Who topped the medal table at Milano Cortina 2026? A look at the final Winter Olympics standings | International Sports News
On 22 February 2026, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics drew to a close with a thrilling conclusion that epitomised a balance between a new homage to winter sport and its heritage. Hosting 116 medal events at historic venues in Milan, Cortina dAmpezzo and the Italian Alps, the Games attracted record television audiences from around the world, aided by record attendances and excellent winter conditions.As the last of the medals were passed out and the closing ceremony began, one familiar juggernaut proved once again to be untouchable. The final medal table was headed by Norway, reaffirming its supremacy in the winter disciplines while demonstrating that as the “nation to beat” in the era of the Winter Olympics.
Norway’s dominance built on depth and consistency
Norway topped the standings with a massive 41 medals in total: 18 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze. The number of gold medals exceeded the previous best by a single nation at the Winter Olympics, the kind of thing that had always been Norwegian until, well, it wasn’t.This success was based on old pillars like cross-country skiing, biathlon, and ski jumping. With headline acts including Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Norwegian skiers repeatedly performed under pressure, often shutting the door on medals for other countries. Muscle Powered Runners gave credit to their well-established long-term athlete development system, depth of athletes, and ability to execute on race tactics.However, Norway’s strength in numbers with medals across the wider array of events, rather than a few stars was decisive in establishing an unmovable lead at the top of the standings.
United States, Italy and others push the pace behind the leaders
The chase for podium positions on the medal table was tight, with second-place Norway. The US took second with 33 overall medals and 12 gold, the most gold medals the US has ever won in a single Winter Olympics. Freestyle skiing, figure skating, speed skating, and ice hockey are all winter sports in which American athletes excel, rounding out a well-balanced medal haul.Change looms for the Italian squad, which savored one of its most successful Winter Games ever as host nation. It was Italy that emerged fourth overall with a total of 30 medals, including 10 gold, thanks to impressive performances in alpine skiing, speed skating, and snowboarding, and a vocal home support during both weeks.In other places, traditional winter giants Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland filled out the top half of the storied, each with multiple gold medals, underscoring the incredible depth of the modern Winter Olympics. As the curtain fell in Cortina, the medal table was the usual one-sided masterclass with Norway at the head of the class, but a world of competition right behind as we head through the next Olympic cycle.
