The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, concluded on Sunday evening. Organizers hosted the closing ceremony at the Verona Arena, a historic Roman amphitheatre. The Nordic countries registered contrasting results across various ice and snow disciplines. Norway secured the top position in the overall medal table, confirming its historical dominance in winter sports. Conversely, other regional neighbours experienced mixed outcomes. Finland faced a severe lack of gold medals, while Denmark celebrated a rare podium finish.
Here is the final medal count for the Nordic states:
- Norway: 41 medals (18 golds, 12 silvers, 11 bronzes)
- Sweden: 18 medals (8 golds, 6 silvers, 4 bronzes)
- Finland: 6 medals (0 golds, 1 silver, 5 bronzes)
- Denmark: 1 medal (0 golds, 1 silver, 0 bronzes)
- Iceland: 0 medals
Norway dominates the winter disciplines
The Norwegian delegation concluded the Milano Cortina 2026 games with 41 medals. This result surpasses their previous benchmark from the 2018 Pyeongchang games.
Norwegian athletes dominated traditional events like cross-country skiing and biathlon. For example, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo reached a historic milestone. He secured his tenth career Olympic gold medal after winning both the team sprint and the relay events. Furthermore, the men’s biathlon team contributed heavily to the medal count. Sturla Holm Lægreid won a bronze medal, though he subsequently attracted media attention for non-athletic reasons. During a live international broadcast following his race, Lægreid publicly disclosed a personal infidelity.
On the women’s side, female athletes proved equally crucial. Kristine Stavås Skistad dominated the cross-country sprint events, and the female biathlon team secured vital podium placements. The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (Norges idrettsforbund og olympiske og paralympiske komité) invested heavily in this cycle. Official reports indicate an allocation of 250 million NOK(€22 million) for elite athlete development over the past four years. Domestic public opinion largely praises the results. However, some political figures have initiated discussions regarding the financial sustainability of maintaining these performance levels.
Sweden balances tradition and new records
Sweden delivered a robust performance, securing 18 medals overall. The Swedish team maintained a standard comparable to previous Olympic appearances. They successfully balanced established strengths with emerging talents.
Female athletes drove the Swedish medal count during these games. Notably, Ebba Andersson won a historic gold medal in the women’s 50km classic cross-country ski race. This marked the Olympic debut for this specific distance for women.
Additionally, the Swedish women’s curling team, led by Anna Hasselborg, defeated Switzerland to win the gold medal. The government expressed satisfaction with the delegation’s performance. Ultimately, these results validate the strategic focus the Swedish Sports Confederation (Riksidrottsförbundet) placed on specialized training facilities following the Beijing 2022 games.
Finland evaluates its sports strategy
The outcome for the Finnish delegation represents the most debated topic across the Nordic countries. Finland ended the Winter Olympics with 6 medals, completely missing the highest step of the podium.
This failure to secure a gold medal prompted intense domestic criticism. The men’s national ice hockey team salvaged their tournament by securing a bronze medal, while the USA defeated Canada for the gold. Meanwhile, female athletes provided crucial stability.
Cross-country skier Kerttu Niskanen added valuable medals to the count. Despite these efforts, veteran cross-country skier Iivo Niskanen could not replicate his past Olympic victories. Consequently, analysts suggest that the Finnish Olympic Committee (Suomen Olympiakomitea) will need to implement a comprehensive structural review of youth development academies before the 2030 cycle begins.
Denmark and Iceland complete the table
Denmark achieved a significant milestone by winning a silver medal. Denmark rarely secures podium placements at the Winter Olympics due to its geography and focus on summer disciplines. Therefore, the Danish public broadcaster celebrated the achievement as a historic moment for the local sports community.
Finally, Iceland concluded its participation with zero medals. Alpine skiers, including Hólmfríður Dóra Friðgeirsdóttir, represented the country in the technical events. The Icelandic delegation participated with a small number of athletes. They primarily focused on gaining international experience. The National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland (Íþrótta- og Ólympíusamband Íslands) confirmed that simply qualifying athletes for the technical alpine events met their primary objectives.
Looking ahead to the 2030 cycle
The Milano Cortina 2026 results reaffirm the Nordic region as a central force in global winter sports. Norway remains the leader, successfully translating substantial financial investments into sporting achievements. Meanwhile, Finland faces a rebuilding phase, and Sweden must optimize its resources to maintain its competitive edge. As the Olympic flag transitions to the French Alps for the 2030 Winter Games, the respective sports federations will need to adapt their strategies to sustain their historical legacy on the ice and snow.
