Europe asserts its dominance at the Winter Olympics Milano-Cortina 2026

Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo — Europe once again proved that winter sport is very much its domain. The 2026 Winter Olympics concluded with a commanding performance from European nations, who dominated the medal table and set the competitive standard throughout two weeks of action on Italian soil.

🥇 Norway set the benchmark

The standout nation was Norway, finishing top of the medal table with 18 golds and 41 medals overall. The Nordic powerhouse reaffirmed its supremacy in cross-country skiing and biathlon, spearheaded by Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, whose multiple gold-medal haul cemented his status as one of the defining athletes of the Games.

Italy deliver on home snow

As hosts, Italy enjoyed a historic Winter Olympics, producing their best-ever performance at a Winter Games with more than 30 medals. Gold medals in alpine skiing and speed skating electrified home crowds across Milan and Cortina, as a new generation of Italian athletes wrote their names into Olympic history.

Europe’s depth on display

European strength extended well beyond Norway and Italy:

• France impressed in biathlon and mountain disciplines.
• Sweden claimed major honours in curling and technical snow events.
• Netherlands maintained their traditional dominance in speed skating, adding multiple podium finishes.

🔎 The key takeaways from Milano-Cortina 2026

• European dominance of the medal table, led by Norway.
• Italy’s best-ever Winter Olympic performance on home ground.
• The rise of new stars alongside established legends in skiing and biathlon.
• A modern, visually striking Games staged across iconic northern Italian venues.

Milano-Cortina 2026 was not merely about records and medal counts. It was a statement: in snow and ice, Europe remains the beating heart of world sport.