The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are in full swing. Norway dominates the gold medal count. Host nation Italy surprises with total medal volume. Team USA battles for podium positions.
Here’s where the medal race stands as of February 13.
Norway: Still the Winter Olympics Giant
Norway leads with 8 gold medals and 18 total medals. They’re defending their position as the most successful Winter Olympics nation in history.
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo delivered Norway’s latest gold. He won the men’s 10km freestyle cross-country event. This marks his third gold of these Games. It’s his eighth career Olympic gold overall.
That ties the all-time Winter Olympics record. Klæbo’s dominance in Nordic events is legendary. He’s 29 years old and showing no signs of slowing down.
Norway excels particularly in cross-country skiing and biathlon. These events provide multiple medal opportunities. The nation capitalizes consistently.
With 405 all-time Winter Olympics medals, Norway’s winter sports infrastructure is unmatched. Their systematic development programs produce champions generation after generation.
Italy: The Home Advantage Paying Off
Italy sits second with 6 gold medals and 18 total medals. They match Norway’s total medal count. But fewer golds keep them ranked second in official standings.
The home crowd provides massive energy. Italian athletes are feeding off the support. Multiple events have delivered breakthrough performances.
Francesca Lollobrigida won women’s 5,000m speed skating gold. This was her second gold of the Games. She’s become a national hero overnight.
Federica Brignone captured super-G gold in Alpine skiing. The victory electrified the host nation. It demonstrated Italy’s strength beyond traditional events.
Italy swept the luge doubles competitions. Andrea Vötter and Marion Oberhofer won the inaugural women’s doubles event. Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner claimed men’s doubles.
These home ice victories create momentum. Italy entered the Games hoping for 40 total medals. They’re on pace to exceed expectations.
United States: Steady but Seeking More Gold
Team USA holds 4 gold medals and 14 total medals. They’re competing strongly but need more golds to challenge for first place.
Jordan Stolz won men’s 1,000m speed skating with an Olympic record time of 1:06.28. The 21-year-old is the future of American speed skating.
Elizabeth Lemley captured gold in women’s moguls. Teammate Jaelin Kauf took silver. This 1-2 finish boosted America’s count significantly.
Cooper Woods won men’s moguls gold for Australia. But wait, he’s actually American-born. These cross-national stories add complexity to medal tables.
The U.S. women’s and men’s hockey teams are advancing. Deep playoff runs could add multiple medals. These team events matter enormously for total counts.
Figure skating competitions are upcoming. Team USA typically excels here. Ilia Malinin is a strong gold contender.
Germany: Consistent Podium Presence
Germany sits fourth with 4 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals. That’s 9 total medals.
They’re particularly strong in bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton. These sliding sports suit German engineering precision and training systems.
Francesco Friedrich continues his bobsled dominance. He’s hunting his third consecutive Olympic double gold. Success here would cement legendary status.
Sweden: Nordic Powerhouse
Sweden holds 4 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze medal. That’s 8 total medals.
Like Norway, Sweden excels in Nordic disciplines. Cross-country skiing and biathlon drive their medal count.
The rivalry between Norway and Sweden in these events creates compelling competition. Both nations push each other to excellence.
Switzerland: Alpine Skiing Strength
Switzerland has 4 gold medals and 7 total medals. Alpine skiing provides most of their success.
Franjo von Allmen won his third gold medal with super-G victory. The 24-year-old Swiss speedster is having a breakout Olympics.
Switzerland’s mountain culture translates to winter sports dominance. Their athletes train in world-class facilities year-round.
Austria: Fighting for Top Five
Austria claims 3 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze medals. That’s 12 total medals.
They’re traditional Alpine skiing powerhouses. Downhill and slalom events typically favor Austrian competitors.
Alessandro Haemmerle won men’s snowboard cross gold. This diversifies Austria beyond skiing.
France: Biathlon Brilliance
France holds 3 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze medal. That’s 8 total medals.
Julia Simon dominated women’s biathlon 15km individual. She finished nearly a minute ahead of compatriot Lou Jeanmonnot for a French 1-2 finish. This was Simon’s second gold of the Games.
Quentin Fillon Maillet added men’s biathlon 10km sprint gold. France’s biathlon program is among the world’s best.
Guillaume Cizeron won ice dance gold with new partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry. He became the first ice dancer to win gold twice with different partners.
Surprises and Breakthroughs
Australia has captured 2 gold medals despite limited winter sports infrastructure. Cooper Woods’ moguls gold and Josie Baff’s snowboard cross victory are headline-making achievements.
Bulgaria’s Lora Hristova won bronze in women’s biathlon. This represents a career-defining moment for an athlete from a non-traditional winter sports nation.
The inaugural women’s doubles luge event created new champions. History was made in gender equality.
How Medal Tables Are Ranked
Official Olympic rankings prioritize gold medals. Silver and bronze serve as tiebreakers.
This explains why Norway ranks first despite matching Italy’s total medal count. Eight golds beat six golds.
Some media outlets rank by total medals. This alternative view would show Norway and Italy tied. But official IOC standings use gold-first methodology.
What’s Coming Next
Forty-four of 116 medal events are complete. That means 72 events remain. The medal table will shift dramatically.
Alpine skiing features multiple events still to come. Figure skating individual competitions approach. Ice hockey playoffs are beginning.
Curling medals will be decided. Speed skating has additional distances. Cross-country skiing’s longer races offer more Norwegian opportunities.
The final week typically sees medal counts swing wildly. Early leaders don’t always maintain positions.
The Historical Context
Norway has dominated every recent Winter Olympics. They topped the medal count at Beijing 2022. They led at Pyeongchang 2018.
Their 405 all-time Winter Olympics medals dwarf all competitors. The next closest is United States with 330.
Italy is making history on home ice. Their current pace would deliver their best Winter Olympics performance ever.
The Bottom Line
Norway leads the Milano Cortina 2026 medal race. Italy exceeds expectations as hosts. Team USA competes strongly but needs more gold.
Seventy-two medal events remain. The standings will change daily. Momentum can shift with single performances.
Follow along as the world’s best winter athletes battle for Olympic glory. The medal race is far from over.
