Milan-Cortina 2026: Brazil and Team GB triumph as Games set new blueprint
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen has claimed a historic first Winter Olympic gold for Brazil as the Milan-Cortina Games concluded with significant success for Great Britain.
The sight of the slalom specialist dancing a samba on the Stelvio snow provided the defining image of the tournament.
It emphasised the success of an event ambitiously staged across far-flung locations.
Organisers believe this decentralized model will serve as a blueprint for future editions, illustrating how to host without losing the essential snow-bound setting.
A return to alpine roots
The 2026 Games marked a distinct evolution from the era of city-based hosts like Beijing and Sochi.
Livigno was accessible only via precarious passes, while Bormio offered ice-streaked cobbled streets.
It felt like a throwback to the purity of Lillehammer 1994, moving away from the corporate atmosphere of recent decades.
Proposals to include summer sports in the Winter programme now appear unnecessary following this display of high-octane action.
Team GB’s ‘Super Sunday’
Great Britain emerged as a genuine force on snow and ice.
The team secured three gold medals, hitting their broad medal target in emphatic fashion.
Two of those victories arrived within hours of each other on what became known as ‘Super Sunday’.
Matt Weston wrote his name into the history books during a standout campaign.
The skeleton racer became the first British Winter Olympian to win two medals at the same Games.
Star power and viral moments
Major names delivered on the biggest stage.
Freestyle skiing icons Eileen Gu and Chloe Kim revelled in the wintry conditions.
NHL stars also brightened the grey skies over Milan, returning to the Olympic fold for the first time in 12 years.
Celebrity culture was prominent throughout the fortnight.
Jake Paul was in attendance to support Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam, while Snoop Dogg continued his role as a roving correspondent.
The Games were not without bizarre headlines, including allegations regarding performance-enhancing injections among ski jumpers.