Time for a recap. The final of the men's ice hockey tournament, won by the United States, has definitively sealed the medal standings for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. As in Sochi, Pyeongchang, and Beijing, Norway finishes in first place with 41 medals including 18 gold medals. There was no contest, particularly in cross-country skiing, where the Norwegians won 14 medals, including 7 gold. Special mention goes to Johannes Klaebo, who won six titles in Italy to become the record holder for Olympic titles at the Winter Games (11).
The United States takes second place (33 medals including 12 gold), ahead of the Netherlands, who reigned supreme on the ice in Milan (20 medals, all in speed skating and short track, including 10 gold). Italy finished fourth with a brilliant total of 30 medals.a third of them gold. The host country had a highly successful Games, led by its stars Francesca Lollobrigida (speed skating), Federica Brignone (alpine skiing), and Arianna Fontana (short track), all multiple medalists. This was a spectacular improvement, as Italy had won 17 medals, but only two golds, in Beijing.
Germany follows with 26 medals, including 19 in bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. France therefore did not achieve its goal of a top 5 finish. and takes sixth place overall, despite a record of 23 medals, including eight titlesand the remarkable success of its biathletes. The French team, however, showed significant improvement four years before hosting the Games. Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and Japan complete the top 10. As in 2022, Canada finished in eleventh place. China falls from fourth place in Beijing to twelfth this year, despite the same total of medals (15 but only 5 gold this time).
Brazil also distinguished itself with the first medal in its history at the Winter Games, a gold medal no less, brought back by Lucas Pinheiro Braathen in the giant slalom. Twenty-nine countries made it to the podiumexactly like in 2022. Belgium closes the rankings with a bronze medal, obtained in short-track.
