at the unexpected turn his career had taken. “Honestly, it’s really special,” he said. “I’ve been working on this for so long in the shadows, and I was worried the suit would be too conspicuous, but I’m overjoyed that everyone accepted it and that they like it.” Cowan had spent years quietly building his craft away from the spotlight, and the sudden viral fame felt like a long-overdue recognition of that behind-the-scenes work.
@ian.gunther He’s the perfect person for this 🐐 #sports #olympic #olympics #winterolympics #WinterSportsTikTokContest ♬ original sound – Ian Gunther│Daily Sports
Growing up in Los Angeles, Cowan was drawn to ice skating partly because a rink felt like such an exotic place in the heat of Southern California. He pursued competitive ice dancing until 2012, when he retired and found himself torn between two other passions: film and science. The realization that he could merge those worlds through sports cinematography changed everything. Producers of a television special noticed his behind-the-scenes footage and were struck by the sensation of a camera that seemed to “float across the ice,” and that opened a professional door he never looked back from.
A pivotal career moment came when he became the first on-ice cameraman for the British TV show ‘Dancing on Ice,’ a role that proved to be a direct stepping stone toward the Olympics. His technical approach is unconventional by broadcast standards, relying entirely on manual focus and zoom rather than autofocus systems. Because he is a skater himself, he can anticipate athlete movement in a way a stationary camera operator simply cannot. “The best compliment I get from skaters is that they forgot I was even on the ice with them,” he explained. “That’s the golden standard.”
Cowan has built deep trust with many of the athletes over the years, which allows him to document the most intimate post-performance moments. Some skaters have told him that having a fellow skater nearby during emotionally charged moments makes them feel less alone. That bond was tested most personally when he filmed his childhood friend Paul Poirier and partner Piper Gilles winning a bronze medal for Canada, a moment that nearly moved Cowan to tears behind the lens. “I know my camera so well that I think my emotions can come through the lens,” he said. “Everything is manual, like playing an instrument. If I feel sadness, I think it’s impossible not to show that in the frame.”
As for the legendary white suit, Cowan had a dual purpose in mind. He wanted to visually blend into the white expanse of the ice, while also paying tribute to the prestige of the occasion. A tailor specializing in skating costumes made the outfit from a fabric that allows full freedom of movement while still looking refined. “After all, this is Milan,” he said with a smile. “It seemed appropriate to dress elegantly.” Looking ahead, Cowan hopes to bring his on-ice techniques to summer sports as well, and even to Hollywood productions one day. “I didn’t expect to become this viral,” he admitted. “But maybe if people like how I skate backwards, they’ll like how I walk backwards.”
Figure skating has been part of the Winter Olympics since the very first Games in Chamonix, France in 1924, making it one of the oldest events in the Winter Olympic program. The sport is governed internationally by the International Skating Union, which was founded in 1892. Olympic figure skating events include men’s singles, women’s singles, pair skating, and ice dance, with scoring based on both technical execution and presentation components evaluated by a panel of judges. Ice dance, which was Cowan’s own discipline as a competitor, was added to the Olympic program in 1976 at the Innsbruck Games. The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo mark the first time Italy has hosted the Winter Games since Turin in 2006.
If Jordan Cowan’s story on the ice has you thinking about the intersection of art, sport, and storytelling, share your thoughts in the comments.
