Milano Cortina 2026: Norway extends lead as Italy celebrates historic home gold

MILAN: The 2026 Winter Olympics entered its decisive final week on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with Norway tightening its grip on the top of the medal table while the hosts Italy continue a record-breaking performance on the Rome’s soil.

The “King” reclaims throne

Norway’s dominance was headlined by cross-country skiing legend Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, who secured his 10th career Olympic gold medal in the men’s team sprint. With this victory, Klaebo joins the elite ranks of Michael Phelps as one of the few athletes to reach double-digit Olympic golds. Norway currently leads the standings with 15 gold medals and a total of 32 podium finishes.

Home crowd heroes

Italy is experiencing its most successful Winter Games in decades, currently sitting in second place with 9 golds. The highlight of the week came at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, where the trio of Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini, and Michele Malfatti surged to gold in the men’s team pursuit. It marks Italy’s first title in this event since the Turin 2006 Games.

Shiffrin’s performance

All eyes are on the slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo today, where American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin holds a commanding lead in the women’s slalom. After a challenging run in previous events, Shiffrin took a massive 0.82-second lead into the final run, positioning herself to end her Olympic medal drought in her signature discipline.

The action continues tonight with high-stakes quarterfinals in men’s ice hockey, featuring a blockbuster matchup between Team USA and Sweden. Meanwhile, the “Olympic Dog” incident remains a viral sensation on social media, adding a lighthearted moment to the intense competition of the XXV Winter Games.