Another Winter Olympics has come and gone, with Milano Cortina 2026 providing spectators with 16 days of superb action.
116 events took place over the two weeks in Northern Italy, but now comes a time to reflect on how each nation performed at the Games.
How the medal race played out
Norway and hosts Italy were the quickest out of blocks, scooping up 12 and 11 medals respectively in the first four days of events.
They were soon joined by usual favourites, USA and Germany, near the top of the total medal table.
The United States finished strongly, collecting 16 medals in the last seven days, performing particularly well in the skiing and speed skating events.
Also ending on a high note were Switzerland, adding 13 medals in the final five days of the Games to bring their total medal total to 23, tied for the sixth most overall.
Notably, two nations earned their first ever Winter Olympic medals, those being Brazil and Georgia.
Brazil became the first ever South American nation to win a medal of any colour at the Winter Games when Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the men’s giant slalom event.
Speaking after his historic win, Pinheiro Braaten said: “I just hope that Brazilians look at this and truly understand that your difference is your superpower.
“You guys keep trying to ask me if I can put words into these emotions but I really can’t.”
Georgia earned their first ever medal by winning silver in the figure skating pairs event, thanks to Luka Berulava and Anastasiia Metelkina.
Klæbo leads the way for dominant Norway
For the fourth straight Winter Olympics, Norway topped the medal table, earning both the most golds and most medals overall.
It’s a performance that will make the Scandinavians confident they can go five Olympics straight atop the medal table in 2030.
Leading the charge for the Norwegians was cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who won gold in all six cross-country events breaking several records in the process.
Most notably, he now holds the record for the most career gold medals won by a Winter Olympian with 11, and trails only swimmer Michael Phelps on the list of all-time Olympic Gold Medals.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the last of these medals, Klæbo said: “It’s been crazy, it’s a dream come true, I really think this Olympics has been perfect.”
Below Norway, the United States were second in the table, with 12 gold medals, their highest amount ever at the Winter Olympics.
Great Britain celebrate “history-making” Games
Great Britain had plenty to celebrate at Milano Cortina, producing their best Winter Olympics ever from a gold medal perspective.
Team GB earned three gold medals, the first time they’ve won more than one at a single Games.
Two came in the skeleton, while Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale combined to win Britain gold in the mixed snowboard cross.
Then, in the last two days, Great Britain’s men’s curling team earned a silver, before Zoe Atkin achieved bronze in the women’s halfpipe, bringing the total medal haul to five.
Speaking to the BBC on the success of these games, Team GB Chief de Mission said: “These Games have been amazing, and a history-making Games,”
“This Games has really proven that we are capable, that we have so much potential, and we’re growing. We’re a growing winter nation, which is really exciting.
“With the French Alps (Winter Olympics) in four years time, this is a catalyst to those Games.”
Italy rise to the occasion on home soil
Another nation that surpassed its record tally for gold medals at Milano-Cortina was hosts Italy.
Winning ten golds, as well as 30 medals in total which is also a record, the Italians finished fourth in the medal table, distinguishing themselves well in front of the watching world.
The total marks a significant improvement on Beijing 2022’s total of 17, going some way to justify the significant investment Italy has been in for these Games.
Chief amongst the medallists was speed skater Arianna Fontana, winning a gold and two silvers in 2026, becoming the most decorated Italian Winter Olympian in the process, with 14 career medals.
Having won her first medal at 15-years-old in Turin 2006, the now 35-year-old Fontana celebrates another successful Olympics on home soil.
I do have experience, but I have the same drive I did when I was 15. I never get on the ice just to show up.
“I am truly living a dream. I never would have expected, from Turin to today, to still be here, competing with the best in the world,” she said after her most recent success.
“Right now, I’m feeling truly indescribable emotions. I’ve been ecstatic, if I may say so. It is truly something incredible.”
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