The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games have passed into history following the closing ceremony at the Roman amphitheater in Verona. The event was dominated by Johannes Klæbo, who won six gold medals, and the Norwegian team with a total of 41 medals. Record-breaking results were also achieved by the French team, which secured 23 medals, and Spain, celebrating its best-ever performance thanks to successes in the debut sport of ski mountaineering.

Norwegian Dominance

The Norwegian team won the medal table with 41 medals, and Johannes Klæbo set a record of six gold medals at a single Games.

Record-Breaking France

The French team won 23 medals, breaking their previous record and establishing themselves as one of the strongest teams in biathlon and ski mountaineering.

Historic Gold for Spain

Oriol Cardona won gold in ski mountaineering, ending a 54-year drought of Spanish victories at the Winter Olympic Games.

Emotional Success for Eileen Gu

Chinese skier Eileen Gu won her third gold medal in her career in the shadow of personal tragedy following the loss of her grandmother.

The closing ceremony at the historic Arena di Verona officially concluded the XXV Winter Olympic Games. This event was the culmination of two weeks of competition held across dispersed locations in northern Italy. The absolute hero of the event was Norwegian Johannes Klæbo, who won all six cross-country skiing events he participated in, becoming one of the most decorated athletes in Winter Games history. Norway maintained its status as a world power, finishing the competition with a total of 41 medals, including 18 gold. The 2026 Games were the first in history to make such extensive use of existing infrastructure across multiple regions (Lombardy, Veneto), aiming to enhance sustainability and reduce the costs of building new venues. For the French team, this was a historic start. The French team performed very well, and the foundation of their success turned out to be biathlon. On the penultimate day of competition, Océane Michelon won the women's mass start, adding a valuable medal to her team's tally. The French thereby achieved the ambitious goal set by the national Olympic committee, which aimed to win eight gold medals and improve previous records. Spain evaluated its results with equal enthusiasm. Oriol Cardona, by winning the sprint in ski mountaineering, became the first Spanish Winter Olympic gold medalist in 54 years. 23 — medals were won by the record-breaking French team The final day of competition also brought dramatic and emotional moments. Chinese freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu won her second Olympic gold medal in her career (and sixth medal overall), defending her title in the half-pipe shortly after receiving news of her grandmother's death. Meanwhile, in ski mountaineering, the Spanish duo Ana Alonso and Oriol Cardona won bronze in the mixed relay, beating the USA team by just a few seconds. During the closing ceremony, the symbolic handover of the Olympic flag took place to representatives of the French Alps, which will host athletes during the next Winter Games in 2030. „C'était une édition historique.” (It was a historic edition.) — Amélie Oudéa-Castéra Medal tally of France and Spain: France's medals (total): 15 (Beijing 2022) → 23 (Milan 2026); Spain's gold medals: 0 (since 1972) → 1 (Oriol Cardona)

Mentioned People

  • Johannes Klæbo — Norwegian cross-country skier, winner of six gold medals during the 2026 Games.
  • Oriol Cardona — Spanish ski mountaineer, gold medalist in the sprint and bronze medalist in the mixed relay.
  • Eileen Gu — Chinese freestyle skier, gold medalist in the half-pipe event.
  • Océane Michelon — French biathlete, winner of the women's mass start.