Martin Gernat to represent Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics

KHL.ru keeps on presenting the athletes who will be representing their countries at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Today, it’s Martin Gernat’s turn. The Gagarin Cup champion will be at his second participation.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Cortina and Milan, Italy, from Feb. 6–22, 2026, marking the 25th edition of the Games and the third hosted by Italy, following Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956 and Turin in 2006. Ice hockey will once again be one of the flagship events of the Olympic program, with the men’s tournament scheduled from Feb. 11–22 in Milan. Twelve national teams will battle for gold at two venues, with Finland arriving as the reigning Olympic champion after its 2022 triumph in Beijing.

Martin Gernat is one of the most reliable Slovak defensemen of his generation and a long-standing presence in the KHL, where he has built a reputation as a steady, two-way blueliner capable of logging heavy minutes at a high level. Born on Apr. 25, 1993, in Kosice, Slovakia, Gernat left his home country at a young age to pursue development opportunities abroad.

Gernat’s early career saw him move through junior and professional systems in North America and Europe, including time in the WHL and the AHL, before returning to the continent after five seasons overseas. He had stints at home in Slovakia, in Czechia, and most recently in Switzerland before joining the KHL. Gernat collected two titles with Ocelari Trinec in Czechia, in 2019 and 2021, years when he was among the league’s best defenseman and the top scorers from the blue line.

In Switzerland, with Lausanne HC, the Slovak blueliner failed to find postseason success, but he was still a force on both ends of the ice. In the meantime, the Kosice-born defenseman represented Slovakia at the 2022 Beijing Olympics as a long-time regular with the national team. Following its international success, once his contract in Lausanne expired, Gernat inked a one-year deal in Yaroslavl, playing for the first time in the KHL.

Across his KHL career, Gernat has appeared in 220 games, producing 101 (31+70) points from the blue line. The highlight of his career was the 2025 triumph in the Gagarin Cup finals with Lokomotiv as the Yaroslavl franchise lifted its first cup in KHL history.  He has routinely logged top-four minutes, contributing 20-plus points per year while maintaining a strong defensive presence and leadership role on and off the ice.

Internationally, Gernat has been a fixture for Slovakia, representing his country at multiple World Championships and major tournaments. The most remarkable moment of his national team career came at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where Slovakia captured a historic bronze medal, with Gernat playing a crucial role on the blue line throughout the tournament. The upcoming Milan–Cortina Games will mark his second Olympic appearance, and his experience, composure, and championship pedigree are expected to be vital for the team as Slovakia looks to build on its recent international success.

Team Slovakia kicks off the Olympics tournament on Feb. 11 with a game against Team Finland.