Published: February 15, 2026 at 10:53 am
From skiing in Cortina d’Ampezzo to speed skating in Val di Fiemme, the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 has delivered in every way imaginable, says a report by Courtney Hill on Olympics.com.
Whether it is teenagers rewriting the history books or veterans pushing the limits of their longevity, it has delivered the extremes of winter sports. Many of these athletes are redefining what is possible on the ice and snow.
When it comes to the world’s biggest stage, young prodigies are never ones to shy away from delivering big upsets. We’ve seen it here and will continue to witness their fearlessness in many Games down the line.
In Milano, though, one of the biggest stories came from 17-year-old Choi Gaon of the Republic of Korea. She stunned two-time defending champion Chloe Kim in the women’s halfpipe final, mustering up the strength and courage to ride again after a heavy crash. A third-run winning score of 90.25 marked the Republic of Korea’s first-ever medal in this event.
On the ice, 21-year-old Mikhail Shaidorov shocked the world of figure skating when he claimed the men’s individual gold. Pic: Home of Skating
On the ice, 21-year-old Mikhail Shaidorov shocked the world of figure skating when he claimed the men’s individual gold. He wasn’t considered a contender for many yet delivered a podium-topping free skate to finish ahead of the medal favourites. It marked Kazakhstan’s first gold in this discipline, and their first at an Olympic Winter Games since 1994.
Although he is 25 now, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen has been on the alpine skiing scene since 17. After failing to finish in both slalom events in Beijing, the Brazilian travelled to Europe with a point to prove. On the back of his best-ever World Cup season, he soared to gold in the giant slalom to clinch South America’s first Winter Games medal. He is proof of what these teen prodigies can become – the best of the best.
Later in the Games, we’ll see more history written when USA’s Abby Winterberger takes to the freeski halfpipe at just 15 years old. She will become one of the youngest competitors at a Winter Olympics.
USA’s Abby Winterberger takes to the freeski halfpipe at just 15 years old. She will become one of the youngest competitors at a Winter Olympics. Pic: NBC
Pushing the limits of longevity at Milano Cortina
One of, if not the, biggest stories coming into these Games came from Lindsey Vonn. At 41, she was already pushing the limits of what she is capable of in alpine skiing. Then she tore her ACL and looked set to do something that simply defied human anatomy by continuing to compete. While Vonn did make it to the start line, a horrible crash – unrelated to her knee injury – ended her pursuit of gold just seconds into the race. It wasn’t the fairytale finish she dreamed of, but there is no denying that her drive inspired athletes and spectators alike.
Moving to the ice, the skeleton more specifically, Austria’s Janine Flock clinched gold. At 36, she was the oldest competitor in the women’s individual event, winning her nation’s first-ever top honour in this discipline. In the bobsleigh, meanwhile, Edson Bindilatti of Brazil will compete in the 2-man and 4-man events at 46. To put into context just how long he has been competing at the very top: Bindilatti’s first Olympic appearance came in 2002.
Not only do these athletes continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, they also show incredible commitment to their respective sports.
Blistering records at Milano Cortina
Speed skating is, as the name suggests, arguably the most blistering event at the Winter Olympics. We’ve seen many records broken, though few achieved a bigger cheer than Francesca Lollobrigida in the women’s 3000m. Roared home at every turn, the 35-year-old set a new Olympic record to top the podium and win her first of two golds in her home Games.
Jordan Stolz, still just 21 years old, has twice broken an Olympic record so far in the men’s 500m and the men’s 1000m. The latter he did in style to record the largest margin of victory at an Olympics since 1984.
From Dutch delight at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, to track records in luge and skeleton, the ice is the place to be for speed demons.
