On Feb. 6, the 25th Winter Olympics kicked off in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Over the course of 16 days, more than 3,500 athletes from 93 Olympic committees competed in the Winter Games spanning northern Italy. This year, ski mountaineering became the first new sport since 2006, bringing the total to 16 different sports and 116 events spread across them. The Olympics are also expecting a record two million in-person spectators as well as tens of millions of others watching from their homes.
The United States, which ranks second in all-time medals behind Norway, is continuing its historical dominance into 2026: the U.S. currently sits third in medal standings with 24 total, six of them gold. 235 athletes are competing on behalf of the U.S., with Park City, Utah producing 11 on its own, and Colorado producing 30. However, a team is only as good as its individual athletes, and the U.S. has had many inspiring victories this year.
One such victory came from Jake Canter, a snowboarder who won his first Olympic medal at only 22. However, while winning a medal is a massive accomplishment on its own, the context behind Canter’s makes it even more spectacular: when Canter was only 13, he was in a trampoline accident where he suffered a fractured skull, leading to extensive time in the hospital. Two weeks later, further complications led to a severe bacterial infection which placed him in a six-day induced coma and required the removal of his right eardrum. Despite the immense hardships, Canter continued with his passion of snowboarding, and has just won bronze in the Olympic slopestyle competition.
Another standout athlete from the U.S. is Mikaela Shiffrin, a highly regarded alpine skier who recently won her first medal in eight years. When she was 18, Shiffrin became the youngest slalom champion in Olympic history when she won gold in the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Twelve years later, 30-year-old Shiffrin captured her third Olympic slalom gold, making her the first American alpine skier to win three golds. She won by a margin of 1.5 seconds, the third largest margin of victory in slalom history. For many, the win cements her among the best alpine skiers in Olympic history.
Beyond the United States, many other countries have had impressive performances. The host country, Italy, has broken multiple country records, including the most gold medals with eight and the most total medals with 25. In addition, Italian speed skater Arianna Fontana became the most decorated Italian athlete in history, as well as the most decorated female speed skater in Olympics history, after winning her 14th Olympic medal. Fontana won her first Olympic medal in 2006 when she was only 15, also making her the youngest Italian medalist of all time.
The games will continue until Feb. 22 where they will conclude in Verona, Italy. With many high-profile competitions still to come, the final days of competition could reshape the medal standings and produce even more historic moments.
