Happy hosts, the Swiss in a medal frenzy and a dog on the wrong track: the Olympics in Italy had a lot to offer. The spectacle could have repercussions for the IOC.
23.02.2026, 14:44
23.02.2026, 15:24
SDA
After a good two weeks of great emotional opera, the Winter Olympics spectacle left Italy's stages on Sunday. Swiss athletes were rarely responsible for the bitter tears; with 23 medals, they wrote many a success story.
The theatrical thunder came once again from the International Olympic Committee with the exclusion of Ukrainian Vladislav Heraskevich. The soundtrack to these Winter Games will never be forgotten: the 80s earworm "Sarà perché ti amo" by Ricchi e Poveri: "It will be because I love you". A review of the Winter Games:
Olympic islands
Officially two hosts for the first time, seven venues, many long distances. These Winter Games were more decentralized than ever before - a risk in line with the IOC's requirements for greater sustainability. Many a ski racer felt like they were on a desert island in Bormio and complained that it was impossible to create an Olympic sense of community. In some athletes' villages, such as Cortina d'Ampezzo, the free condoms for the athletes were temporarily used up. The winter sports world will have to get used to the long distances. In France's Alps 2030, the concept looks very similar, and Switzerland has the same plans for 2038 if it wins the bid.
Italian cordiality
Some people had clichéd doubts about Italian organizational skills. Milan's ice hockey temple sparkled rather unfinished on wasteland, and because the streetcar line 12 was not extended in time, the hosts improvised rather mediocrely with shuttle buses. But whether it was the occasional traffic chaos, mishaps with broken medals or a power cut in the curling stadium - the organizers of the games smiled away any supposed worries with composure and heart.
Grande Emozione
In sporting terms, the hosts made "bella figura" anyway. The Italians have never been more successful at the Winter Games than this time. By the halfway point, they had already surpassed their record of 20 medals. Ski racer Federica Brignone and speed skating mom Francesca Lollobrigida drove the enthusiasm for the home games to new heights with double gold. "This success makes us so happy because we are reaping the fruits of years of hard work," said head of organization Giovanni Malagò.
Norwegian-Swiss bliss
The Swiss athletes contributed to the feeling of a successful Games, at least in this country. They climbed the podium 23 times, more than ever before, in Milan, Bormio, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Livigno. Franjo von Allmen won three gold medals to become the Alpine king. The biggest medal hoarders were once again Norway, which consolidated its position as a winter sports superpower, not least thanks to Johannes Hösflot Klaebo. With six gold medals, Klaebo became the most successful Olympian at the Winter Games.
All too often, the emotional world looked very different in Germany. Only three more podium places were achieved by the big neighbor. In the end, "too many 4th places" had to be used as an explanation for the medal slump. "Somewhere between drama and tragedy - that hurts," summarized Olaf Talibor, the head of the German Olympic team.
Drama queen
The biggest storyline of the Games was delivered by someone who didn't finish at all: Lindsey Vonn. Her comeback was accompanied by a lot of skepticism, and after a strong World Cup season, the 41-year-old tore her cruciate ligament shortly before the Olympics. She started anyway - and crashed heavily after 13 seconds in the downhill in Cortina. She was taken to hospital by helicopter, where she was diagnosed with a complex shin injury. Updates from the hospital kept the sports world in suspense over the following days before Vonn flew home after several operations. Once there, she announced that her beloved dog Leo had died shortly after the ski drama.
The animal and the human
Speaking of dogs: the Czechoslovakian wolfhound Nazgul sprinted to the finish line of the Olympic cross-country stadium. The two-year-old four-legged friend had escaped from his owner and made for some curious pictures during the team sprint - finish line photo included.
The Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid also caused quite a stir. After winning individual bronze, he confessed to an affair on television and asked his ex-girlfriend for forgiveness. Initially without success.
Scandal over a helmet
The escalation in the debate surrounding the helmet of Ukrainian Vladislav Heraskevich could have repercussions for the IOC. The skeleton pilot did not want to give up wearing his head protection, which shows more than 20 fellow athletes killed in Russian attacks. The IOC had banned the helmet "because expressions of opinion of this kind are not permitted during Olympic competitions". In summary proceedings, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Heraskevich's appeal. The 27-year-old could now take the case to a regular court.
And what comes next?
In terms of sports policy, the future holds further tricky challenges for IOC boss Kirsty Coventry. The host of the next Olympic spectacle alone stands for this: Donald Trump will welcome the sporting world to Los Angeles in 2028.
