The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics featured several athletes who rose to prominence through impressive performances and unexpected moments. From first-time medalists to viral sensations, these individuals captured global attention across various sports. Their achievements highlighted the diversity and excitement of the Games.
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, held in Italy, showcased a range of breakout stars who made significant impacts in their disciplines. In alpine skiing, Breezy Johnson of the United States secured the country's first gold in the women's downhill on February 8, marking only the second such victory for an American woman after Lindsey Vonn in 2010. Johnson, absent from the 2022 Beijing Games due to injury, later announced her engagement, adding a personal highlight to her professional success.
In curling, American duo Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin earned silver in mixed doubles, the first such medal for the U.S. Thiesse also became the first American woman to win any Olympic curling medal and led the women's team to the semifinals for the first time since 2002, while setting a record with 193 ends played in a single tournament. Reflecting on their run, Thiesse said, "This week's been a dream."
Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen dominated alpine skiing in his Olympic debut, winning gold in the men's downhill on February 7—the first medal of the Games—followed by victories in the team combined on February 9 and super-G on February 11. This made him the first male skier to claim three golds in one Winter Olympics since 1968.
Norway's Sturla Holm Laegreid, already a medalist from 2022, collected five medals in biathlon, including three silvers and two bronzes. His viral moment came after a bronze on February 10, when he confessed to cheating on his girlfriend during an interview.
Slovenia's Prevc siblings, Nika and Domen, contributed to their family's legacy as four Olympic medalists. They won gold in mixed team ski jumping, with Domen adding individual large hill gold and Nika securing silver in normal hill and bronze in large hill.
South Korea's 17-year-old Gaon Choi claimed gold in women's snowboarding halfpipe, defeating favorite Chloe Kim. In speed skating, Netherlands' Jutta Leerdam set an Olympic record in the women's 1000m for gold on February 9, gaining a million social media followers, and took silver in another event. Fellow Dutch athlete Jens van 't Wout won three golds and a total of four medals in short track, marking the Netherlands' first golds in the sport.
In hockey, U.S. forward Laila Edwards, the first Black woman on her national team, helped secure gold with two goals, six assists, and a +8 plus/minus. Canada's Macklin Celebrini, the 2024 NHL top draft pick, tallied 10 points in the men's tournament leading to the gold medal game against the U.S.
Figure skater Alysa Liu of the U.S. won individual gold—the first for an American woman since 2002—and contributed to the team event victory. Non-athlete Jordan Cowan gained fame as a stylish figure skating videographer. A stray dog named Nazgul also became a viral sensation by running the cross-country course.
