Norway Tops Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Medal Predictions as Final Teams Finalize Rosters

Norway emerged as the overwhelming favorite to top the medal table at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina today, as leading sports analytics firms released their final predictions with just eight days remaining until the opening ceremony in Milan. The Nordic skiing powerhouse is projected to win between 38-42 medals, including 14-16 golds, based on current world rankings and recent international competition results across all winter sports disciplines.

The Norwegian team's strength lies in their traditional dominance of cross-country skiing, biathlon, and ski jumping, with athletes like Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Therese Johaug leading medal hopes in cross-country events. The team announced their final roster today, featuring 109 athletes across 13 sports, with notable additions including several young speed skaters who have emerged as potential medal contenders this season. "Our preparation has been exceptional, and our athletes are peaking at exactly the right time," said Norwegian Olympic Committee president Berit Kjøll. "The conditions in Italy should suit our skiing team perfectly."

Germany follows closely in medal projections with an expected haul of 30-35 medals, driven by their traditional strength in luge, bobsled, and figure skating. The German delegation of 146 athletes was finalized today with the inclusion of several veteran champions alongside promising newcomers who have impressed during the current World Cup season. Their biathlon and alpine skiing teams are also expected to contribute significantly to their medal count, with Laura Dahlmeier leading a strong women's biathlon squad.

The United States sits third in most predictions with a projected 25-30 medals, though American officials believe their team could exceed expectations in several key events. Team USA announced their final roster of 230 athletes today, with particular strength in freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and figure skating. The American delegation includes several defending Olympic champions, including Mikaela Shiffrin in alpine skiing and Nathan Chen in men's figure skating, both of whom are expected to compete for multiple medals in Italy.

Host nation Italy is projected to finish in the top six with 15-20 medals, driven by strong performances expected in alpine skiing, short track speed skating, and biathlon. The Italian team has been building toward these home Games for years, with significant investment in training facilities and coaching that has paid dividends in recent World Championship results. "Competing at home gives us extra motivation, and our athletes are ready to make the most of this opportunity," said Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malagò. "We believe we can exceed all expectations when the competition begins."

Several other nations completed their team selections today, with Canada announcing a 215-athlete delegation led by defending champions in ice hockey and curling. Sweden, traditionally strong in cross-country skiing and biathlon, revealed a 116-athlete team that could challenge for 20-25 medals based on current form. The Netherlands enters with high hopes in speed skating, while Switzerland and Austria are expected to excel in alpine skiing events on familiar European terrain.

The final week of preparation has been marked by ideal weather conditions across the Milano-Cortina venues, with fresh snowfall providing excellent racing surfaces for the alpine events in Cortina d'Ampezzo while the ice venues in Milan have completed their final preparations. Ticket sales have exceeded expectations, with most events sold out and a global television audience projected to exceed 3 billion viewers across the 16-day competition. The Games officially begin with the opening ceremony on February 6th at San Siro Stadium in Milan, marking the third time Italy has hosted the Winter Olympics and the first time with a multi-city format spanning both Lombardy and Veneto regions. Athletes began arriving at the Olympic Villages today, with competition beginning February 8th with the first medal events in figure skating and freestyle skiing.