2026 Winter Olympics recap: Triumphs, heartbreaks, and drama in Milan-Cortina

The 2026 Winter Olympics, hosted in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, wrapped up on February 22, after delivering a thrilling combination of breathtaking athletic ability, cultural style, and unexpected twists and turns. From snow-covered slopes in Livigno and Bormio to the ice rinks in Milan, the Games exhibited traditional winter sports while drawing global attention with celebrity appearances and historic firsts. As the final medals were awarded, Norway dominated the leaderboard, but stories of underdogs, comebacks, and scandals stole the spotlight.

Big winners of the 2026 Winter Olympics

Norway emerged as the undisputed powerhouse, securing 41 medals, including 18 golds, thanks to stars like cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (a record 9 gold medals). The United States followed with 32 medals (11 golds), shown by the women’s ice hockey team’s gold-medal victory over Canada and figure skater Alysa Liu’s strong performance in the singles short programme.

Host nation Italy celebrated 30 medals (10 golds), with speed skater Arianna Fontana shining brightly on home ice. China’s Eileen Gu was a freestyle skiing sensation, clinching three medals in the women’s halfpipe and lighting up the events. The Netherlands dominated speed skating with 20 medals (10 golds), led by Jutta Leerdam, whose win was cheered by her fiancé, influencer Jake Paul.

Great Britain enjoyed a breakthrough, earning 5 medals (3 golds, 1 silver, and 1 bronze), including Matt Weston’s historic two golds in skeleton, the first Brit to achieve that feat at a single Winter Games, and Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale’s gold in mixed snowboard-cross. Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history with his nation’s first Winter Olympic gold, celebrating with a samba dance on the Stelvio snow.

Dancinha do brasileiro Lucas Pinheiro Braathen ao ganhar a medalha de ouro nos Jogos Olímpicos de Inverno de 2026. pic.twitter.com/ZEXF3pEYrz

— Luigi Benesilvi (@Spacelad43) February 16, 2026

Other notables included Germany’s Francesco Friedrich in bobsleigh and Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt in alpine skiing.

Notable losers and disappointments

Not every story ended in glory. Great Britain’s Bruce Mouat and his curling team fell short in a heartbreaking loss to Canada. Freestyle skier Zoe Atkin, also from GB, led in qualifying but settled for bronze after a strong but imperfect final run. Kirsty Muir finished fourth twice in freestyle skiing events, while Mia Brookes crashed out in slopestyle.

Canada, typically a winter sports giant, managed 20 medals but only 5 golds, overshadowed by losses like the women’s ice hockey final to the USA. Many nations, including powerhouses like Finland (6 medals, no golds), left with fewer accolades than expected.

Surprising moments at the 2026 games

The Olympics delivered plenty of shocks. Brazil’s gold medal breakthrough with Braathen’s samba celebration symbolised the Games’ global reach, with a mix of tropical feels with alpine snow. Great Britain’s “Super Sunday” saw two golds in hours, marking their emergence as a snow sports contender and meeting their medal target of 4-8.

The return of NHL stars after 12 years elevated ice hockey, with 146 players from 16 nations competing. Celebrities brought eyebrow raisers: Snoop Dogg as an NBC correspondent, Flavour Flav cheering on US bobsleigh, and Jake Paul’s ringside support. Lindsey Vonn’s defiant message to “haters” after her run and Amber Glenn’s Team USA shoutout were feel-good surprises.

You just never know who will be watching Team USA here in Cortina. USA Bobsled/Skeleton ambassador Flavor Flav gives us a small shoutout as he wrapped up watching the men’s skeleton event. pic.twitter.com/7ngSfYNCHJ

— Justin Surrency (@JustinSurrency) February 12, 2026

Controversies that rocked the Olympics

In amongst all the triumphs, scandals shocked. Allegations swirled that ski jumpers were using “penis injections” to gain extra height in jumps, topping the list of bizarre stories. Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid tearfully admitted to cheating on his girlfriend after winning a medal, adding a personal drama twist. And, of course, Mariah Carey’s performance at the opening ceremony was almost universally criticised with accusations of miming the words. While no major doping or geopolitical issues dominated headlines (for a change), these offbeat controversies kept the Games in the global conversation.

2026 Winter Olympics medal table overview

Here’s a snapshot of the top 10 nations in the final medal standings as of February 22, 2026:

The 2026 Games set a blueprint for future editions, putting gamesmanship, friendly competition and diverse locations, while delivering unforgettable moments that go beyond sport.