Medal Count 2026: A Deep Dive into the Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics, hosted in the stunning landscapes of Milan and Cortina, Italy, promise a thrilling spectacle of athletic prowess. With 348 medals up for grabs across 116 events and 16 disciplines, the competition is set to be fierce. This year’s Games will be particularly exciting with the introduction of ski mountaineering (skimo), adding a fresh challenge to the Olympic program. Beyond the new sport, established events will feature exciting additions, including men’s and women’s dual moguls in freestyle skiing, women’s doubles in luge, a mixed team event in skeleton, and a large-hill women’s event in ski jumping.

Rising Stars and Veteran Champions

Familiar faces like Chloe Kim, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Jordan Stolz are poised to return and battle for gold. Powerhouses like Norway are expected to dominate the Nordic sports, while Germany will likely reign supreme in the sliding sports. But who will ultimately top the medal count? Let’s take a look at some predictions.

Alpine Skiing: A Swiss and Italian Affair?

Men’s Downhill: Gold – Marco Odermatt (Switzerland), Silver – Dominik Paris (Italy), Bronze – Franjo Von Allmen (Switzerland). Ryan Cochran-Siegle (U.S.) is a strong contender, carrying on a family legacy – his mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, won Olympic slalom gold in 1972!

Men’s Super-G: Gold – Marco Odermatt (Switzerland), Silver – Giovanni Franzoni (Italy), Bronze – Vincent Kriechmayr (Austria).

Men’s Giant Slalom: Gold – Marco Odermatt (Switzerland), Silver – Stefan Brennsteiner (Austria), Bronze – Marco Schwarz (Austria). Odermatt, a dominant force in Alpine skiing, will be looking to add to his Olympic accolades.

Men’s Slalom: Gold – Atle Lie McGrath (Norway), Silver – Clément Noël (France), Bronze – Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (Brazil). McGrath, born in Vermont, brings a unique international flavour to the competition.

New Events and Emerging Talents

Ski Mountaineering (Mixed Relay): Gold – Switzerland, Silver – Austria, Bronze – Italy. This exciting new event replaces the parallel team event from 2022.

Beyond the Slopes: Highlights Across Disciplines

Women’s Downhill: Gold – Emma Aicher (Germany), Silver – Sofia Goggia (Italy), Bronze – Lindsey Vonn (U.S.). Vonn’s return to form after a five-year hiatus is a testament to her dedication.

Women’s Super-G: Gold – Sofia Goggia (Italy), Silver – Alice Robinson (New Zealand), Bronze – Romane Miradoli (France).

Women’s Giant Slalom: Gold – Julia Scheib (Austria), Silver – Sara Hector (Sweden), Bronze – Camille Rast (Switzerland).

Women’s Slalom: Gold – Mikaela Shiffrin (U.S.), Silver – Camille Rast (Switzerland), Bronze – Lara Colturi (Albania). Colturi, at just 19, aims to secure Albania’s first Winter Olympic medal.

Team Events and Dark Horses

Team Parallel Mixed: Gold – U.S., Silver – Italy, Bronze – Switzerland. The U.S. team, led by Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson, are the defending world champions.

Men’s Sprint: Gold – Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (Norway), Silver – Federico Pellegrino (Italy), Bronze – Oskar Opstad Vike (Norway). Klæbo is a dominant force in sprint cross-country skiing.

Overall Medal Predictions

While predicting the overall medal count is always a challenge, Norway is expected to lead, followed closely by Italy and Sweden. The U.S. team will undoubtedly be a strong contender, aiming to improve on their performance in Beijing. The Milan Cortina Games promise to be a captivating showcase of winter sports, filled with thrilling competition and unforgettable moments.

Source: This article draws upon predictions and insights from Sports Illustrated.