The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina came to a close on Sunday, February 22nd, with a flurry of final competitions and the promise of a spectacular closing ceremony. The day featured medal events in bob, freestyle skiing, curling, and culminated in the highly anticipated men’s ice hockey final between Canada and the United States. Italy, despite limited participation in the final day’s events, aimed to build on their existing medal haul of 30, including 10 gold medals according to CBS News.
The final day’s schedule began with the four-man bob event, followed by women’s finals in cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, and curling. The men’s hockey gold medal game, a rematch of a classic rivalry, was the centerpiece of the day. The closing ceremony, set to accept place at the Arena di Verona at 8:30 PM local time, marked the official end of the Games.
Several medals were awarded earlier in the day. In the women’s 50km cross-country mass start, Ebba Andersson of Sweden took gold, with Heidi Weng of Norway claiming silver and Nadja Kaelin of Switzerland securing bronze. Olympics.com reported that Eileen Gu of China dominated the women’s freestyle halfpipe, earning gold, followed by Li Fanghui (China) with silver, and Zoe Atkin (Great Britain) with bronze.
Germany continued its strong performance in the bobsleigh events, with Lochner winning gold in the four-man competition. Friedrich (Germany) secured the silver, and Vogt (Switzerland) took home the bronze. Finland had already secured a bronze medal in men’s ice hockey, defeating Slovakia 6-1 in the bronze medal game on Saturday, February 21st as detailed by NHL.com.
Men’s Ice Hockey Final: Canada vs. USA
The highly anticipated men’s ice hockey final pitted Canada against the United States. Both teams entered the game undefeated in the tournament, having both needed overtime to secure their spots in the championship game. The United States defeated Sweden 2-1 in overtime in the quarterfinals, while Canada overcame a tough challenge from Czechia, also in overtime, 4-3. In the semifinals, Canada defeated Finland 3-2 and the United States overpowered Slovakia 6-2.
The matchup featured a clash of hockey superstars, with Connor McDavid of Canada leading the tournament in scoring with 13 points and 11 assists – a record for most points in a single Winter Olympics when NHL players participate. For the U.S., Quinn Hughes led with seven points and was the top-scoring defenseman. Canada had scored 27 goals to the U.S.’s 24, and held the best shooting percentage at 13.43% according to the Times of India. U.S. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck boasted the best save percentage at 94.74% after allowing just five goals on 95 shots.
Women’s Curling Results
The women’s curling final saw Canada secure the bronze medal. The gold and silver medalists in women’s curling were not specified in the provided sources.
Looking Ahead
With the conclusion of the final events, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics drew to a close. The Games showcased exceptional athletic performances and fostered a spirit of international competition. The closing ceremony will serve as a celebration of the athletes and the host nation, and will mark the transition to planning for the next Winter Olympics. The results of the men’s hockey final will undoubtedly be discussed and analyzed for years to come, adding another chapter to the storied rivalry between Canada and the United States.
What were your favorite moments from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics? Share your thoughts in the comments below!