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= MILAN CORTINA 2026 =
From Lane One
The record-setting and emotional XXV Olympic Winter Games closed on Sunday evening at the Arena di Verona, a spectacular setting in a venue built in the year 30, at a time when the original Olympic Games were still being held.
The show opened with a panorama of Italian performers through the centuries – especially from opera – with Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto as the guide.
The Olympic Flame, in a glass vase, entered, ahead of the massed flags of the 92 competing National Olympic Committees, who entered from outside the venue, followed by the athletes, entering as a single group rather than behind their national colors.
The operatic salute gave way to a modern, hip-hop dance routine and a performance by the blue-and-gold-clad dancer Ramon Agnelli, a graduate of the Ukrainian Academy of Ballet in Milan, spotlighting a country that made a deep impact on the Games via a Skeleton racer who never competed.
Following the victory ceremonies for the 50 km cross country races, a disco salute to the 18,000 volunteers and a remembrance of those who have passed, a salute to water and the environment led to the handover ceremony to the organizers of French Alps 2030.
A brilliant light show was the centerpiece of the program, “A New Dawn,” followed by the obligatory video presentation and bathing of the stage in light.
Organizing committee chief Giovanni Malago (ITA) spoke of what was achieved and looked to the future:
“What we have witnessed over the past two weeks demonstrates just how much the Winter Games matter to the Olympic Movement.
“An extraordinary kaleidoscope of sporting achievements and personal journeys, where passions and emotions come together, alongside some of the contradictions of our deeply divided world.
“My thoughts turn to the many young people who embraced these Games. To them, we affirmed that another world is possible through sport. I believe that this message has resonated powerfully and will endure.
“In just two weeks’ time, we will do it all again together, when Milano Cortina 2026 hosts the Paralympic Games. …
“Our Olympic mission has been accomplished.”
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) celebrated the assembled athletes, but also those who helped bring the Games to life, the Italian people, government and the organizers:
“From alpine villages to elegant cities and snow-covered mountains: your warmth, your hospitality, your passion made every single one of us feel at home.
“To the organising committee, my dear friend Giovanni Malago – and your incredible team, everyone behind the scenes across every single venue: You did it! Whenever there was a challenge, you found a way. You delivered a new kind of Winter Games and you set a new, very high standard for the future. You can be so proud. …
“And to the volunteers: where do I even begin? You are amazing. Your smiles, your kindness, your energy – you gave these Games your passionate vibe. Grazie ai volontari!
“The flame may soon go out, but its light will stay with us: in every child inspired to dream big. In every person reminded that courage and kindness still matter.
“The Olympic Games will continue to be a space where the athletes can inspire the world through sport: freely, safely and proudly.”
The Olympic flame in the vase and the giant outdoor cauldrons went out and the lights went down. But Rigoletto came back, and the dance party and light show revved up for a final 10 minutes. And a final performance from Achille Lauro led to Rigoletto closing the door on the Games.
The ceremony ran for two and a half hours, but even so, it was too short. That’s always the way a great Olympic Games ends.
~ Rich Perelman
● The Rosen Report ● American speed skating star Jordan Stolz finished his Milan adventure with two golds and a silver – at age 21 – and is looking ahead for more. He talks about his Olympic experience here.
● Scoreboard ● Norway set records for the most medals in a Winter Games and the most golds, but the big winner was Italy. Coming in with a high of 20 medals in a Winter Games, the home team scored 30! Amazing; the top 10 (actually 11):
● 41: Norway (18-12-11)
● 33: United States (12-12-9)
● 30: Italy (10-6-14)
● 26: Germany (8-10-8)
● 24: Japan (5-7-12)
● 23: France
● 23: Switzerland
● 21: Canada
● 20: Netherlands
● 18: Sweden
● 18: Austria
The U.S. team had a historic Games. The 12 golds is the most ever in a Winter Games, bettering the 10 in 2002 at Salt Lake City. The 33 total medals was the third-most ever, just short of 2002 (34) and 2010 in Vancouver (37). It’s by far the most outside of North America, which had been 28 in Sochi in 2014. And, as noted below, the American depth was outstanding.
A better indication of team performance has to go beyond three places, so The Sports Examiner returns our eight-place scoring, using the NCAA track & field format of 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 to score each event. The top 12:
● 493.5: Norway
● 449: United States
● 385.5: Italy
● 338: Germany
● 314.5: France
● 284: Switzerland
● 282: Canada
● 249.5: Austria
● 248.5: Japan
● 237: Netherlands
● 211: China
● 199: Sweden
In terms of total scorers from places 1-8, the U.S. ended with 92, over Norway’s 87, followed by Italy at 78, then Germany (68) and France (64). A full list and analysis is coming in the following days.
● Television ● Another embarrassment for Italian national broadcaster RAI, this time at the Cortina Four-Man bobsled competition, just prior to the start of the racing. In a possibly “open mic” moment, a RAI announcer said: “Let’s avoid crew 21, which is Israeli,” then a “no, because …” and then the actual coverage started.
The announcers were quite aware of what had just happened. RAI commentator Dario Di Gennaro said on-air, “Our sincere apologies for what was broadcast a moment ago. The comment made during the off-air segment before the four-man bobsleigh race was completely inappropriate and in no way reflects the values of sport, respect, and inclusion that should guide public service and our work. We renew our apologies to the athletes involved, the Israeli delegation, and all those who felt offended.”
RAI Sport Interim Director Marco Lollobrigida apologized in a statement:
“The off-air remark that was broadcast before the four-man bobsleigh race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on RAI 2 contained an unacceptable expression that in no way represents the values of public service broadcasting or of RAI Sport.
“On behalf of the directorate, I extend sincere apologies to the Israeli athletes, the delegation, and all viewers. Immediate internal reviews have been launched to determine responsibility. Sport must unite, not divide.”
RAI Managing Director Giampaolo Rossi, also issued a statement:
“The incident that occurred during the live broadcast on Rai 2 represents a serious matter, contrary to the principles of impartiality, respect, and inclusion that must characterize the public service. Rai has therefore initiated an internal investigation aimed at opening disciplinary proceedings to ascertain any responsibility as quickly as possible.”
This came after Radio Television Suisse commentator Stefan Renna’s berated Israeli bob pilot Adam Edelman in a lengthy comment, for his support of Israel’s response to the 7 October 2023 invasion by Hamas. RTS removed the video that included Renna’s diatribe.
● International Olympic Committee ● The 145th IOC Session concluded on Sunday, with two athlete members elected, Yunjong Won (KOR: bobled) and Johanna Taliharm (EST: biathlon). Including retirements, this brings the IOC membership to 106, with 42 of these being Olympic athletes at some point in their careers.
IOC chief Coventry opened the 83-minute meeting with a thanks to those who put on the show:
“We want to thank the Milano Cortina team and the organizers and our dear friends – [President] Giovanni [Malago] – I have no words, really.
“At the start of the Games, we were talking and you spoke about the goals for the Italian team, which you so surpassed, it’s been amazing. But also, the Italian fans, the spectators, the way they have taken in all countries and they’ve cheered for everybody. …
“Thank you for bringing that alive. We’re eternally grateful for the hard work that you and your team have done in the last few months and especially during these Games and we’re very appreciative of that.”
MiCo President Malago added in brief remarks:
“Thank you for never ceasing to believe in us. For showing us the way. For supporting us in the most difficult moments, and there were not a few. For so generously walking this path with us every step of the way, and, above all, for the climate of harmony and genuine cooperation that you fostered in our daily work and for the mutual respect that guided every discussion. …
“Together, we were truly stronger.”
A survey done for the IOC in eight countries led to a projection that “local awareness” of the Games was almost 90% and “about 1 in 2 internationally.” Television audiences in Italy were about two-thirds of the country.
At the end of the meeting, it was announced that an extraordinary IOC Session will be held in Lausanne on 24-25 June 2026. There was no indication of the agenda, but look for a series of decisions on new policies coming out of Coventry’s “Fit for the Future” working groups project. A shake-up could be coming.
● Milan Cortina 2026 ● The organizing committee gave a final briefing on Sunday morning, with chief executive Andrea Varnier summarizing the effort:
“We pioneered an organisational model, that of the widespread Games, which has proven to be successful. We covered an area of about 22,000 square kilometres, where 224 sports sessions were held with 740 medals awarded in about 900 hours of competition.
“As for the athletes, there were 93 delegations, with three ?countries – Benin, Guinea Bissau and the United Arab Emirates – participating in the Winter Games for the first time. There were 2,880 athletes, with a record 47% of women: we welcomed them in three Olympic Villages, those of Milano, Cortina and Predazzo, to which are added eleven hotels, for a total of 5,560 beds prepared for athletes, staff and companions.”
He added that 1.3 million tickets were sold, about 88% of the total available. A later statement noted that 63% of spectators were foreign: 37% were Italian, with the largest contingents from Germany (15%), the U.S. (14%), Switzerland (6%), Great Britain (6%), the Netherlands and France (4.5%), and Canada (3.5%).
Malago also saluted two special contributors to the success:
“There are two parties that deserve to be remembered for their importance in the success of these Games. The first is the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence with the JTF [Joint Task Force], which ensured an extraordinary level of security. We received compliments and thanks from everyone for the extraordinary support we received from the police.
“The second person is [IOC Olympic Games Executive Director] Christophe Dubi (SUI). I would like to thank him publicly because without him the Games would not have been such a success, because he dedicated himself to our project with professionalism, skill and great passion.”
Malago and Varnier and their team are not done, of course. The Winter Paralympic Games are now on tap, from 6-15 March.
= RESULTS: SUNDAY, 22 FEBRUARY =
(5 finals across 5 sports)
● Bobsled: Four-Man
German sleds were 1-2-3 after the first two runs on Saturday, but Michael Vogt’s Swiss sled was close, just 0.12 off the medals. But in front were German stars Johannes Lochner – the Two-Man winner – and two-time defending champion Francesco Friedrich.
Lochner simply shut the door with the fastest third and fourth runs in the field, finishing at 3:37.57, ahead of Friedrich (3:38.14). It’s the third straight Olympic win for the Germans and Lochner moves up from silver in Beijing in 2022.
Behind them was a fight for third, with Vogt trying to catch German Adam Ammour’s sled. He gained 0.03 on the third run, but still down 0.09 going into the fourth. But the Swiss was faster by 0.13 and grabbed the bronze in 3:38.64 to 3:38.68 for Ammour. It’s the first Swiss medal in this event since a bronze in 2006 in Turin.
Kris Horn had the fastest U.S. sled, finishing 11th in 3:39.94, then Frank Del Duca in 12th in 3:40.06.
¶
Israel’s sled was 24th out of 27 after the first two runs and then was disqualified by the Israeli National Olympic Committee for faking illness. According to a statement from the NOC:
“The bobsleigh team asked to include Ward [Fawarseh], the substitute, in the competition.
“According to the rules, this is only permitted if one of the athletes is injured or ill. In order to make this possible, one of the team members – encouraged by his teammates – declared that he was unwell. He even went for a medical examination and signed an affidavit so that the Olympic Committee could request approval for a substitution.”
Brakeman Uri Zisman “admitted to the head of the delegation that he had acted improperly. This forced the Olympic Committee of Israel to withdraw the request and disqualify the move.”
● Cross Country Skiing: Women’s 50 km Classical
With Sweden’s Frida Karlsson, the 10 km and 20 km Skiathlon winner out with illness, teammate and silver winner Ebba Andersson was the logical choice for the 50 km gold.
Logic held.
Andersson was in front of the start and ran away from the field to win in a dominating 2:16:28.2, some 2:15.3 ahead of Norway’s Heidi Weng (2:18:43.5), the favorite for silver. It’s the first win for Sweden in this event and only its second medal, ever, and ended a three-Games Norwegian win streak.
A half-dozen skiers fought for the bronze, including Jessie Diggins of the U.S., silver winner in 2022. Over the final 5 km, Swiss Nadja Kaelin moved into third and stayed there to take the bronze medal in 2:23:09.7. Norway’s Kristin Fosnaes was close behind in 2:23:12.1 and Diggins, in her final Olympic race – at 34 – was fifth in 2:23:14.6.
It was the first medal in this event ever for the Swiss. The Swedes dominated the women’s cross-country skiing, winning five of six events and placing second in the other. They won 10 of the 18 medal available. By contrast, Norway won 11 of the 18 men’s medals.
Fellow Americans Rosie Brennan (2:29:30.8) and Hailey Swirbul (2:32:09.7) and Kendall Kramer (2:35:00.4) finished in 15th, 19th and 26th, respectively.
● Curling: Women’s final
A clash of the titans produced a brilliant final as 2018 Olympic winner Anna Hasselborg’s rink from Sweden tangled with four-time World Champions Silvana Tirinzoni from Switzerland.
The Swedes broke on top immediately with two points in the first end, but neither side could score in the second or third. The Swiss got a point back in the fourth and two in the sixth saw them tied, 3-3.
Sweden put up points in the seven and eighth, but the Swiss scored twice in the ninth to tie at five. In the 10th end, the Swedes managed a point and took the gold at 6-5.
The victory continued Sweden’s streak of Olympic medals to six straight Games, including two for Hasselborg. The Swiss got their first Olympic medal since a 2006 Turin silver and third silver all-time.
● Freestyle Skiing: Women’s Halfpipe
Postponed a day due to heavy snowfall on Saturday, defending champion Eileen Gu (CHN) shook off a bad first run to take the lead from Britain’s Zoe Atkin in the second round and then crush the field with a brilliant final run to repeat as Olympic champion.
Atkin, the leading qualifier, took the lead as the last skier in the first round, scoring 90.50. That held up for eight more skiers until Gu came up in the second round and nailed a 94.00 routine that looked like it might be the winner. Three skiers later, China’s Fanghui Li – the 2025 World’s runner-up – put up a 91.50 and moved into second place.
No one challenged the top three; Canada’s Amy Fraser scored 88.00 in the final round to move into fourth, then Gu stormed to a 94.75 which looked very much like the winning ride.
It was. Li improved to 93.00 as the next-to-last rider and solidified her silver position and Atkin also improved to 92.50, but stayed third. Impressively, all three medalists got their best scores in the final round!
American Svea Irving finished 11th, at 22.50.
Gu repeated her 2022 gold in this event, the first repeat winner in the four times it has been held. Britain got its first medal in the event.
Gu finished with a gold and two silvers, in Big Air and Slopestyle. There was an enormous political fuss about Gu competing for China as she was born in San Francisco, but it was barely mentioned that Atkin, 23, was born in Newton, Massachusetts, of an English father and Malaysian mother who both worked at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.
● Ice Hockey: Men’s final
The titanic Canada vs. U.S. final was a struggle as anticipated, with the Americans taking a 1-0 lead in the first period on a Matt Boldy goal at 6:00, but the Canadians tied it in the second on a Cale Makar score at 18:16 after the U.S. fought off a 5-on-3 situation earlier in the period.
The Canadians were the attackers in the second, with 19 shots to eight, after 8-8 on shots in the first period. And they continued in the third, starting with a 9-1 shots edge before the U.S. got in gear. But the U.S. was the aggressor in the late stages, ending 10 shots to 14 for Canada (41-27 for the first three periods). It was keeper Connor Hellebuyck’s acrobatics who kept the Canadians off the board.
There was no scoring, so the game – like the women’s final – moved on to a 3×3 overtime period. Canada had control in the first minute, but with the puck in the Canadian zone, the U.S.’s Zach Werenski got control of the puck, backed up to get clear and passed across the ice to Jack Hughes.
Hughes had a clear shot at keeper Jordan Binnington and wound up for a low blast that skipped under his left pad and into the net for the gold-medal goal and a 2-1 win at 1:41 of the overtime period.
This has been a long time coming for the U.S.; its only two Olympic ice hockey golds were on home ice in 1960 and the “Miracle on Ice” team in 1980. Now a gold in Europe … and on the same date as astonishing U.S. win over the USSR 46 years ago!
This was the third Olympic final meeting between the teams with NHL players, with Canada winning in 2002 and 2010 (overtime). Canada has not won the Olympic gold now in three straight Games, last in 2014.
= INTEL REPORT =
● Athletics ● At the World Athletics Indoor World Gold Copernicus Cup in Torun (POL), Italy’s 2025 World Indoor women’s bronze winner Zaynab Dosso equaled the world lead, winning the final in 6.99, becoming the 15th woman to break seven seconds. Luxembourg’s Patrizia van der Weken was a close second at 7.01.
In the women’s 60 m hurdles, world-record holder Devynne Charlton (BAH) took the 2026 world lead at 7.77 in the final, just ahead of the 100 m hurdles World Champion Dita Kambundji (SUI: 7.78) and Dutch star Nadine Visser (7.80). American Alaysha Johnson was fifth (7.85).
The speedy men’s 1,500 m was won by Botswana’s Olympic 800 m finalist Tshepiso Masalela in 3:32.55, but he was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct at the finish line, giving the win to France’s Azeddine Habz, the 2024 European Indoor runner-up, just behind in 3:32.56! Habz now stands no. 3 in the world for 2026; Samuel Chapple (NED) was close in second in 3:32.68.
Poland’s Jakub Szymanski won the men’s 60 m hurdles in 7.48, over Jamal Britt of the U.S. (7.52) and Devion Wilson in fifth 7.62). Two-time American World Champion Joe Kovacs won the men’s shot at 21.92 m (71-11), beating Roger Steen at 21.62 m (70-11 1/4).
¶
The USATF Indoor Combined Championships were in Indianapolis, Indiana, with Health Baldwin, sixth at the 2025 Worlds Decathlon, leading after six events, but in the concluding 1,000 m, it was 2025 runner-up Hakim McMorris winning by 2:35.72 to 2:39.94. That was enough to give McMorris his first USATF title with 6,255 points to 6,245. They now stand nos. 3-4 on the 2026 world list.
World Hep Champion Anna Hall won the women’s Pentathlon for her second national title in the event, scoring a world-leading 4,831, ahead of defending champion Timara Chapman (4,603) and Erin Marsh (4,432).
● Badminton ● USA Badminton was de-certified by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport, but on Wednesday (18th), the badminton organization issued a status update that included:
“[Badminton World Federation’ has expressed that it does not view a long-term divergence where one organization is recognized domestically by the USOPC (which might happen in the near to medium term future) while another is recognized internationally by BWF as a desirable outcome for the sport. …
“To that end, BWF and the USOPC have been working collaboratively, with input from USAB, on a proposed “RESET” plan intended to outline a pathway for USAB to regain NGB recognition.”
So far, the BWF and USA Badminton have met and the BWF is to discuss a plan with the USOPC in the coming weeks. However, the USOPC will not be satisfied until the USA Badminton “administrative compliance concerns” are resolved.
● Cycling ● Mexico’s Isaac del Toro had the lead in the UCI World Tour UAE Tour after the first stage, then lost it, then regained it by winning the sixth stage and finished with a 20-second win after the seventh and final stage in 21:10:30.
Del Toro finished second in the 2025 Giro d’Italia and this was his first UCI World Tour full-race victory. Italy’s Antonio Tiberi was second (+0:20) and Luke Plapp (AUS: +1:14) was third.
Del Toro erased Tiberi’s 12-second lead after the fifth stage with a 12-second win in the sixth over Plapp, with Tiberi fourth at +0:31.
● Gymnastics ● Familiar faces on the podium at the first FIG Artistic World Cup of 2026, in Cottbus (GER), with Israel’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Floor champion Artem Dolgopyat taking his specialty at 14.500, and two-time Worlds Vault bronze medalist Nazar Chepurnyi of Ukraine winning his event at 14.176.
Italy’s Gabriele Targhetta, the 2025 European bronzer, won the Pommel Horse (15.000) and Armenian star Artur Avetsiyan, also a 2025 European bronze winner, winning Rings at 14.366. American Kam Nelson was third, scoring 13.866.
Japan’s Shohei Kawakami, the 2025 Universiade All-Around runner-up, won the Parallel Bars at 14.866 and then the Horizontal Bar at 14.966.
The women’s Vault went to Russian Anna Kalmykova (13.816) and Italian Elisa Iorio, the 2024 European runner-up won on the Uneven Bars (14.266). On Sunday, Japan’s 2025 Worlds bronze medalist, Agio Sugihara took the Beam title at 14.066, ahead of 2025 Worlds silver winner Kaylia Nemour (ALG: 13.833). Kalmykova won on Floor at 13.333, over Sugihara (13.133).
¶
At the USA Gymnastics Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, Olympic and Worlds medal winner Fred Richard took the men’s All-Around title at 84.359 over Tokyo 2020 Olympian Yul Moldauer (79.710), returning from a 16-month suspension for “whereabouts” failures. Stanford’s David Shamah was third at 79.608.
Richard won on Floor at 14.355 and Moldauer took the Parallel Bars title at 14.955. The other apparatus winners were Parker Thackston on Pommel Horse (15.325); Danila Leykin on the Horizontal Bar at 14.658; Garrett Schooley on Vault (14.135) and Christopher Hiser on Rings, scoring (14.352).
The women’s Winter Cup competition was held Sunday evening.
● Rowing ● World Rowing announced that it is allowing all Russian and Belarusian athletes, regardless of age and in both individual and team events, to compete in its competitions “subject to strict neutrality and independence conditions.”
The federation states that “World Rowing’s approach is aligned with the principles reaffirmed by the Olympic Summit,” but in fact goes well beyond it, as the Summit proposed admitting only “youth” athletes and maintaining the ban on teams.
Rowing is now among a small, but growing number of International Federations which are allowing the re-entry of full Russian teams. No mention is made of any “neutrality” verification or checks for senior-level athletes, a condition continued by the International Olympic Committee for the Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games.
¶
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