Get ready for the 25th Winter Olympics, Milan-Cortina 2026! This edition promises to be a game-changer, with record-breaking numbers and a focus on inclusivity and sustainability. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know:
Britain's Best Ever?
Great Britain has never won more than five medals at a single Winter Olympics, but 2026 could be their year. UK Sport is aiming for a medal range of four to eight, and with British athletes' recent success at the World Championships, there's a real chance of breaking that record. Snowboarder Mia Brookes and freestyle skier Kirsty Muir are already World Cup champions and are considered medal contenders.
Gender Equality in the Spotlight
The 2026 Games will be the most gender-equal Winter Olympics ever. With 1,300 female athletes and 50 women's events, women will compete in a record 53.4% of all medal events. Twelve disciplines will be fully gender-balanced, and new women's events like luge doubles and ski jumping will showcase the progress made. However, Nordic combined remains the only Winter Olympic sport not open to women, despite lobbying from leading athletes.
NHL Stars Return to the Ice
Ice hockey is a major draw, and the return of NHL stars after 12 years is a big deal. The USA's hopes of a first Olympic men's ice hockey title since 1980 are high, especially with Russia banned from competing. However, the NHL's presence will benefit more than just the USA and Canada; 11 out of 12 teams will have NHL players, including Finland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
A Different Cortina
Cortina d'Ampezzo will host the Winter Olympics for the fourth time, but 2026 will be very different from 1956. The Games have grown significantly, with five times as many events and almost four times as many athletes. This means the 2026 Games will be the most geographically widespread, with events in multiple regions and cities, including Milan.
Sustainability and Recycling
The IOC is committed to sustainability, and the 2026 Games will showcase this. By spreading events around, less new infrastructure is needed. Cortina's Olympic Ice Stadium, which hosted the opening ceremony and figure skating in 1956, will be 'recycled' to host curling in 2026.
Record-Breaking Athletes
The pursuit of Olympic gold is fierce. German lugers Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt are aiming for their seventh and eighth golds, which would tie them with the Norwegian trio of Ole Einar Bjorndalen, Bjorn Daehlie, and Marit Bjorgen. However, cross-country skier Johannes Hosflot Klaebo could surpass them with his fifth Olympic gold.
Italy's Hosting Challenges
Hosting an Olympics often boosts medal counts, but Italy's experience in 2006 was different. They won 13 medals in 2002 but only 11 in 2006. The Italian Olympic Committee aims for a minimum of 19 medals, but setbacks have already impacted their 2026 hopes. Flagbearer Federica Brignone and freestyle skier Flora Tabanelli are injured, and Marta Bassino has been ruled out. Yet, speed skater Davide Ghiotto, snowboarder Maurizio Bormolini, and curling pair Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini offer hope for Italian success.
Arianna Fontana's Legacy
At just 15, Arianna Fontana became Italy's most successful Winter Olympian in 2006. Now, 20 years later, she aims to win a medal at her sixth consecutive Games, a testament to her enduring success.
