Team GB’s Greatest Winter Yet
From being selected as host back in June 2019 to the closing ceremony last Sunday, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered a sporting spectacle that truly impressed the world.
Earlier concerns around unusually warm temperatures, funding gaps and lack of snow were firmly put to rest. Recent shifts in weather brought significant snowfall across the Alps, setting the stage for what proved to be a highly successful and memorable Games.
For Team GB, it was a historic fortnight — filled with medals, milestone moments and performances to be proud of. Officially, it became our most successful Winter Games to date.
The Layout For Milano Cortina
With 16 disciplines and 116 medals up for grabs, Milano Cortina 2026 showcased both tradition and innovation. Core Winter Olympic sports remained at the heart of the programme, including: Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Curling, Ice Hockey, Luge, Skating (Figure, Speed & Short Track) and Skiing (Alpine, Cross-Country, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle & Snowboard).
New to the Games was Ski Mountaineering (Skimo) — an adrenaline-fuelled discipline combining uphill endurance and technical downhill skiing. Athletes use skins on their skis to grip during steep ascents before removing them for high-speed descents. Events included men’s and women’s sprints, as well as a mixed relay.
Additional new medal events included: Dual Moguls, Women’s Double Luge, Mixed Team Skeleton and Women’s Large Hill Ski Jump.
In line with the IOC’s ambition to deliver the most gender-balanced Winter Games in history, 47% of the 2,900 competing athletes were women, a significant milestone for the movement.
Venues & Sustainability
The Games were spread across four main clusters stretching from Milan to the Dolomites, including: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Livigno and Trentino.
Sustainability remained a central focus, with over 90% of venues either existing facilities or temporary structures designed to be dismantled after the Games — a progressive step towards more responsible global events.
Team GB's Greatest
Milano Cortina 2026 will undoubtedly go down as a landmark Games for Team GB.
Matt Weston led the charge, claiming gold in the men’s skeleton. Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale then delivered a historic first, winning Team GB’s first ever gold medal on snow.
Skeleton success continued as Weston returned to the podium alongside Tabby Stoecker, securing GB’s third gold medal of the Games.
The men’s curling team narrowly missed out on gold, taking silver after a hard-fought final against Canada. Zoe Atkin ensured a record-equalling medal tally with bronze in the women’s ski halfpipe.
While Team GB matched the five-medal total achieved in both 2014 and 2018, they had never previously won more than one gold medal at a Winter Games. Securing three golds marked a defining step forward and a clear statement of progression on the world stage.
Standout Moments From The World
Beyond Team GB, Milano Cortina 2026 produced unforgettable sporting moments.
Lindsey Vonn (USA)
A controversial return saw Vonn compete despite suffering a torn ACL just days before the Games. A crash early in her run brought her Olympic campaign to a close, but she reflected that she had “no regrets” — stating that reaching the start line was a victory in itself.
Johannes Klæbo (Norway)
Klæbo delivered one of the most remarkable performances in Winter Olympic history, claiming an astonishing six gold medals, more than any athlete has ever won at a single Winter Games.
Alysa Liu (USA)
Liu captivated audiences with a flawless performance in the women’s singles figure skating, helping secure the USA’s first gold in the category since 2002.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (Brazil)
Brazil made history, claiming its first ever Winter Olympic medal, and it was gold. Braathen’s victory in the giant slalom marked the first Winter Olympic medal for Brazil and for any South American nation in the discipline.
Francesca Lollobrigida (Italy)
On her 35th birthday, Lollobrigida set a new Olympic record in the women’s 3,000m speed skating, an iconic moment on home ice.
Medals were also claimed by nations including Kazakhstan, Georgia, China and Spain, highlighting the growing global competitiveness of the Winter Games
What's Next?
Attention now turns to the Winter Paralympics, where 665 athletes will compete across 79 events in six sports. Following that, the Olympic baton will officially pass to the French Alps, marking the region’s return as Winter Games host for the first time since Albertville 1992.
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