VERONA, Italy – The closing ceremony marked the end of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, a showcase of athletic prowess spanning eleven days and featuring 116 events across eight sports and sixteen disciplines. The Games concluded with Norway firmly atop the medal table, solidifying its position as a winter sports powerhouse.
Norway’s performance was nothing short of dominant, amassing a total of 39 medals: 18 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze. This victory extends Norway’s recent streak of success in the Winter Olympics, having also led the medal count at the previous three Games, and the gold medal tally at the last four. The nation’s success was particularly evident in Nordic combined, where Jens Luraas Oftebro spearheaded a clean sweep of gold medals in all three events. Oftebro’s triumph broke Norway’s 28-year Olympic Nordic combined gold medal drought, and he consistently shared the podium with Austrian Johannes Lamparter throughout the competition.
The United States secured the second-highest medal count with 33 total medals, including a record-breaking 12 gold. This marks the best Winter Olympics performance for the U.S. Since in Oslo, Norway, and surpasses the previous record of 10 gold medals won in in Salt Lake City. Team USA demonstrated broad competitive excellence, earning medals in 11 of the 16 winter sports.
The Netherlands rounded out the top three with 13 gold medals, largely fueled by their dominance in speed skating and short track. Italy, as the host nation, achieved its best-ever Winter Olympics results, finishing with 30 medals and 10 gold. Germany and Japan followed, securing 26 and 24 medals respectively, with strong performances in sliding sports and snowboarding/figure skating.
China also enjoyed a successful Games, achieving its best result at an overseas Winter Olympics with five gold, four silver, and six bronze medals. This performance signals a growing strength in winter sports for the nation, and a continued investment in developing athletes capable of competing at the highest level.
The Nordic combined competition was a story of consistent podium finishes for Norway, Austria, and Finland, the only three nations to earn medals in the sport. Beyond Oftebro’s individual success, the Games highlighted sibling rivalries, with the Oftebro brothers of Norway and the Rettenegger brothers of Austria competing head-to-head. While pre-Games favorites like Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger, Johannes Rydzek, and Julian Schmid faced challenges, finishing no higher than fifth, the competition proved unpredictable, with conditions like thick, powdery snow impacting performance.
Elsewhere, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway etched his name into Olympic history with a remarkable six-for-six gold medal sweep in cross-country events. This historic achievement further cemented Norway’s overall dominance at the Milan-Cortina Games. The Games also saw Canada’s men’s curling team defeat Great Britain 9-6 in the final, and the American freestyle skiing team win the mixed team aerials event.
The women’s halfpipe final, featuring Eileen Gu, was postponed due to heavy snowfall, underscoring the challenges posed by weather conditions throughout the Games. Despite the disruption, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered a compelling spectacle of athletic competition and national pride, concluding with a celebration of achievement and a look forward to the next Winter Games.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry officially declared the Games closed, bringing to an end a period of intense competition and international camaraderie. The success of Norway, the United States, and other nations highlights the ongoing evolution of winter sports and the dedication of athletes striving for Olympic glory.
