Winter Olympics 2026: Norway Leads Gold Race, Italy Tops Overall Medal Standings

The Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have reached a crucial stage, with the latest medal table reflecting a gripping contest among traditional winter powerhouses and a confident host nation. According to the current standings, Norway leads the gold medal race with 7 gold medals , alongside 2 silvers and 5 bronzes , taking its total tally to 14 medals . However, it is Italy that sits atop the overall medal standings with an impressive 17 medals , including 6 gold, 3 silver, and 8 bronze , underlining the advantage of competing on home soil and delivering consistent performances across disciplines.

The United States occupies third place with 14 medals — matching Norway’s total count — but trails in golds with 4 gold, 7 silver, and 3 bronze medals . Germany follows with 9 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze), maintaining its reputation as a strong contender in sliding and ice sports. Sweden has accumulated 8 medals (4 gold), while Switzerland has secured 7 medals , driven largely by alpine excellence. Austria , traditionally dominant in skiing, has collected 12 medals (3 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze), demonstrating depth despite fewer top podium finishes. France (8 medals), the Netherlands (6 medals), and Japan (10 medals) complete the top ten, reflecting a wide distribution of success across Europe, North America and Asia.

Norway’s dominance is anchored by standout performers such as Johannes Høsflot Klæbo in cross-country skiing and Johannes Thingnes Bø in biathlon, both of whom have reinforced the country’s supremacy in Nordic events. Switzerland’s alpine medal surge has been boosted by Marco Odermatt, while Italy’s home campaign has been strengthened by Federica Brignone and speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida. The Netherlands continues to shine in speed skating through athletes like Irene Schouten, while Germany’s sliding success once again features the dominance of Francesco Friedrich in bobsleigh.

In freestyle skiing, Eileen Gu remains one of the most prominent global figures, drawing attention in technical and aerial disciplines. Japan’s medal presence has been strengthened by ski jumping star Ryoyu Kobayashi, helping the nation remain competitive within the top ten. Meanwhile, the United States continues to build momentum across figure skating, freestyle and snowboarding events, with experienced champions and emerging athletes contributing to its strong silver-medal tally.

The broader narrative of Milano–Cortina 2026 highlights the significance of home advantage, generational transition and razor-thin margins separating medal positions. Italy’s overall lead reflects consistency rather than sheer gold dominance, while Norway’s gold count reinforces its traditional strength in endurance-based snow disciplines. With several marquee finals still to unfold, the medal race remains fluid, and team events and late-stage competitions could yet reshape the standings before the curtain falls on one of the most competitive Winter Olympics in recent memory.