Venom was going for gold.

The Marvel comic book character wasn’t competing in the Olympics, of course, but it sure looked like he was.

His white eyes and sharp teeth glided down the ice at superhero-like speeds thanks to Austin Florian of the U.S. skeleton team.

Florian, while competing at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, wore a custom designed helmet depicting the character’s face. The 31-year-old from Connecticut finished in 12th place, but he still made headlines and went viral for his helmet.

Austin Florian of United States in a men's skeleton individual run during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games

Annegret Hilse/Reuters via Imagn Images

Annegret Hilse/Reuters via Imagn Images
Austin Florian of United States in a men’s skeleton individual run during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre.

He’s not the only skeleton star that turned a helmet into a work of art.

There have been designs of animals, an actual skeleton, and other patriotic symbols. Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych attempted to wear a helmet honoring more than 20 of the country’s athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia, but was disqualified because it broke a rule against making political statements on the Olympic field of play.

Here’s a look at some other skeleton helmet designs at the Games.

Source: https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/olympics/2026-milan-cortina/top-skeleton-helmet-designs-winter-olympics/4352539/