Cover Some notable moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Cortina (Photos: Getty Images; edited by Angela Nicole Guiral)
Some notable moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Cortina (Photos: Getty Images; edited by Angela Nicole Guiral)
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From historic podiums to record-breaking performances, the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics showcased a generational shift in winter sport
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games have officially drawn to a close, capping two weeks of elite competition and sporting history across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Staged under the theme “Harmony”, the Games unfolded across Italy’s capitals and alpine landscapes, blending tradition with modern ambition on one of sport’s biggest stages.
From a dual-city opening ceremony that celebrated Italian art and design to record-breaking performances by women across figure skating, freestyle skiing and snowboarding, among so many others, Milano-Cortina 2026 was defined as much by its symbolism as its results. Asian athletes, in particular, left a lasting mark—rewriting medal tables and signalling a shift in the balance of winter sports power.
Here are some of the defining moments that shaped the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
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Opening Ceremony: Milano-Cortina sets the tone
The opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 unfolded as a sweeping tribute to Italy’s artistic legacy. Under the theme “Harmony”, the spectacle featured references to Antonio Canova’s sculptures, operatic performances from La Scala and a striking fashion tableau led by supermodel Vittoria Ceretti in Armani Privé, honouring the late Giorgio Armani.
In a historic first, the Olympic flame was lit simultaneously in Milan and Cortina—two cauldrons, 250 miles apart—symbolising unity across regions and disciplines. The ceremony closed with a performance by Mariah Carey, who took the stage in silver to sing Volare.
Alysa Liu rewrites U.S. figure skating history
Alysa Liu delivered one of the Games’ most defining performances, capturing gold in the women’s singles to end a 24-year Olympic drought for the United States. It was the first U.S. women’s singles gold since 2002.
Liu’s final free skate combined explosive jumps with remarkable composure, sealing a victory that showed equal technical score and artistry. For American figure skating, it marked a long-awaited return to the top step of the podium.
First all-Asian women’s figure skating podium
History followed swiftly. Liu’s gold was joined by silver from Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and bronze from 17-year-old Ami Nakai, forming the first all-Asian women’s figure skating podium in Olympic history.
For Sakamoto, the medal marked a fitting farewell at her final Olympic appearance. For Nakai, it signalled the arrival of a new force. The result also contributed to Japan surpassing its previous Winter Olympics medal record, reinforcing its depth across disciplines.
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Eileen Gu becomes the most decorated female freestyle skier
Already a global star, Eileen Gu further cemented her legacy in Milano-Cortina by becoming the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history. Her Big Air silver brought her Olympic medal tally to five, competing for China, with the Halfpipe gold rounding it up to six.
At just 22, Gu’s dominance extends beyond results—her technical consistency, cultural impact and commercial reach have made her one of the defining athletes of her generation.
Women’s snowboard halfpipe podium belongs entirely to Asia
The women’s snowboard halfpipe final delivered another landmark moment: the first all-Asian podium in the event’s Olympic history. South Korea’s Gaon Choi claimed gold after rebounding from two heavy crashes, becoming her country’s first Olympic snowboarding champion.
American star Chloe Kim followed her in silver and Japan’s Mitsuki Ono in bronze—completing a result that spoke to both resilience and a generational shift in the sport.
Closing Ceremony: records, firsts and farewells
From the Dolomites to the Verona Arena, the Games closed with Norway atop the medal table with 41 total medals, followed by the United States and the Netherlands. Japan emerged as Asia’s top nation with 24 medals, while China finished with 15.
Milano-Cortina also saw milestone victories for nations new to the Winter Olympics podium, reinforcing the Games’ growing global reach. As the Olympic flag was lowered, Italy signed off on a Games that balanced pageantry with progress.
Life lessons from women at the Winter Olympics
Not every Olympian leaves with a medal—but every campaign carries meaning. From comeback stories to quiet breakthroughs, the women of Milano-Cortina 2026 offered lessons in resilience, reinvention and competing on one’s own terms—on the ice, on the slopes and beyond them.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
