The 2026 Winter Olympics Officially Open in Italy
The global winter sports spectacle has begun, with the 2026 Winter Olympics now underway in the picturesque settings of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The Games commenced on Friday, February 6, and will continue through Sunday, February 22, 2026, featuring intense competition across 16 distinct winter sports disciplines.
Team USA's Ambitious Medal Pursuit
Team USA enters these Olympic Games with heightened expectations and a clear strategic objective: to secure more gold medals and ascend higher in the overall medal standings. At the previous 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the United States achieved nine gold medals, tying with China, but finished fifth overall with 25 total medals, trailing behind powerhouses like Norway and Germany in gold count.
The American delegation is spearheaded by several star athletes poised for podium success. Alpine skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin returns to pursue her third Olympic medal, continuing her record-breaking career. In snowboarding, Chloe Kim re-enters the halfpipe competition as one of the foremost gold medal contenders globally.
Speed skating presents another promising avenue, with Jordan Stolz arriving as one of the world's most dominant skaters, firmly focused on securing podium positions. Figure skating introduces young talents Alysa Liu and Ilia Malinin, who carry substantial medal hopes in their respective events.
Ice hockey remains a critical focal point, with both the U.S. men's and women's teams anticipated to advance deep into the tournament, with gold medal aspirations firmly in view.
Neutral Athlete Participation and Global Competition
An important development in these Games involves athlete participation. Russian and Belarusian competitors are permitted to participate solely as individuals under a neutral flag, designated as Individual Neutral Athletes. According to International Olympic Committee regulations, any medals these athletes earn will not contribute to their nations' official medal tallies, and team events from these countries remain prohibited.
Norway continues to establish itself as the benchmark team to surpass. During the Beijing Games, Norway secured an impressive 16 gold medals and 37 total medals. Historically, Norway leads all nations in Winter Olympics achievement with 148 gold medals and 406 total medals, while the United States holds second place all-time with 330 total medals.
Early Medal Count Snapshot
As of February 8, 2026, the initial medal standings reveal a tightly contested beginning:
- Italy: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze — 3 total
- Japan: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze — 3 total
- Norway: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze — 3 total
- Sweden: 1 gold, 1 silver — 2 total
- Switzerland: 1 gold — 1 total
- Slovenia: 1 silver — 1 total
- Canada: 1 bronze — 1 total
- China: 1 bronze — 1 total
- United States: 0 medals so far
This provisional medal table will undergo daily transformations as additional events conclude across various Italian venues. Over the forthcoming two weeks, athletes from 92 participating countries will vie for Olympic glory, with global spectators closely monitoring which nation emerges as the early frontrunner and whether Team USA can mount a formidable challenge.
