Germany’s Daniela Maier has claimed the gold medal in the women’s ski cross big final to banish the memories of a contentious finish four years ago.
The German skier produced a composed run to top the podium on day 14 of the Winter Olympics.
It marks a significant turnaround for Maier following the confusion that marred her experience at the Beijing Games.
Redemption after Beijing drama
The victory comes four years after a chaotic conclusion to the final at the 2022 Games in China.
Maier had previously been involved in a protracted dispute regarding a bronze medal finish during her last Olympic campaign.
The new Olympic champion has now upgraded that status to gold with an undisputed victory in the showpiece event.
Her performance in the big final ensured there was no doubt regarding the result this time around.
Female cross-country skiers are preparing for a historic but divisive moment as they tackle the 50km distance for the first time at a Winter Olympics in Val di Fiemme this Sunday.
The gruelling classic race serves as the final cross-country event of the Milano Cortina Games.
Competitors face a demanding hilly course at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium which is expected to take over two hours to complete.
While the extension from the traditional 30km represents a milestone for equality, the physical toll on athletes at the end of a busy schedule has sparked debate.
Gruelling challenge divides opinion
The field enters the race already fatigued from five previous contests, with many facing an immediate return to the World Cup circuit.
Jonna Sundling, the team sprint gold medallist for Sweden, suggested a preference for the shorter distance.
“If I would choose I would prefer 30k, but if it’s 50k I can do 50k. In some way I would prefer 30k, like for the audience also.”
However, others in the peloton have embraced the increased strategic complexity of the longer format.
Astrid Oeyre Slind believes the distance changes the tactical landscape significantly.
“I think a 50k is a good distance. It’s quite different than a 30k. When a race is more than two hours, you have to be more aware of energy and tactical stuff and everything.”
The Norwegian contender added that the unique nature of the endurance test makes its inclusion a positive step for the sport.
A milestone for gender equality
Beyond the physical challenge, the event is viewed as a crucial victory for equal representation on the snow.
Cross-country skiing debuted for men at the inaugural Winter Games in 1924, but women did not join the programme until 1952.
Recent controversies regarding the absence of a women’s Nordic combined event have further highlighted the scrutiny on female participation gaps.
Jessie Diggins, a prominent voice in the US team, questioned why male counterparts were previously the only athletes permitted to race the iconic distance.
“When I got to the World Cup and was like, ‘Wait a minute, the men get to do 50 and the women are capped at 30. Why?’ And I didn’t understand why. Why do we not get to do these big, epic races that are pretty iconic and pretty legendary in our sport?”
Regardless of personal preference regarding the stamina required, the American skier believes the option must exist.
“Whether or not you’re an athlete who wants to race the 50k, I think you should have the opportunity to race the 50k.”
Zoe Atkin has raised hopes of a record-breaking fourth Winter Olympic gold for Great Britain by qualifying first for the women’s freestyle halfpipe final.
The 23-year-old produced a stunning first run score of 91.5 to top the standings in Livigno on Thursday.
Her dominant performance signals a major statement of intent ahead of Saturday’s medal showdown.
Defending champion Eileen Gu, meanwhile, survived a scare to progress in fifth place.
World champion form
Atkin arrived at the Games in formidable form after winning the world title in Switzerland last year.
The British skier also secured gold in the superpipe competition at last month’s X Games in Aspen, Colorado.
Success runs in the family, as her older sister Izzy claimed Britain’s first Olympic medal on skis with slopestyle bronze at Pyeongchang 2018.
Should the younger sibling secure victory, it would mark a historic fourth gold of the Games for Team GB.
Gu survives scare
While Atkin dominated, Chinese superstar Gu endured a nervous wait after crashing out of her first run.
The defending champion, who has already won two silver medals at these Games, recovered to score 86.5 on her second attempt.
Gu is the only athlete attempting to compete in all three freestyle disciplines and has been critical of the hectic schedule.
Despite a shaky moment halfway down her second run, the score was comfortably enough to avoid early elimination.
Injury concern for Sharpe
The qualifying session was marred by a significant delay following a heavy crash involving Canada’s Cassie Sharpe.
The 2018 gold medallist and 2022 runner-up required medical attention on the snow.
Sharpe was eventually carried off the course on a stretcher after a 15-minute stoppage.
Defending champion Eileen Gu faces a tense battle to reach the Olympic freeski halfpipe final after falling during her opening qualifying run.
The 22-year-old clipped the lip of the halfpipe on her third trick in Italy.
That error dislodged her left ski and sent the Chinese superstar sliding to the bottom of the course.
Gu must now deliver a clean second run to finish in the top 12 competitors and progress to Saturday’s final.
Medal history and expectations
The San Francisco-born skier has already secured two silver medals at the Milan Cortina Games.
She finished second in both the slopestyle and big air disciplines earlier in the competition.
Gu boasts a formidable Olympic record, having medalled in all five of her events across these Games and Beijing 2022.
Four years ago, she became the first freestyle skier to win three medals at a single Olympics, taking gold in the halfpipe and big air.
Gu defends record after ‘ridiculous’ question
Despite her continued podium success, the Stanford student has faced scrutiny regarding her failure to win gold so far in Italy.
When asked by a reporter on Monday if her recent results represented "two silvers gained or two golds lost", she dismissed the suggestion immediately.
"I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history, I think that’s an answer in and of itself," she said.
"Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete."
"Doing it five times is exponentially harder because every medal is equally hard for me, but everybody else’s expectations rise, right?"
The highest-paid athlete at these Games described the negative perspective on her silver medals as "ridiculous".
"I’m showcasing my best skiing, I’m doing things that quite literally have never been done before so I think that is more than good enough."
Five-time Olympic medallist Eileen Gu has dismissed a “ridiculous” suggestion that her two silver medals at the Milan Cortina Games represent missed opportunities for gold.
The 22-year-old became the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history this week after securing her fourth and fifth podium finishes.
However, during a press conference on Monday, the San Francisco-born athlete was asked if she viewed her recent second-place finishes as “silvers gained or two golds lost”.
Gu, who competes for China, laughed off the inquiry before firmly defending her record-breaking achievements on the slopes.
‘A life-changing experience’
The freestyle sensation claimed two golds and a silver at Beijing 2022 and has added two silvers to her collection in Italy so far.
Responding to the reporter, she emphasised the magnitude of her accomplishments.
“I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history, I think that’s an answer in and of itself,” Gu said.
She explained that maintaining such a high level of performance becomes increasingly difficult as external pressure mounts.
“Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete,” she continued.
“Doing it five times is exponentially harder because every medal is equally hard for me, but everybody else’s expectations rise, right?”
The Stanford University student has faced intense scrutiny throughout her career after choosing to represent her mother’s homeland rather than Team USA.
Despite the pressure, she remains the highest-paid Olympian at the Games, reportedly earning over $23m (£18m) in endorsements over the past year.
Record-breaking performance
Gu was unequivocal in her rejection of the negative framing regarding her latest results.
“The two medals lost situation, to be quite frank with you, I think is kind of a ridiculous perspective to take,” she added.
“I’m showcasing my best skiing, I’m doing things that quite literally have never been done before so I think that is more than good enough.”
The model and athlete has received widespread support on social media following the exchange, with fans praising her “poised” response.
In Milan, she has secured silver in both the Slopestyle and Big Air disciplines, finishing behind Canada’s Megan Oldham in the latter.
Her quest for further silverware continues in the women’s freeski halfpipe qualifiers on Thursday.
Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has joined Michael Phelps as the only athletes to reach 10 Olympic gold medals after winning the team sprint at the Milan Cortina Games.
The 29-year-old combined with partner Einar Hedegart to secure the title on Wednesday, claiming his fifth gold of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
This victory cements his status as the most decorated Winter Olympian in history regarding gold medals.
An exclusive club
Klaebo’s latest triumph places him in a unique bracket alongside swimming legend Phelps.
While the American amassed a record 23 golds across four summer Games, no other athlete had previously broken the double-digit barrier.
The Norwegian phenomenon had already set a new Winter Olympics benchmark during Sunday’s 4×7.5km relay.
Chasing a sixth title
Klaebo will now attempt to complete a clean sweep of events when he competes in Saturday’s 50km mass start.
Victory in the endurance race would see him go six-for-six at these Games.
Achieving that feat would place him alongside Phelps, Mark Spitz, Kristin Otto and Vitaly Scherbo as the only athletes to win at least six golds at a single Olympics.
American skier Annika Malacinski has staged a protest at the Winter Olympics to highlight the continued exclusion of women from Nordic combined events.
The 24-year-old travelled from her training base in Norway to watch her brother, Niklas, finish 13th in his debut at the Milan Cortina Games.
However, her presence in the stands served a dual purpose as she campaigned against the gender disparity within her discipline.
Nordic combined remains the sole sport on the Winter Olympic programme that does not feature a women’s category.
This restriction persists despite female athletes actively competing at both World Cup and World Championships levels.
During the competition, the Colorado native held signs reading “No Exception” and “Make Olympics Gender Equal”.
‘It is heartbreaking’
Malacinski described the experience of watching from the sidelines while being barred from competing as “bittersweet”.
She argues that her exclusion is based solely on gender rather than ability.
“It’s heartbreaking, it really is. I want to come here with such a positive mindset, and I am a positive person, but at the same time it is so unjust that I can ski jump and I can ski but because I’m a woman [I cannot compete].”
Annika Malacinski, speaking to the Associated Press
Her brother, Niklas, echoed these sentiments regarding their shared childhood ambition.
The 22-year-old admitted it was difficult to see their dream of standing on an Olympic podium together delayed.
“My brother is here fulfilling his dreams and I am not. It lights a fire in me because this is so unjust and in 2030 it’s not going to be like this.”
Uncertain future for 2030
The campaigner is targeting the 2030 Games in the French Alps for a potential debut.
However, the future of the sport itself remains precarious.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials are set to review the discipline’s place in the Games later this year amid concerns over audience engagement.
Despite the uncertainty, Malacinski remains optimistic that the governing body will eventually sanction women’s inclusion.
Her protest has already garnered support from fans, including young spectators surprised by the current regulations.
“The IOC is going to let the women in, and they’re finally going to decide the right thing. Women deserve to be there.”
Ski mountaineering will make its debut at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, becoming the first new sport added to the programme since 2002.
The endurance discipline, commonly known as ‘skimo’, involves athletes ascending mountains on skis and on foot before descending across technical alpine terrain.
It will feature at the Milan-Cortina Games, ending a 24-year wait for a fresh standalone sport to join the winter roster alongside skeleton.
How the format works
Thirty-six competitors are set to challenge for medals at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio.
The Olympic schedule includes two specific events: an individual sprint and a mixed relay competition.
Races require participants to alternate between climbing with skins attached to their skis and ‘boot-packing’ sections where they must carry equipment on foot.
Sprint contests are designed to be frantic exhibitions of speed, lasting just three to four minutes of intense exertion.
The mixed relay offers a longer challenge, testing competitors over more demanding courses that require significant stamina.
A test of vertical endurance
Often described as comparable to biathlon but without the shooting element, skimo demands rapid transitions and technical descending prowess.
The discipline distinguishes itself from cross-country skiing through a severe focus on vertical ascent rather than horizontal motion.
Success in the sport relies heavily on high-altitude pacing and strategic energy management under extreme physical duress.
While alpine skiing focuses on gravity-assisted speed, this new addition emphasizes human-powered climbing efficiency.
Wider changes to the Games
While skimo is the only new standalone sport, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved several other medal events for 2026.
Additions include women’s doubles luge and a women’s large hill individual ski jumping competition.
Freestyle skiing will see a dual moguls event added, alongside an alpine skiing team combined contest.
These updates come despite questions regarding the saturation of skiing events, which accounted for 55 of the 109 medals awarded at Beijing 2022.