Winter Olympics 2026: Day Highlights from Milan–Cortina
The Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 delivered high drama and historic moments as multiple medal events concluded across alpine skiing, speed skating, snowboarding, and luge.
Women’s Downhill Skiing: USA Strikes Gold
American skier Breezy Johnson won the gold medal in the women’s downhill, clocking a superb run on one of the most challenging courses of the Games. This victory marked a major milestone for the United States, making Johnson the first American woman to claim Olympic downhill gold in over a decade.
Germany’s Emma Aicher secured the silver medal, while Italy’s Sofia Goggia thrilled home fans by winning bronze.
The race was overshadowed by a serious crash involving veteran skier Lindsey Vonn, who was forced to exit the competition after a heavy fall and was attended by medical staff on the course.
Speed Skating: Italy Celebrates First Gold
Italy celebrated its first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics as Francesca Lollobrigida triumphed in the women’s 3,000-metre speed skating event. Competing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, Lollobrigida delivered a flawless performance and set a new Olympic record.
The win was made even more special as it came on her 35th birthday, turning the moment into a memorable milestone for Italian sport.
Snowboarding Big Air: Intense Finals
The men’s Big Air snowboarding final brought thrilling aerial performances. Australia’s Valentino Guseli impressed with bold attempts but narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing 10th overall.
The podium featured:
- Gold – Japan
- Silver – Japan
- Bronze – China
The final showcased the growing technical difficulty and creativity in modern snowboarding.
Other Events and Developments
- Parallel giant slalom snowboarding progressed through crucial elimination rounds.
- Luge events and mixed doubles curling added to the packed competition schedule.
- Several nations continued strong starts, setting the stage for intense medal battles in the coming days.
Overall Atmosphere
With venues spread across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Games are building momentum. From icy speed skating ovals to steep alpine slopes, the Olympics are delivering a mix of emotional victories, surprise results, and elite athletic performances.
As the Games continue, more medal events are lined up in figure skating, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, curling, and freestyle skiing, promising more unforgettable moments.