The 2026 Winter Games have officially concluded in Italy. Following a spectacular display of drama, humor, and world-class athleticism, the Olympic flame has been extinguished, marking the end of these memorable Milan-Cortina Games.
The closing ceremony in Verona was a vibrant tribute to Italian heritage, featuring everything from interpretive dance to high-energy club-inspired performances as athletes joined together for the final flag walk.
Final Medal Standings: Top 5 Countries
Norway dominated the podium this year, leading both the gold medal count and the total medal tally. Here is how the top five nations finished:
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Norway | 18 | 12 | 11 | 41 |
| 2 | United States | 12 | 12 | 9 | 33 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 10 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| 4 | Italy | 10 | 6 | 14 | 30 |
| 5 | Germany | 8 | 10 | 8 | 26 |
Final Day Highlights: Team USA Grabs Hockey Gold
The final day of competition was headlined by an instant classic on the ice. In a grueling, high-intensity showdown, Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 to secure the men’s hockey gold medal.
- The Goals: Matt Boldy put the U.S. on the board in the first period, while Cale Makar answered for Canada in the second.
- The Decider: After 60 minutes of frenetic play and standout goaltending, Jack Hughes scored the decisive goal in overtime to clinch the victory.
More Golden Moments from the Final Day
The final hours of the Games saw several athletes cement their legacies:
- Eileen Gu’s Dominance: The Chinese freeskiing sensation successfully defended her 2022 title in the women’s freeski halfpipe, taking home her first gold of these Games and her third medal overall in Milan-Cortina.
- Sweden’s Double Victory: Ebba Andersson secured her first career gold medal in the women’s 50km mass start cross-country final. Meanwhile, the Swedish women’s curling team triumphed over Switzerland in a tense final to take home the gold.
- German Bobsled Sweep: Germany continued its sliding dominance, finishing 1-2 in the 4-man bobsled event, a perfect follow-up to their gold and silver sweep in the 2-woman event the previous day.
Looking Ahead to 2030
As the ceremony concluded, the Olympic flag was officially handed over to representatives from France, which is set to host the 2030 Winter Games.
