Once every four years, the world holds its breath as the top athletes from every country come together to compete in the Olympic Games. This year, the Winter Olympics were held in Milan at Cortina d’Ampezzo, bringing together thousands of athletes from around the globe to compete at the highest level of winter sport.
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From February 6th to February 22nd, 2026, the games displayed a breathtaking series of Alpine races, intense hockey matchups, and many record-breaking performances from all over the globe. Now that the Olympics have officially ended, fans are reflecting on moments and the legacy and impact the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics will leave behind. The game starts as they always do with a lavish and exciting opening ceremony, featuring cultural performances and traditional parades where athletes proudly represent their home countries. Then, after more than 2 weeks, the closing ceremony wraps up the event by celebrating all the achievements of the athletes. Over the past weeks, athletes have strived for gold, wanting to represent their country to the best of their ability.
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As the competitions carried on, several countries climbed to the top of the medal standings. The ranks are mainly dominated by nations in predominantly snowy areas, a common recurring theme. Norway led the ranks with a total of forty-one medals, eighteen of those being gold. The USA came in second with thirty-three medals, twelve of which were gold. In third, the Netherlands had twenty in total, ten of gold. As for runners-up, Italy and Germany.
Within the Olympics, there are always many standout performances. This year in particular, nine records were set, including Jordan Stolz from the USA in the men’s 500 m/1000m (Skating) and Xandra Velzeboer from the Netherlands in short track. Alongside this, there were stand out performances from many other Olympians. For example, Ilia Malinin brought back the controversial backflip on the ice. The backflip was only recognized by the International Skating Union in 2024, and for almost 50 years, it has been banned due to its danger. Alongside this, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has become the most decorated gold medalist in the Winter Olympics with 11 career gold medals. And finally, another standout for the US was Alyssa Liu, who won the US Women’s Figure Skating Gold, which has not been done by the USA since 2002.
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Overall, the past winter Olympic Games have brought about the pride of many countries and have pushed the limits for what athletes can do, breaking new records and setting new precedents.