The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo ended on 22 February, marked by both athletic achievements and political tensions. IOC president Kirsty Coventry called the event 'fantastic,' while protests and bans highlighted global issues. Norway led the medal tally with 18 golds.
The closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics took place on 22 February in the co-host cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, extinguishing the twin flames after two weeks of competition. IOC president Kirsty Coventry declared the Games officially over, stating, “Over the last two weeks we have seen and experienced incredible Games. I have no words really.” Norway finished atop the medal table with 18 gold medals and 41 overall, ahead of the United States with 12 golds and 33 total.
Political tensions overshadowed some events. Before the Games, hundreds protested in Italy against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, displaying banners like “ICE out” and “ICE should be in my drinks and not my city,” amid outrage over a Trump-initiated immigration crackdown linked to the fatal shooting of two Americans. During the opening ceremony, the crowd booed when US Vice-President JD Vance appeared on screen. On 12 February, Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned by the IOC for wearing a “Helmet of Remembrance” featuring images of Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia’s invasion.
The IOC defended selling T-shirts with the 1936 Berlin Olympics poster, despite its Nazi propaganda associations. A spokesperson noted it acknowledges “historical issues of Nazi propaganda” but emphasized the event involved “4,483 athletes from 49 countries compete in 149 medal events,” as part of an Olympic Heritage Collection.
South Africa fielded its largest Winter Olympics team of five athletes: Malica Malherbe, Nicole Burger, Matt Smith, Thomas Wei, and Lara Markthaler. Burger placed 25th in skeleton with a time of 3:58.10, reaching 116.58 km/h. Malherbe finished in the top 30 in freestyle, while Markthaler competed in giant slalom and slalom. Wei recorded a did-not-finish in alpine slalom, and Smith used social media to highlight challenges for athletes from non-traditional nations.
Notable performances included Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen winning giant slalom gold by 0.58 seconds over Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt, the first for a South American. The US men’s ice hockey team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime, with Jack Hughes scoring the winner. Mikaela Shiffrin secured three Olympic golds, and Eileen Gu won gold in women’s halfpipe plus two silvers. Canada’s men took curling gold 9-6 over Britain despite a double-touching accusation against Marc Kennedy. Alysa Liu claimed figure skating gold, the first for an American woman in 24 years.
Accidents marred the Games: US skier Lindsey Vonn suffered a leg fracture in downhill, Austria’s Jakob Mandlbauer crashed in bobsleigh, and Poland’s Kamila Sellier was injured by a blade in short track speed skating on 20 February.
