Milano Cortina 2026 Ended: The Olympics of Records, Legends, and Unforgettable Finals
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games concluded in spectacular fashion in Italy, leaving behind a legacy of historic performances and emotional moments.
Hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Games officially came to an end with a grand closing ceremony at the Verona Arenası, where the Olympic flame was passed on to the French Alps for 2030.
Norway Makes History with 18 Gold Medals
Norway dominated the Games, delivering a historic performance. With late victories in cross-country skiing and biathlon, the Scandinavian powerhouse reached 18 gold medals — the highest number ever won by a nation in a single Winter Olympics. A total of 40 medals secured Norway’s place at the top of the overall standings.
At the heart of this achievement stood Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who won all six of his events to achieve a perfect “six-for-six.” His performance established him as the most decorated gold medalist in a single Winter Games. Meanwhile, Norway’s biathlon team impressed with an extraordinary 94% shooting accuracy rate, underlining the technical excellence behind their dominance.
USA Defeats Canada in Epic Hockey Final
One of the most anticipated events of the Games was the men’s ice hockey final between the Amerika Birleşik Devletleri and Kanada. With NHL stars returning to Olympic competition after more than a decade, the stage was set for a classic showdown.
In a dramatic overtime thriller, the United States triumphed over Canada to claim gold. The victory brought the U.S. gold tally to 12, securing second place overall behind Norway. Highlight performances included Alysa Liu’s remarkable comeback in figure skating and record-breaking achievements on the speed skating track, marking America’s strongest Winter Olympics campaign in two decades.
Dutch Speed and Italian Pride
The Netherlands finished third with 10 gold medals, highlighted by three new Olympic records in speed skating — reaffirming its reputation as the fastest nation on ice.
Host nation Italy celebrated its most successful Winter Olympics ever, earning 10 gold medals and 30 medals in total. Federica Brignone dazzled in alpine skiing, while Lisa Vittozzi captured her first Olympic gold, igniting nationwide celebrations.
As the Olympic flame dimmed inside Verona’s ancient arena, Milano Cortina 2026 secured its place in history as the Winter Games of records, comebacks, and unforgettable sporting excellence.
