UPDATE: In a thrilling turn of events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italian skier Federica Brignone clinched gold in the women’s super-G, completing a remarkable comeback after a serious leg injury. Meanwhile, American snowboarder Chloe Kim faced disappointment, finishing with silver, while a Ukrainian athlete was controversially barred from competition.
Brignone, who endured a year of rehabilitation after breaking multiple bones in her leg, showcased her resilience by winning gold on February 12, 2026. Competing under challenging foggy conditions, she secured her fourth Olympic medal, making history as the oldest female gold medalist in women’s Alpine skiing at 35 years old. French skier Romane Miradoli earned silver, and Cornelia Huetter of Austria took bronze.
Chloe Kim, the American sensation, aimed to make history by becoming the first athlete to win three consecutive Olympic golds in women’s snowboarding. Leading before her final run, she fell short as 17-year-old Chao Gao of China captured gold with a score of 90.25. This marks Kim’s third Olympic medal, but not the three-peat she sought.
In a significant moment of controversy, Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was excluded from the skeleton competition for refusing to remove a helmet that honors athletes killed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated that this violated rules against political statements during competition. IOC President Kirsty Coventry attempted to persuade Heraskevych to reconsider, but he described the decision as “discrimination.”
The day also featured impressive performances across various events. Connor McDavid led Team Canada to a commanding 5-0 victory over Czechia in men’s hockey, while the Canadian women’s team bounced back from a previous loss to defeat Finland by the same score, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Germany.
Italian speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida, whose great aunt was movie star Gina Lollobrigida, captured her second gold medal of the Games in the women’s 5,000 meters, winning by just a tenth of a second. Additionally, Frida Karlsson of Sweden dominated the women’s 10-kilometer cross-country skiing, securing her second gold medal of the Games.
In freestyle skiing, Australian Cooper Woods caused an upset by clinching gold in men’s moguls, edging out Canadian legend Mikael Kingsbury on a tiebreaker.
As the competition heats up, all eyes remain on the athletes and the unfolding stories that shape the Milan Cortina Games. With more events scheduled, fans eagerly await the next round of thrilling performances.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates as these stories develop further. The Winter Olympics continue to deliver stunning moments and emotional narratives, capturing the spirit of competition.
