"Milan Cortina Winter Olympics: Unprecedented Games marked by first-time gold medalists, scandals, and historic performances. US clinches 12 golds, men's &
MILAN- The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, the most dispersed in history with events spanning city outskirts and mountain towns hours away, concluded amidst a flurry of unprecedented moments. Dubbed as the "King" Games for various reasons, the event was marked by first-time gold medalists, crashes, cheating scandals, drone incidents, historic medal hauls, and triumphs by the host nation.
The United States made a significant mark with a record 12 gold medals. Newcomers such as Elana Meyers Taylor (monobob), Jordan Stolz (long-track speedskating's 500 and 1000 meters), and Alex Ferreira (freeski halfpipe) added to the U.S. tally.
A notable achievement was the sweep of hockey gold medals by both the men's and women's teams, marking significant milestones for each squad. The men won their first Olympic tournament since 1980, while the women secured their third-ever gold, their first since 2018.
The women's final, in particular, was a thrilling affair. Trailing Canada by 1-0 with just two minutes left in regulation, captain Hilary Knight, competing in her fifth and final Olympics, scored the equalizer to send the game into overtime. Veteran Megan Keller then sealed the golden goal in an exhilarating comeback, earning the U.S. women their third Olympic gold and first since 2018.
The day before this triumph, Knight proposed to fellow athlete Brittany Bowe, adding a personal touch to the event's dramatic narrative. The men's tournament, the first to feature NHL players since 2014, also culminated in a nail-biting Canada-U.S. final decided by Jack Hughes' golden goal in overtime.
In figure skating, the U.S. team's victory in the team event, consisting of men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance, hinted at a promising outcome for the nation.
In an unexpected turn of events at the Winter Olympics, several notable performances unfolded. Ilia Malinin, initially favored to win gold in men's singles, faced multiple falls during his final performance, placing eighth and suffering one of the most significant upsets of the Games due to pressure-induced errors.
Meanwhile, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, favorites in pairs skating, delivered impressive performances but were outscored by France's Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron for the silver medal. The unexpected twist left them in second place.
Alysa Liu, a 20-year-old figure skater who retired four years ago, stole the show with an extraordinary performance in the women's singles final, securing gold on her terms and reemerging as a champion. Upon exiting the ice following her triumphant routine, she expressed excitement, stating, "That's what I'm f----g talking about."
Norway led the medal count with an impressive 41 medals, marking the first instance of a single Winter Olympics host nation earning over 40 medals. Six of these gold medals were won by cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, popularly known as "King Klæbo." He became the first individual to earn six golds at any Olympic Games, joining an exclusive club that includes swimmers Mark Spitz, Kristin Otto, and Michael Phelps, as well as gymnast Vitaly Scherbo.
Lindsey Vonn's comeback after retiring due to injuries in 2019 ended prematurely when she experienced a crash during competition. Despite her best efforts, the setback marked an unforeseen conclusion to her return to competitive skiing.
In 2024, American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, aged 41, entered the Winter Olympics with her healthiest season on record. However, less than a week before the women's downhill commenced, Vonn sustained a torn knee ligament in a crash, altering her participation. Determined to compete despite the injury, Vonn qualified for the downhill final with one of the fastest times across the entire field, using a brace for support.
However, only 13 seconds into her run during the final, Vonn hooked a gate with her right arm, causing her to be propelled head-over-skis into a crash that left spectators at Cortina d’Ampezzo, including friends and family, stunned. Following this incident, Vonn has undergone five surgeries, and her father has expressed reluctance towards her returning to racing.
In the same downhill race, US teammate Breezy Johnson stormed down the perilous Tofane course, joining Vonn as one of only two women in US history to win Olympic gold in the downhill event. In Alpine skiing's team combined event, Johnson and teammate Mikaela Shiffrin finished fourth, while Americans Paula Moltzan and Jackie Wiles – less than a year removed from surviving a plane crash – earned bronze.
Johnson concluded the Games on a positive note after her boyfriend proposed at the base of the giant slalom competition. Shiffrin, who hadn't secured an Olympic medal since 2018, experienced a cathartic end to the Games by dominating the slalom for gold.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred from competing in skeleton after his helmet, adorned with images of Ukrainian athletes who had been killed since Russia's 2022 invasion, did not comply with the International Olympic Committee's "athlete expression guidelines." As a result, a jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation disqualified Heraskevych from competition. He refused to compete without the helmet.
International News: U.S. Freeski Athlete Faces Presidential Criticism Over Helmet Choice, Stands by Political Statement
American freeski athlete Hunter Hess's decision to wear a helmet other than the traditional USA-branded one stemmed from his belief that there are things "more important than medals," he stated. This choice quickly drew attention from President Donald Trump, who labeled Hess a "loser" on social media following Hess's comment about representing the U.S. not equating to endorsing everything happening within it.
Hess later acknowledged that dealing with the resulting attention was "challenging," but he maintained his stance and even displayed an 'L' sign after completing a run, a gesture acknowledging Trump's remark. Hess emphasized, "I love the United States of America. I cannot say that enough."
Italy Secures Best Ever Winter Olympics Performance
Before these Games, Italy's best showing at a Winter Olympics was in 1994, when they amassed 20 total medals, including seven golds. In their home city this month, the host nation shattered those records, earning 30 medals – the third-highest count among countries – and 10 golds.
Speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida broke an Olympic record while winning the 3,000 meters on her 35th birthday, then celebrated with her 2-year-old son. She went on to claim another gold during the Games. A year after suffering a severe leg injury, Federica Brignone won gold in giant slalom. Speedskater Arianna Fontana also made history, securing her 14th career Olympic medal.
Norwegian Cross-Country Skier Admits Cheating Scandal
Norwegian cross-country skier Sturla Holm Lægreid's post-race admission of cheating on his girlfriend and seeking reconciliation became one of the most talked-about topics at the Olympics, as he publically acknowledged committing "social suicide."
Winter Olympics 2022: Norwegian Skier Lægreid Wins Five Medals but Fails to Reconcile with Ex-Girlfriend
Oslo, Norway - In an unexpected turn of events at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde expressed his attempts to win his ex-girlfriend's heart by winning medals. Despite securing five medals throughout the Games, Lægreid found himself unsuccessful in reconciling with his former partner.
The Games were not void of controversy as another incident unfolded on the ice between Canada and Sweden during a curling match. The teams exchanged heated words after Swedish competitors accused Canadian athlete Marc Kennedy of an illegal double touch. Kennedy was heard using explicit language towards the Swedish team, which he later justified by stating, "He's still accusing us of cheating, and I didn't like it. So I told him where to stick it, because we're the wrong team to do that to."
For the first time in history, an athlete representing South America won a Winter Olympics medal. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, born in Oslo but raised in Brazil, clinched the giant slalom title after retiring from the sport under the Norwegian flag and returning as a Brazilian competitor. The unique perspective of skiers like Pinheiro Braathen was captured by small drones, which followed athletes at speeds up to 75 mph, offering never-before-seen camera angles that captivated viewers throughout the Olympics.
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