Athletes compete across alpine skiing, snowboarding, speed skating, and ice hockey as the first medals are awarded at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
The 2026 Winter Olympics officially got underway on February 7, with the first set of medals awarded across several events in Italy. Alpine skiing, snowboarding, speed skating, figure skating, and ice hockey all took center stage as athletes competed in front of packed venues and global audiences.
With competitions spread across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, and Bormio, the opening days of the Games delivered strong performances, record-breaking moments, and early storylines that are already shaping the Olympic narrative.
Alpine Skiing Opens the Medal Count
Alpine skiing provided the first gold medal of the Games. Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen claimed victory in the men’s downhill at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio. His winning time of 1:51.61 proved unbeatable despite strong competition from the host nation.
Italy thrilled local fans by placing two skiers on the podium. Giovanni Franzoni and Dominik Paris finished behind von Allmen to take silver and bronze. The crowd erupted as the Italian skiers crossed the finish line, even though the top spot went to Switzerland. Team USA struggled in the event. Ryan Cochran-Siegle finished 18th, while Kyle Negomir was the top American in 10th place.
Women’s Downhill Training and Lindsey Vonn’s Return
In Cortina d’Ampezzo, the women’s downhill training run drew attention as Lindsey Vonn continued her return to Olympic competition. Vonn improved her time significantly from the previous day, finishing her run in 1:38.28.
She appeared confident and showed no major issues with her previously injured knee. Vonn currently sits among the top contenders ahead of the medal race scheduled for February 8.
Snowboarding Big Air Delivers Early Drama
The men’s snowboarding Big Air event in Livigno produced one of the most exciting moments of the opening days. Japan’s Kira Kimura secured the gold medal after landing a massive 1980 spin on his final run. His score of 90.50 pushed him into first place.
Kimura overtook fellow Japanese rider Ryoma Kimata, who had been leading before crashing on his final attempt. Kimata still earned silver thanks to strong earlier runs. China’s Su Yiming claimed bronze after delivering a clutch third run score of 80.75. American teenager Ollie Martin narrowly missed the podium, leaving Team USA still searching for its first medal of the Games.
Speed Skating Gold for Host Nation
Italy celebrated a major victory in speed skating as Francesca Lollobrigida won gold in the women’s 3000 meters at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. She set a new Olympic record with a time of 3:54.28, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Norway’s Ragne Wiklund took silver, while Canada’s Valerie Maltais earned bronze. American skater Greta Myers made her Olympic debut in the event and finished outside medal contention, though she will compete in multiple races later in the Games.
Cross-Country Skiathlon Sees Strong Nordic Showing
Sweden dominated the women’s cross-country skiathlon. Frida Karlsson captured gold with a time of 53:45.2, earning her first individual Olympic title. Her teammate Ebba Andersson finished second. Norway added another medal to its historic tally as Heidi Weng took bronze, making Norway the most successful nation in women’s Olympic cross-country skiing history.
American star Jessie Diggins finished eighth. This marks the start of Diggins’ fourth and final Olympic Games, where she hopes to add to her three previous Olympic medals.
Ice Dance and Figure Skating Highlights
In figure skating, Madison Chock and Evan Bates delivered a standout performance in the ice dance free dance team event. The American duo scored 133.23 points, earning first place and maximum team points.
Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri placed second, while Canada’s Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha finished third. Chock and Bates impressed judges with their synchronization, technical execution, and expressive performance.
Women’s Hockey Action Heats Up
Women’s ice hockey saw strong performances from North American powerhouses. The United States shut out Finland with a 5-0 victory. Hilary Knight scored her 14th career Olympic goal, tying the U.S. women’s Olympic scoring record.
Canada also secured a dominant win, defeating Switzerland 4-0 in Group A play. Goals came from four different players, showing Canada’s depth and balance. The Canadians will face Czechia next as the preliminary round continues.
NHL Players Return to Olympic Ice
One of the biggest storylines of the Games is the return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. A total of 149 NHL players have joined national teams, adding star power and intensity to the hockey tournament. While injuries remain a concern for professional teams, fans and players alike have welcomed the return of the world’s top talent to the Olympic stage.
Olympics Spread Across Italy
The 2026 Winter Olympics are the most geographically spread Games in history. Indoor events such as hockey, speed skating, and figure skating are based in Milan, while mountain sports take place in Cortina, Livigno, and Bormio. With events unfolding across Italy’s north, the Games are just getting started, and many more medal moments are expected in the days ahead.
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