The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics are coming to an end: let's relive the most exciting moments (which will remain in the history of the Games)

With the closing ceremony, today the curtain falls on Milan-Cortina 2026, but these Winter Olympics leave us with one certainty: the Games are not just about medals, records or rankings. They are first of all emotions, stories of courage, sacrifice and love, dreams that come true and gestures that touch the heart. These Olympics have taught us that, on ice and snow, as in life, there are no limits to what can be achieved if driven by passion. And then let’s retrace all the emotions that made us live, reliving the most intense and unforgettable moments.

Francesca Lollobrigida: the hug with her son

Let’s start with her: Francesca Lollobrigida. His double in the 3000 and 5000 meters of speed skating took us to the top of the world with two splendid golds. But the most touching moment was undoubtedly the hug with little Tommaso, her two and a half year old son who she ran to hug once the 3000m race was over. A spontaneous gesture full of love, which showed the human side behind a legendary champion.

However, there was no shortage of controversy on social media, with unfair comments about the child, but the champion responded firmly: “You can say everything about me, but don’t touch a two and a half year oldBecause it was little Tommaso who pushed Francesca to overcome every difficulty and that hug between a mother and her son will remain in the hearts of all of us.

You can read the full article here: Francesca Lollobrigida wins at the Olympics but has to defend her son from haters: stop judging sportswomen for everything except sport

Italy’s double gold in luge: a thrilling hour

Let’s continue talking about our colors. In Cortina, in just 63 minutes, Italy wrote a historic page for our sport: two gold medals in luge blew up the home crowd. First the flawless triumph of Voetter-Oberhofer in the women’s doubles, then the thrilling comeback of Rieder-Kainzwaldner in the men’s, gold after 32 years. Under the guidance of Zöggeler, the blue sled gave life to a golden hour that can only bring to mind what happened in Tokyo 2021 with Tamberi and Jacobs.

You can read the full article here: Double gold in 63 minutes, Chilling Azzurri in the sled! In Milan-Cortina, the company that revives the emotions of Tokyo 2021

Maxim Naumov and the tribute to his missing parents

The skater Maxim Naumov, however, transformed the ice into a tribute to his parents who tragically died a year ago in a plane crash. After his figure skating performance, he showed a photo of Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, recalling his father’s last words: “Be strong, be resilientEvery step was guided by their spirit and the passion they had instilled in him, culminating in a touching moment when, at the end of the ordeal, he knelt down and whispered: “Look what we didA gesture of love that moved the audience and transformed his performance into one of the most exciting of the Olympics, remembering how sport can also become a way to honor those who are no longer with us.

The gold medal dedicated to the teammate who is no longer with us

The United States men’s ice hockey team won the gold medal. But in Milan Cortina we don’t just cry with joy: on August 29, 2024, Johnny Gaudreau, one of the most brilliant athletes of the National Hockey League for this nicknamed “Johnny Hockey” died together with his younger brother Matthew Gaudreau in a car accident.

So his teammates Zach Werenski, Matthew Tkachuk and Connor Hellebuyck paid tribute to him by showing his jersey after winning the Olympic gold.

Gold and silver for Italy in ski cross: Federico Tomasoni’s special helmet in memory of his missing girlfriend Matilde Lorenzi

Here too the tears are not only of joy: the incredible Italian gold and silver double in ski cross (Simone Deromedis and Federico Tomasoni) reminds everyone of an unhealed wound in our country’s skiing. In October 2024 Matilde Lorenzi, a promising young player in this sport, falls during training on the Val Senales glacier, in Alto Adige. And unfortunately, after hours of bated breath, the young girl of just 19 years old loses her life.

Federico Tomasoni, who later wins the silver medal, competes with a sun drawn on his helmet, in memory of the young woman, who was his girlfriend.

Vladyslav Heraskevych, the disqualified Ukrainian skeleton pilot: he wanted to commemorate his compatriots who died in the war on his helmet

The Ukrainian skeletonist Vladyslav Heraskevych, after days of controversy, was excluded from the Milan-Cortina 2026 races due to his commemorative helmet, which bore the faces of over 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed during the war with Russia.

The athlete had refused to replace it with one compliant with IOC rules (International Olympic Committee), reiterating that “it is the price of our dignity” The decision was made by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) ignoring the circumstances.

You can read the full article here: Olympic disqualification for skeletonist Heraskevych: he wanted to wear the commemorative helmet of Ukrainian athletes and coaches who died in the war

Richardson Viano: Haiti’s first cross-country skier

Richardson Viano, born in Port-au-Prince and adopted by a Turin family, realized the dream born from a postcard with snow in an orphanage by becoming the first Haitian athlete at the Winter Games. His jacket and book In Haiti I dreamed of snow they tell the story of the journey from hunger and the orphanage to speed on the Alpine slopes.

And when he tried his hand at the giant, between one heat and another, he started a tender exchange with his aunt who showed all her sweetness on live TV by asking him, in Italian: “Rici, have you eaten?“, as if he were still the child he once was. Viano, who has been training for years in France and participating with Haiti to keep his ties alive, gave emotions and hope to those who dream of the impossible.

The bow to Federica Brignone after the double gold

Let’s get back to us with Federica Brignone. What about our Tiger? He won two golds in three days, in the Super-G and in the giant slalom, just ten months after the serious injury to his left leg which would have meant farewell to the Olympics for everyone. And to understand the greatness of the feat she achieved, just think that the joint runners-up, Sara Hector and Thea Louise Stjernesund, bowed before her. A splendid example of what the true Olympic spirit means.

You can read the full article here: Milan Cortina Olympics, extraordinary Federica Brignone, also a gold medal in the giant slalom

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen: Brazil’s first gold medal at the Winter Olympics

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen also wrote history by winning the giant slalom in Bormio, ahead of Marco Odermatt and Loic Meillard. And here the same applies to “Rici” because he became the first Brazilian athlete to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, even though his mother is Norwegian. Excited under the snow, Lucas sang the Brazilian anthem and sent a message of hope to his country, remembering that “the difference is a superpower“. The best moment came with the phone call from the champion Alberto Tomba, who crowned him live: “Well done, congratulations. A gold medal for Brazil, can you believe it?”, causing him to burst into tears.

Ilia Malinin: the human face of sport

But there are not only victories, even defeats can be remembered for the message they leave. This is demonstrated by the path of the “God of quadruples” in figure skating Ilia Malinin who experienced the invisible weight of Olympic pressure. The falls and the eighth final position revealed the fragility of a boy of only 21 years old.

Because behind his talent there was simply a young man crushed by expectations, with a distant and critical coach father who instead of consoling him put his hands in his hair. Not that Ilia hadn’t let on about her state of mind with messages of uneasiness that were later removed from social media: “Nothing hurts more than trying to do your best and still not being enoughHis story reminds us that great champions are first and foremost human beings with difficulties, emotions and dreams who deserve care and understanding, not only in the face of medals.

You can read the full article here: Ilia Malinin and the invisible weight of pressure at the Olympics: we forgot that behind the “God of quads” there is a human being

Elana Meyers Taylor: gold in the monobob told in sign language

But let’s go back to a mother. At 41, Elana Meyers Taylor took gold in women’s monobob. Immediately after the finish line, she knelt in front of her sons Nico and Noah, both deaf, communicating her victory in sign language. A demonstration of love and dedication that moved the world, transforming the triumph into a universal symbol of courage of an athlete who did not preclude motherhood but fought tooth and nail to return to being competitive in a world that does not accept breaks.

You can read the full article here: At 41, Elana Meyers Taylor makes Olympic history with gold in the monobob and celebrates with her deaf children using sign language

Nazgul: the Czechoslovakian wolfdog who crossed the finish line

Not just athletes. A Czechoslovakian wolfdog also took care of making people smile and excite at Milan-Cortina 2026. In fact, during the women’s team sprint, the four-legged racer – who later turned out to be called Nazgul – invaded the track in Tesero, crossing the finish line among the athletes and winning the hearts of the public. And his photo finish went viral, rightfully becoming one of the most loved postcards of the Games.

You can read the article here ^complete: Czechoslovakian wolfdog crosses the finish line during the women’s team sprint at the Olympics: the photo finish is viral

Jake Canter: bronze after escaping death

Finally, we close this article by demonstrating that it’s not just gold medals that matter. Jake Canter, an American snowboarder, won bronze in slopestyle in Livigno. A bronze that is worth dozens and dozens of golds. At 13, a serious accident left him with only a 20% chance of survival with a fractured skull, brain hemorrhage and bacterial meningitis. After three surgeries and a long rehabilitation, he came back stronger than before. And now, at 22, he has won a bronze which is much more than a medal: it is the symbol of his rebirth, of the determination and courage of those who transform tragedy into strength.

You can read the full article here: From coma to Olympic podium! At 13, snowboarder Jake Canter had a 20% chance of surviving, today he is a champion

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics are coming to an end: let’s relive the most exciting moments (which will remain in the history of the Games)