Milan 2026 Winter Olympics: Norway Dominates Medal Count in Final Week

With just four days remaining in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Norway has emerged as the dominant force, currently leading the medal count with an impressive tally of 19 gold medals and 38 total medals. The Nordic nation's exceptional performance across multiple disciplines has put them on track to potentially surpass their own record from Pyeongchang 2018.

Norway's success has been particularly pronounced in cross-country skiing and biathlon, sports where they traditionally excel. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo added to his legendary status by winning his third gold medal of these Games in the men's freestyle sprint, bringing his career Olympic total to eight golds. The 29-year-old sprinter showed no signs of slowing down, powering through the final meters to defeat a strong field that included defending champion Federico Pellegrino of Italy.

In biathlon, Marte Olsbu Røiseland capped off her illustrious career with a dominant performance in the women's mass start event. The 33-year-old Norwegian shot clean in all four shooting stages and used her superior skiing speed to pull away from the field in the final kilometers. This victory marks her fifth Olympic gold medal and provides a fitting conclusion to one of the greatest biathlon careers in history.

The host nation Italy has also found reasons to celebrate, particularly in alpine skiing where they have captured multiple medals on home snow. Sofia Goggia thrilled the Cortina crowd by winning gold in the women's downhill, her second Olympic title. The victory was especially meaningful given Goggia's history of injuries and her determination to peak at the right moment. Italian fans created an electric atmosphere throughout the alpine events, providing a boost to their athletes.

Canada has emerged as another strong performer, currently sitting fourth in the medal standings with notable success in ice hockey and freestyle skiing. The Canadian men's hockey team advanced to the gold medal game with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Sweden, setting up a highly anticipated final against Finland. Meanwhile, freestyle skier Mikaël Kingsbury added another gold to his collection in the men's moguls, cementing his status as one of the sport's all-time greats.

As the Games wind down, attention now turns to the remaining marquee events, including the ice hockey finals and the closing ceremony. The Milan-Cortina Olympics have been praised for their organization and the passionate Italian crowds, creating memorable moments that will be remembered long after the Olympic flame is extinguished. With perfect weather conditions and world-class venues, these Winter Games have provided an ideal stage for athletic excellence.