After a snowy week, both at home and abroad in Milano and Cortina, Italy, the USA has prevailed as the second leading country in terms of medals won at the 2026 games. This year’s winter Olympic games gave the world thrilling competition and historic performances that will be remembered for years. Held across multiple venues in northern Italy, this year’s games brought together athletes from more than 90 countries for three weeks of events and national pride. Here is a brief recap of some hottest competition on the world’s coldest stage!
Most recently, the Men’s US hockey team prevailed in overtime against Canada, with a final score of 2-1. Jack Hughes scored the winning goal against the Canadian goalkeeper, Jordan Binnington, merely three minutes into overtime. This sent team USA into wild celebration on the ice, marking the first US Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980. This win was preceded by a gold medal win for the women’s hockey team, where the women also defeated Canada with a score of 2-1. In prior years, Canada had owned the “North American rivalry” since the Olympics opened up to NHL players in 1998. While the American women’s team has medaled consistently since then, in men’s hockey, Canada had previously won gold in 2002, 2010, and again in 2014– making the United States the clear underdogs in the men’ s match. The public has even gone so far as to say this year’s triumph for the men is the next generation of the famed “Miracle on Ice” game, back from 1980, where the US beat the Soviet Union hockey team 4-3.
One of the most dominant figures of the Games was the Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hosflot Klaebo. Klaebo made Olympic history by winning six gold medals– more than any athlete has ever achieved in a single Winter Olympics. His winnings helped push Norway into first place in terms of overall medal count, tallying a whopping 41 total medals (shortly followed by the US with 33 and Italy with 30). He holds the record for the youngest male skier to ever win the FIS Cross-Country World Cup, the Tour de Ski, and any Olympic event in cross-country skiing, at just 29 years old. In the eyes of many Norwegian fans, he’s the “Usain Bolt of the snow.”
Figure skating one again delivered some of the most captivating and emotional moments of the 2026 Winter Games. In the women’s event, Alysa Liu skated with confidence and grace, capturing the gold medal for the United States. As a former child prodigy, Liu became the youngest US women’s national champion at age 13. Despite her early onset fame, Liu announced her retirement from the sport at age 16 to focus on herself outside of the spotlight. Her decision to return to the sport before the 2026 Games proved her renewed love for skating– this time, as a passion instead of an obligation. Between her striped hair and personal choice of program songs (including Promise by Laufey and Stateside by Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress), she has become a true symbol of individuality and reclaimed passion.
In terms of women’s skiing and snowboarding, athletes like Gaon Choi, Chloe Kim, and Eileen Gu stood as prominent figures. At merely age 17, Gaon Choi of South Korea shocked the world by winning Gold in the women’s snowboarding halfpipe, beating previous two-time gold medalist and Choi’s own mentor, Chloe Kim. The New York Times has gone so far as to call Choi the future of snowboarding, which aligns perfectly with her performances from this year’s games. China’s Eileen Gu won gold in the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe, giving her the historic title of the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history. She is the only freeskier to win three medals at a single Olympic Games, achieving this not once– but twice, in both 2022 and 2026.
As the 2026 Olympics close, the world is left with unforgettable moments. From rising stars to returning champions, icy tracks to snowy slopes, the Winter Games stand as a reminder of global unity, national pride, and the Olympic spirit.
