2026 Winter Olympic Video games
Whereas the 2026 Winter Olympics gained’t characteristic any occasions within the pool, the occasion remains to be certain to convey loads of pleasure throughout host cities Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. SwimSwam will likely be bringing you updates of a number of the main moments all through the Olympics as we gear up in anticipation for 2028.
Competitors kicked-off February 4 with preliminary rounds of the curling and ice hockey occasions. Nonetheless, the Opening Ceremonies formally signaled the beginning of Olympic competitors yesterday, with the primary medals of the Video games awarded at the moment. After two official days of competitors, Italy, Japan, and Norway sit atop of the medal desk, tied at 3 medals every (1 of every coloration). Thus far, 7 totally different international locations have introduced dwelling a medal at these Olympics.
Medal Desk After Day 2
Rank
Nation
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Whole
1
Italy
1
1
1
3
1
Japan
1
1
1
3
1
Norway
1
1
1
3
4
Sweden
1
1
0
2
5
Switzerland
1
0
0
1
6
Slovenia
0
1
0
1
7
Canada
0
0
1
1
7
China
0
0
1
1
Occasion Highlights
Italy Wins First Velocity Skating Gold
In her 4th Olympic look, Italian Francesca Lollobrigida gained the ladies’s 3,000m velocity skating occasion in Olympic-record time (3:54.28) in entrance of a house crowd. Lollbrigida, who gained the silver medal on this identical occasion on the 2022 Olympics, was dominant in her efficiency to say gold by over 2.5 seconds. This not solely marks her first Olympic gold medal efficiency on this occasion, but additionally marks the primary time Italy has ever claimed a gold within the 3,000 meter distance. Notably, Lollobrigida additionally claimed gold on her thirty fifth birthday, along with her son Tommaso watching.
Japan Sweeps Huge Air Occasions
Japan picked-up its first two medals of those Olympics with a 1-2 end within the males’s huge air snowboarding occasion behind the duo of Kira Kimura and Ryoma Kimata. For Kimura, the gold marks solely his 2nd main worldwide medal after successful a bronze on the 2025 X Video games. Like Lollobrigida for Italy, Kimura’s gold can also be the primary in Japan’s historical past on this occasion, an enormous milestone for the nation.
Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen Takes Dwelling First Gold
The primary gold medal of the Video games was awarded to Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen as he topped the lads’s downhill occasion in alpine snowboarding. Von Allmen’s story stems far past that medal although as his journey began years in the past when the star misplaced his father at 17-years-old, inserting his household in a strained monetary scenario. Together with his group crowd-funding his aggressive efforts, Von Allmen was in a position to proceed competing, with the now 21-year-old reaching the top of his sport.
Notably, the Italian duo of Giovanni Franzoni and Dominik Paris took dwelling the silver and bronze medals. It was additionally an emotional race for Franzoni in entrance of a house crowd, as he devoted his efficiency to teammate Matteo Franzoso, who handed away in a tragic snowboarding accident final September.
Sweden Goes 1-2 In Cross Nation Snowboarding
Behind the duo of Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson, Sweden went 1-2 within the ladies’s cross nation snowboarding occasion. Throughout the 20km distance, Karlsson led all rivals by practically 40 seconds as she completed in a time of 53:45.2. An especially embellished athlete in her sport, this marks Karlsson’s first particular person Olympic medal, as she gained a bronze within the 4×5 km group relay again in 2022.
U.S. Off to a Sturdy Begin in Skating
Crew USA is off to a robust begin within the group determine skating occasion, main the sphere via the qualifying spherical. The primary occasion of the finals, ice dance, was held at the moment with the American duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates main the sphere to contribute 10 factors to the group complete. The US will face a troublesome opponent in Japan although because it seems to be to wrap-up with medals tomorrow.
Viral Moments
After all, within the age of social media, there are all the time viral moments throughout any main competitors. Whereas the competitors simply kicked-off, there are already some stand-out moments of those Olympics.
Maddie Schizas Highlights the Scholar-Athlete Wrestle
Canadian determine skater Maddie Schizas is competing at these Olympics, however in a battle that many student-athletes know, she isn’t exempt from homework due to that. In an Instagram story that has now gone viral, Schizas needed to electronic mail one among her professors asking for an extension on homework as a result of competitors. At this time, she clarified that she nonetheless has not heard again from the professor and is hoping that extension will get granted. Schizas will likely be representing Canada within the closing for the group occasion as she competes within the free skate portion of that occasion.
“Curling Child” Steals Hearts
Whereas there isn’t a child competing in these Olympics, one nonetheless managed to steal the hearts of individuals. Switzerland’s Briar Schwaller-Hurlimann and Yannick Schwaller aren’t simply mixed-doubles companions on the ice, they’re additionally married and have a baby collectively. Following their victory of their preliminary spherical, their child, River Schwaller, joined them on the ice and confirmed an affinity in the direction of his mother’s broom. Whereas it’ll doubtless be a few years till child River is sufficiently old to compete, he appears eager on carrying-on the household legacy.
The New Muffins?
On the 2024 Summer time Olympics in Paris, athletes throughout the Olympic Village have been drawn to attempting viral chocolate muffins, because of the marketing of swimmer Henrik Christiansen, who got here to be referred to as the “Muffin Man” as a result of his TikToks. Whereas the muffins aren’t out there on the Olympic Village this yr, athletes try their hardest to determine a brand new deal with. Thus far, a chocolate lava cake seems to be the front-runner for the place.
