Milano-Cortina 2026: Norway Leads Medal Race as Hosts Italy Shine — Winter Games Update
16-02-2026. The 2026 Winter Olympic Games reached a pivotal stage on Sunday, with the medal table tightening and several headline performances reshaping the competitive landscape. With the Games entering their decisive week, dominant Nordic strength, historic home success for Italy, and standout individual brilliance have defined the storylines so far at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Norway continues to assert its traditional Winter Games supremacy, topping the standings through consistent performances across cross-country skiing and alpine events. Meanwhile, host nation Italy has energized home crowds with a record-setting medal run, positioning itself among the top contenders in total podium finishes.
Medal Table — Standings as of 16 February 202
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Norway | 12 | 7 | 7 | 26 |
| 2 | Italy | 8 | 4 | 10 | 22 |
| 3 | United States | 5 | 8 | 4 | 17 |
| 4 | Japan | 3 | 5 | 9 | 17 |
| 5 | France | 4 | 7 | 4 | 15 |
| 6 | Germany | 4 | 6 | 5 | 15 |
| 7 | Austria | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 |
| 8 | Netherlands | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 9 | Sweden | 5 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 4 | 2 | 3 |
(Standings compiled from official Games reporting through competition on 16 February.)
Italy Delivers Historic Home Performance
The loudest celebrations have belonged to the host nation. Italian alpine star Federica Brignone added another gold medal to her collection, reinforcing Italy’s strongest Winter Olympic showing in history. Her comeback narrative — returning to peak form after injury — has become one of the emotional pillars of the Games.
Norway’s Golden Standard Continues
Norwegian excellence remains anchored by cross-country legend Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, whose latest relay triumph extended both his legacy and Norway’s commanding medal lead. The nation’s depth across endurance disciplines has proven decisive as finals intensify.
Swiss and Dutch Stars Make Their Mark
Swiss alpine skier Loïc Meillard delivered a landmark slalom victory, underlining Switzerland’s resurgence in technical skiing. On the ice, Dutch short-track specialist Xandra Velzeboer captured another gold, showcasing the Netherlands’ sprint dominance.
France Maintains Strong Podium Presence
Team France has matched one of its best Winter Games medal returns, fueled by balanced performances in biathlon, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. While outside the top four, French athletes continue to deliver consistency that keeps them firmly in the medal conversation.
Momentum Builds Toward the Final Week
With multiple finals scheduled across alpine skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, and sliding sports, medal opportunities remain wide open. Analysts expect the standings to shift as endurance and precision events conclude, particularly among the closely packed middle tier of nations.
As Milano-Cortina 2026 moves toward its closing stretch, the Games are balancing tradition and breakthrough moments — Norway’s sustained excellence, Italy’s home celebration, and rising performances from across Europe, Asia, and North America promise a dramatic finish.
Further updates will follow as the medal race evolves and new champions emerge in the coming days.
Paris Telegraph — Sports Desk
