Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Conclude in Spectacular Verona Ceremony as Norway Claims Historic Dominance

February 23, 2026

The XXV Olympic Winter Games drew to a dramatic close Sunday night with a mesmerizing Closing Ceremony at the ancient Verona Arena, capping sixteen days of intense competition, record breaking performances, and unforgettable moments across the Italian Alps and beyond.

Hosted jointly by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, these Games featured 116 medal events in a blend of traditional winter disciplines and emerging sports. Athletes from over ninety nations competed amid stunning Alpine venues, urban Milan settings, and innovative formats that showcased the evolution of winter sport.

Norway once again asserted supremacy on the global stage, topping the medal table with an unprecedented eighteen gold medals and forty one total medals, surpassing their own previous Winter Olympics record. The Scandinavian powerhouse excelled particularly in cross country skiing and biathlon, where stars like Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo delivered legendary feats. Klaebo capped his campaign by winning his sixth gold medal of these Games, a first for any Winter Olympian in a single edition, pushing his career total to eleven golds and cementing his status as one of the greatest winter athletes ever.

United States Delivers Record Haul with Dramatic Final Day Triumph

The United States finished strongly in second place with twelve gold medals, twelve silver, and nine bronze for thirty three total, marking their best ever Winter Olympics performance in terms of golds. A thrilling climax came on the final day when the men's ice hockey team defeated arch rival Canada 2 to 1 in overtime. Jack Hughes scored the decisive goal, delivering the nation's first Olympic men's hockey gold since the iconic Miracle on Ice in 1980. Earlier highlights included Eileen Gu defending her women's freeski halfpipe title for her first gold of these Games after two silvers, contributing to a strong showing in freestyle skiing.

Host nation Italy celebrated their most successful Winter Olympics to date, securing ten gold medals among thirty total to rank fourth overall. The home crowd reveled in strong performances across alpine skiing, speed skating, and short track, with multiple athletes claiming hardware in front of passionate supporters.

Standout Moments and Emerging Stars Shine

The Netherlands dominated ice disciplines once more, claiming ten golds primarily in speed skating and short track for twenty total medals and third place. Germany rounded out the top five with twenty six medals, driven by excellence in bobsleigh and luge.

Other notable achievements included historic breakthroughs for smaller nations and debut appearances by athletes from Benin, Guinea Bissau, and the United Arab Emirates. Records fell in various events, from fastest times on new tracks to highest combined scores in aerials and halfpipe.

The Closing Ceremony, titled Beauty in Action, unfolded in the iconic Roman amphitheater under starry skies. It featured a fusion of opera, contemporary dance, and athletic tributes, with the Olympic flame extinguished simultaneously at cauldrons in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The Olympic flag passed to representatives of the French Alps, host of the 2030 Winter Games, signaling the next chapter in winter sport's global journey.

Looking Ahead to Future Glory

As confetti fell and athletes paraded in celebration, the Milano Cortina 2026 Games left a legacy of innovation, inclusivity, and extraordinary athleticism. With Norway's dominance, the United States' resurgence, and Italy's proud hosting, these Olympics reminded the world of winter sport's enduring appeal and set high expectations for the French Alps in 2030.