MILAN (AP) — With 116 medal events over 16 days spread across northern Italy, the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics delivered many unforgettable moments. Here are 10 of the biggest, from heartbreak to triumph.
Lindsey Vonn’s gut-wrenching crash
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic story was supposed to be one of redemption. She came out of retirement at age 41, battled a torn ACL in her left knee days before competition, and was ready to conquer the downhill. Instead she got hooked on a gate 13 seconds into her run, resulting in a terrifying crash in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
After receiving treatment for about a week in Italy for a complex tibia fracture, Vonn flew back to the U.S. She’s had at least four surgeries.
Her skis did not release during the crash, raising safety issues among the skiing circuit.
Klaebo’s historic gold medal sweep
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, heavy is the neck that wears all of Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo’s gold medals.
The Norwegian won all six gold medals in the men’s cross-country competition, setting a new record for most golds at a single Winter Olympics.
The previous record was set by American speed skater Eric Heiden with five golds in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
Norway dominated the Olympics overall, leading the medal count with 41. They chalk it up to their way of life.
The fall of Ilia Malinin
The overwhelming favorite to win gold in men’s figure skating, Ilia Malinin fell twice in his free skate program. The falls sent him tumbling from first place all the way off the podium.
“Honestly, yeah, I was not expecting that,” Malinin said. “I felt going into this competition I was so ready. I just felt ready going on that ice. I think maybe that might have been the reason, is I was too confident it was going to go well.”
The joy of Alysa Liu
Alysa Liu won the U.S. its first women’s figure skating gold medal in 24 years with a joy-filled, near-flawless free skate.
The 20-year-old had walked away from skating before finding her way back again, and found herself in the process.
“I think my story is more important than anything to me,” Liu said, “and that’s what I will hold dear, and this journey has been incredible, and my life has just been — I have no complaints.”
U.S. politics seep into the Games
American athletes faced persistent questions about President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and their comfort in representing a country whose policies are increasingly controversial on the world stage.
American freeskier Hunter Hess said he didn’t back the U.S. president’s immigration crackdown, prompting Trump to call him a “loser.” Chloe Kim, Eileen Gu and Hess’ teammates called for unity in response. Hess responded during halfpipe qualifying by flashing an “L” on his forehead, saying he stands by his statement and loves the U.S.
U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn also said she received threats on social media after saying during a pre-Olympics news conference that the queer community is going through a “hard time” amid the political climate under Trump.
Ukrainian skeleton racer’s helmet tribute
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred from competing when he refused to not use a helmet that honored more than 20 athletes and coaches killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The International Olympic Committee said wearing the helmet would break rules against making statements on the field of play. The IOC asked Heraskevych to wear a different helmet in races. It offered concessions, such as wearing a black armband or letting him display the helmet once he was off the ice.
“I believe, deeply, the (The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation) and IOC understand that I’m not violating any rules,” Heraskevych said. “Also, I would say (it’s) painful that it really looks like discrimination because many athletes already were expressing themselves.”
Cheating allegations in curling
The seemingly quaint and cordial sport of curling was rocked by cheating allegations during the Winter Games. First Canada was accused, then Britain. The main infraction? Double-touching.
After a wild few days with expletives and a brief rule change, tensions simmered and teams and players more or less moved on.
“It’s the Olympics,” said Canadian curler Ben Hebert. “It’ll be over in two weeks and everyone will go back to covering curling in four years.”
A different kind of cheating
Sturla Holm Laegreid, one of Norway’s top biathletes, finished third in the 20-kilometer individual race at the Olympics, and then gave one of the most bizarre interviews that quickly went viral.
Laegreid, full of remorse, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK – and the whole world – he had been unfaithful to his girlfriend.
He later said he regretted airing his personal business and overshadowing his teammate’s Olympic gold medal. But the meme damage had already been done.
North American showdown in hockey
Hockey was always going to be a big deal at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Even before the first puck dropped, there were worries about the new arena and excitement about the Olympic return of NHL stars. As many had predicted, Canada and the United States made the final of both the men’s and women’s tournaments. The U.S. won both gold medal games in overtime.
South America’s first Winter Games medal
While Brazil was reveling in Carnival, Alpine ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen gave the country another reason to celebrate — an Olympic gold medal in giant slalom.
It was the first-ever medal at the Winter Games for any country in South America.
“I’ve tried over and over again to put words into what it is that I’m feeling,” Pinheiro Braathen said. “But it’s simply impossible.”
___
AP Winter Olympics coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Read the full article here