The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina delivered two weeks of thrilling competition, record-breaking performances, and unforgettable sporting moments. With nearly 3,000 athletes competing across more than 100 events, the Games captivated audiences worldwide and produced several historic achievements.
One of the standout performers was Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who made history by winning gold in all six of his cross-country events during the Games. His remarkable sweep brought his career total to 11 Olympic gold medals and set a record for the most medals won by an individual athlete at a single Winter Olympics.
Italian short-track speed skating legend Arianna Fontana also extended her incredible career record. By adding more medals during the Games, she reached a total of 14 Olympic medals in short-track speed skating—the most by any athlete in the discipline.
Meanwhile, freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu continued her dominance on the slopes. With a gold medal in the halfpipe and two silvers in big air and slopestyle, she became the athlete with the most Winter Olympic medals in freestyle skiing.
In speed skating, Dutch athlete Xandra Velzeboer set a new record for the fastest women’s 500-meter short-track race, clocking an astonishing time of 41.399 seconds during the semifinals before going on to win gold.
On the national stage, Norway dominated the medal table, winning a record 18 gold medals and 41 total medals—the highest ever achieved by a country at a Winter Olympics.
While the Olympic flame has been extinguished, the spotlight now shifts to the 2026 Winter Paralympics, which have just begun in Italy. The Games are expected to feature a record 665 athletes from 56 nations competing in 79 medal events across six sports.
Among the athletes to watch is American Paralympic star Oksana Masters, already the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian, who is aiming to add more medals to her impressive tally.
Italian para-snowboarder Emanuel Perathoner is another name generating excitement, with the potential to challenge records in para-snowboarding after winning multiple world championship titles.
