2030 Winter Olympics: Lithuania’s Team & Medal Count from Milan-Cortina 2026

The February 6th to February 22nd, 2026, Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXV Winter Olympic Games, concluded in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, with Norway dominating the medal count. This year’s games saw participation from a record 2,900 athletes representing 92 National Olympic Committees, including first-time entrants from Benin, Guinea-Bissau, and the United Arab Emirates.

Norwegian Dominance and Medal Standings

Norway secured an unprecedented 18 gold medals, surpassing their previous record of 16 set at the 2022 Winter Olympics. This performance firmly established Norway as the leading nation in the games, significantly outpacing the United States, which claimed 12 gold medals, and the Netherlands and Italy, both with 10 gold medals each. In total, Norway amassed 41 medals – 18 gold, 12 silver, and 11 bronze.

The success of Norwegian athletes was particularly pronounced in cross-country skiing, where they won an impressive 7 gold medals and a total of 14 medals. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, a standout skier, individually contributed 6 gold medals to Norway’s tally.

The final medal standings are as follows:

1. Norway – 18 gold, 12 silver, 11 bronze, 41 total
2. United States – 12 gold, 12 silver, 9 bronze, 33 total
3. Netherlands – 10 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze, 20 total
4. Italy – 10 gold, 6 silver, 14 bronze, 30 total
5. Germany – 8 gold, 10 silver, 8 bronze, 26 total

Geographical Scope of the Games

The 2026 Winter Olympics were notable for their expansive geographical distribution, representing the most geographically dispersed games in history. Events were held across a vast area of 22,000 square kilometers, encompassing Milan, Bormio, Livigno, Cortina d’Ampezzo (often referred to as Cortina), Predazzo, Tesero, and Anterselva (also known as Antholz).

Cortina d’Ampezzo previously hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956, and Italy also hosted the games in Turin in 2006, demonstrating the country’s continued commitment to winter sports.

Lithuania’s Participation and Flag Bearers

Lithuania fielded its largest-ever Winter Olympic team, comprising 17 athletes – 8 men and 9 women – competing across four sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, and figure skating. Despite a strong tradition in summer sports, Lithuania is yet to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.

Figure skaters Saulius Ambrulevičius and Allison Reed had the honor of carrying the Lithuanian flag during the opening ceremony. At the closing ceremony, the honor was bestowed upon Meda Variakojytė, a debutante in figure skating, and Modestas Vaičiulis, a cross-country skier participating in his fourth Olympic Games.

Team Composition – Lithuania

The Lithuanian team was composed as follows:

• Biatlon: 8 athletes (4 men, 4 women)
• Cross-country skiing: 4 athletes (2 men, 2 women)
• Figure skating: 3 athletes (1 man, 2 women)
• Alpine skiing: 2 athletes (1 man, 1 woman)

Andrej Drukarov competed in the men’s giant slalom and super-G, while Neringa Stepanauskaitė participated in the women’s giant slalom and slalom.

The 2026 Winter Olympics showcased not only athletic excellence but also the logistical complexities of hosting an event across a wide geographical area. The games provided a platform for both established winter sports powerhouses like Norway and emerging nations like Benin, Guinea-Bissau, and the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant moment in the history of the Winter Olympics.