The 2026 Winter Olympics started on Feb. 6 and everyone is watching. The 2026 Olympics took place in Milan with 92 countries taking part and over 3,500 athletes competing. Norway won the medal standings with Italy and the USA also performing well in the late stages.
Athletes like Johannes Høsflot Klæbo winning gold in cross-country skiing and Andreas Skoglund and Jens Luraas Oftebro winning gold in Nordic Combined Team Sprint were key reasons for Norway’s impressive overall success. The USA and Italy also had strong showings with the US winning the Figure Skating Team Event with athletes Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, Madison Chock, and Evan Bates, and Italy winning gold in Speed Skating with athletes Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini, and Michele Malfatti.
Many people had predicted Ester Ledecka would win, but Zuzana Maderova won the gold in Women’s Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom. In a stunning fashion, Olympic newcomer Gaon Choi for South Korea beat the superstar and three-time gold medalist American snowboarder Chloe Kim to win Halfpipe gold.
This year the American viewership skyrocketed, being the most watched winter olympic games since 2014. Winning a record of 12 gold medals and 33 total medals was a reason for record breaking viewership. The USA made history by sweeping both men’s and women’s Ice Hockey with gold medal finishes. The Olympic powerhouse also earned wins in alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, speed skating and figure skating.
On Sunday Feb 22 the Olympic games ended with moments that will carry on for years. Record breaking performances, dramatic finishes, and unexpected champions defined two unforgettable weeks of competition. Host nation Italy celebrated a strong showing, while global powers like the United States and Norway showcased their dominance. In the end, Milano Cortana 2026 will be remembered as a competitive showing for all athletes.
