The 2026 Winter Olympics: A Comprehensive Guide
Get ready for the 25th Winter Olympics, returning to Europe with a record-breaking 116 medal events, including the new sport of ski mountaineering. Here's everything you need to know about the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games.
Britain's Best Olympics Yet?
Great Britain has never won more than five medals at a single Winter Olympics, but 2026 could be their year. UK Sport aims for GB athletes to secure between four and eight medals, and Team GB's chef de mission, Eve Muirhead, believes there's an opportunity to surpass their previous achievements.
British athletes recently dominated the World Championships, claiming nine medals across various Winter Olympic sports. And that's not all; snowboarder Mia Brookes and freestyle skier Kirsty Muir have won World Cup events this season, making them strong medal contenders.
However, the 2022 Winter Olympics didn't go as planned, with GB falling short of their target of three to seven medals. They only won their first medal on the final weekend, securing a gold and silver in curling.
The Most Gender-Equal Winter Olympics Ever
The Winter Olympics have come a long way since their 1924 debut, with a significant increase in female participation. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) expects around 1,300 female athletes at Milan-Cortina, a record-breaking number. Women will compete in 53.4% of all medal events, and 12 out of 16 disciplines will be fully gender-balanced.
New women's events include luge doubles and ski jumping, while a mixed skeleton relay adds to the excitement. This Games marks the first oversight by Kirsty Coventry, the first woman to be elected as the IOC's president, symbolizing the progress made towards gender equality.
NHL Stars Return, Reigniting Ice Hockey's Appeal
Ice hockey is a major attraction at the Winter Olympics, and the return of NHL stars after a 12-year absence has created a buzz. The 2018 Games denied NHL-contracted players a chance to compete, and COVID-19 affected their participation in 2022. However, concerns about the main rink's readiness and ice conditions have kept their participation in 2026 uncertain.
The USA's hopes for their first Olympic men's ice hockey title since 1980 are high, especially with Russia banned from competing. Despite NHL teams being based in the USA or Canada, players from the league will represent most of the 12 teams at the Olympics, including Finland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
Milan-Cortina 2026: A New Era for the Winter Olympics
Cortina d'Ampezzo will become the fourth location to host the Winter Olympics twice, following St. Moritz, Innsbruck, and Lake Placid. The Games have expanded significantly since 1956, with five times more events and almost four times as many athletes. This growth means it's impossible for a single ski resort to host the Olympics alone.
The 2026 Games will be the most geographically widespread, with events in multiple regions and cities, including Milan, Italy's second-largest city. The IOC's focus on sustainability means less new infrastructure is required, and events will be spread out, making it the 'new normal'.
A Golden Era of Record-Breaking Athletes?
Since 2018, no new names have topped the list of most Winter Olympic golds, but 2026 could change that. German lugers Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt aim to win their seventh and eighth golds, tying them with the Norwegian trio of Ole Einar Bjorndalen, Bjorn Daehlie, and Marit Bjorgen.
However, another cross-country skier, Johannes Hosflot Klaebo, could surpass them. With five Olympic golds already, Klaebo's consistent performance at the World Championships makes him a strong contender to become the all-time leader in gold medals.
Italy's Hosting Challenge
Hosting the Olympics often boosts medal counts, but Italy's experience in 2006 was different. They won 13 medals in 2002 but only 11 in Turin, despite winning five golds. The Italian Olympic Committee aims for a minimum of 19 medals, their second-best performance.
Italy's 2026 hopes have faced setbacks, with injuries to flagbearer Federica Brignone and freestyle skier Flora Tabanelli, and alpine ski hope Marta Bassino ruled out. However, athletes like speed skater Davide Ghiotto, snowboarder Maurizio Bormolini, and curling pair Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini offer medal prospects.
And let's not forget Arianna Fontana, who, at 15, won bronze in Turin in 2006. Now, two decades later, she's Italy's most successful Winter Olympian, aiming for a medal at her sixth consecutive Games.
