By SALLEE ANN HARRISON
MILAN (AP) — With 116 medal occasions over 16 days unfold throughout northern Italy, the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics delivered many unforgettable moments. Listed below are 10 of the largest, from heartbreak to triumph.
Lindsey Vonn’s gut-wrenching crash
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic story was presupposed to be one in every of redemption. She got here out of retirement at age 41, battled a torn ACL in her left knee days earlier than competitors, and was prepared to beat the downhill. As an alternative she received hooked on a gate 13 seconds into her run, resulting in a terrifying crash in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
After receiving remedy for a few week in Italy for a posh tibia fracture, Vonn flew again to the U.S. She’s had at least four surgeries.
Her skis didn’t launch through the crash, raising safety issues among the skiing circuit.
Klaebo’s historic gold medal sweep
Heavy is the pinnacle that wears the crown, heavy is the neck that wears all of Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo’s gold medals.
The Norwegian won all six gold medals in the men’s cross-country competition, setting a brand new file for many golds at a single Winter Olympics.
The earlier file was set by American pace skater Eric Heiden with 5 golds within the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
Norway dominated the Olympics total, leading the medal count with 41. They chalk it as much as their way of life.
The autumn of Ilia Malinin
The overwhelming favourite to win gold in males’s determine skating, Ilia Malinin fell twice in his free skate program. The falls despatched him tumbling from first place all the way in which off the rostrum.
“Truthfully, yeah, I used to be not anticipating that,” Malinin mentioned. “I felt going into this competitors I used to be so prepared. I simply felt prepared happening that ice. I believe perhaps that may have been the rationale, is I used to be too assured it was going to go nicely.”
The enjoyment of Alysa Liu
Alysa Liu gained the U.S. its first women’s figure skating gold medal in 24 years with a joy-filled, near-flawless free skate.
The 20-year-old had walked away from skating earlier than discovering her method again once more, and found herself in the process.
“I believe my story is extra essential than something to me,” Liu mentioned, “and that’s what I’ll maintain expensive, and this journey has been unbelievable, and my life has simply been — I’ve no complaints.”
U.S. politics seep into the Video games
American athletes confronted persistent questions about President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and their consolation in representing a rustic whose insurance policies are more and more controversial on the world stage.
American freeskier Hunter Hess mentioned he didn’t again the U.S. president’s immigration crackdown, prompting Trump to name him a “loser.” Chloe Kim, Eileen Gu and Hess’ teammates called for unity in response. Hess responded throughout halfpipe qualifying by flashing an “L” on his forehead, saying he stands by his assertion and loves the U.S.
U.S. determine skater Amber Glenn additionally mentioned she received threats on social media after saying throughout a pre-Olympics information convention that the queer group goes via a “exhausting time” amid the political local weather below Trump.
Ukrainian skeleton racer’s helmet tribute
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred from competing when he refused to not use a helmet that honored greater than 20 athletes and coaches killed within the Russia-Ukraine warfare.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee mentioned sporting the helmet would break guidelines towards making statements on the sector of play. The IOC requested Heraskevych to put on a unique helmet in races. It provided concessions, reminiscent of sporting a black armband or letting him show the helmet as soon as he was off the ice.
“I consider, deeply, the (The Worldwide Bobsled and Skeleton Federation) and IOC perceive that I’m not violating any guidelines,” Heraskevych mentioned. “Additionally, I might say (it’s) painful that it actually appears like discrimination as a result of many athletes already have been expressing themselves.”
Dishonest allegations in curling
The seemingly quaint and cordial sport of curling was rocked by cheating allegations through the Winter Video games. First Canada was accused, then Britain. The principle infraction? Double-touching.
After a wild few days with expletives and a quick rule change, tensions simmered and groups and gamers kind of moved on.
“It’s the Olympics,” mentioned Canadian roller Ben Hebert. “It’ll be over in two weeks and everybody will return to protecting curling in 4 years.”
A distinct form of dishonest
Sturla Holm Laegreid, one in every of Norway’s prime biathletes, completed third within the 20-kilometer particular person race on the Olympics, after which gave one of the vital weird interviews that shortly went viral.
Laegreid, stuffed with regret, advised Norwegian broadcaster NRK – and the entire world – he had been unfaithful to his girlfriend.
He later mentioned he regretted airing his private enterprise and overshadowing his teammate’s Olympic gold medal. However the meme injury had already been executed.
North American showdown in hockey
Hockey was at all times going to be an enormous deal on the Milan Cortina Olympics. Even earlier than the primary puck dropped, there have been worries about the new arena and pleasure about the Olympic return of NHL stars. As many had predicted, Canada and the United States made the ultimate of each the boys’s and girls’s tournaments. The U.S. won each gold medal video games in additional time.
South America’s first Winter Video games medal
Whereas Brazil was reveling in Carnival, Alpine ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen gave the nation another excuse to have fun — an Olympic gold medal in giant slalom.
It was the first-ever medal on the Winter Video games for any nation in South America.
“I’ve tried over and over to place phrases into what it’s that I’m feeling,” Pinheiro Braathen mentioned. “However it’s merely unattainable.”
AP Winter Olympics protection: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
