Looking Back on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina

Unexpected Upsets and Triumphs

• 💡 Ilia Malinin's unexpected 8th place finish in men's singles figure skating was a major shock, as he was considered a strong favorite.
• 🥇 Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, not favored to win, stunningly took the gold medal in men's singles figure skating, surprising even himself.
• 🚀 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen from Brazil won the giant slalom, marking the first Winter Olympics medal for a South American athlete.

Breakout Athletes and Inspiring Comebacks

• ⛷️ Ben Ogden, a cross-country skier from Vermont, broke a 50-year medal drought for US men's cross-country, earning two silver medals.
• 🇮🇹 Federica Brignone, an Italian skier, won two gold medals (giant slalom and super-G) in front of her home crowd after recovering from a severe leg injury.
• 🥌 Cory Thiesse of Team USA curling was highlighted as a breakout star, winning a silver in mixed doubles and competing in the women's team semifinals.

Dramatic Moments and Underdog Tales

• ⚠️ Lindsey Vonn's massive crash early in her run after tearing her ACL a week prior was a shocking and dramatic moment.
• 💪 Jessie Diggins fought through significant pain from injured ribs to secure a bronze medal in cross-country skiing.
• 🐕 A neighbor's dog named Nazgul unexpectedly appeared on a cross-country ski course, becoming a crowd favorite.

Memorable Performances and Unconventional Highlights

• ⛸️ Amber Glenn achieved a clean skate and season's best score in her free skate, demonstrating a powerful redemption arc after a disappointing first half.
• 🏂 Ga-on Choi of South Korea won gold in women's halfpipe snowboarding with three fractures, making an incredible comeback after falling in her first two runs.
• 💬 A Canadian curler's "f-bomb" response to cheating allegations and Alysa Liu's post-gold medal expletive were noted as surprising and memorable expressions of emotion.

Reflections and Future Outlook

• ✨ The Winter Olympics were described as "back" with great enthusiasm in Milan and Cortina, including the return of NHL players to hockey.
• 🤝 Athletes, even after disappointing performances, showed remarkable coping and pride in their efforts, emphasizing the spirit of competition.
• ➡️ The team expressed gratitude for the logistics and reporting efforts behind the Games and looked forward to the Paralympics and the LA Summer Games.