Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Early Competitions Show USA Beat Sweden in Ice Hockey

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have started with early events. USA beat Sweden 1-0 in men's ice hockey on Day 12, and Great Britain's men's curling team won 6-3 against Sweden.
By Newsroom | Sports, Olympics |

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina have commenced, with preliminary events starting on February 4th, ahead of the official Opening Ceremony on February 6th. Competitions are unfolding across various disciplines, including ice hockey, curling, speed skating, and several snow sports, with early results already shaping the medal standings. Athletes are showcasing their skills across the diverse venues in Lombardy and Northeast Italy.

The Games are scheduled to run from February 6th to February 22nd, 2026, with the Paralympic Winter Games following from March 6th to March 15th. Early reports indicate a strong presence of established nations in medal contention, alongside emerging athletes making their mark on the global stage.

Key Events and Early Outcomes

Initial events have seen a range of sports take center stage:

  • Ice Hockey: Preliminary rounds for both men's and women's tournaments are in full swing. In the Men's Quarter Finals, USA defeated Sweden with a score of 1-0, as reported on Day 12. Other preliminary matches included Canada versus an unnamed opponent in women's curling and various matchups in men's and women's ice hockey and curling.

  • Curling: Round-robin matches for both men's and women's teams are underway. Notably, Great Britain's men's curling team defeated Sweden 6-3, a rematch of the 2022 Olympic final. However, the GB women's team lost their group stage opener to China.

  • Snowboarding: Events like men's Big Air qualification and finals, and women's Halfpipe qualification, are being held in Livigno. Freestyle skiing competitions, including women's Ski Cross Finals and men's Freeski Halfpipe finals, are also part of the early schedule.

  • Speed Skating: The Milano Speed Skating Stadium is hosting events, with the schedule including women's 3000m on Day 1 and men's 5000m on Day 2.

  • Skeleton: Events like the men's heats and women's heats are taking place at the Cortina Sliding Centre. Matt Weston is reported as the overnight leader in the men's skeleton after two runs.

  • Other Sports: Alpine skiing, ski jumping, luge, biathlon, and figure skating events are also contributing to the packed competition schedule across various venues in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Venues and Competition Structure

The 2026 Winter Olympics are utilizing multiple locations:

  • Milan: Hosting events like ice hockey at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and figure skating and short track speed skating at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. The Milano Speed Skating Stadium is also in Milan.

  • Cortina d’Ampezzo: This cluster includes the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium for curling and the Cortina Sliding Centre for luge and skeleton. Alpine skiing events are scheduled on the Olympia delle Tofane slope.

  • Bormio: The Stelvio Ski Centre is hosting men's downhill racing.

  • Livigno: This location is a hub for snowboard and freestyle skiing events, including the Livigno Snow Park and Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park.

  • Predazzo: The Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium is the venue for ski jumping competitions.

  • Tesero: The Tesero Cross-Country Stadium hosts cross-country skiing events.

  • Anterselva: The Anterselva Biathlon Centre is the site for biathlon competitions.

Notable Athlete Performances and Mentions

While specific medal counts are still accumulating, some athletes and performances have been highlighted:

Read More: Team Homan Reaches Olympic Curling Semifinals After Strong Comeback Win

  • Chloe Kim, a snowboard superstar, was noted for her performance in the halfpipe, with Snoop Dogg and NFL star Myles Garrett in attendance.

  • Arianna Fontana, an Italian speed skater, was mentioned in the context of a young competitor, Choi Ga-on from South Korea, who won gold in snowboard halfpipe at 17. Choi's performance was described as "inspirational" by Kim.

  • Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned from skeleton over his helmet design, which featured images of athletes killed during the conflict in his country. Heraskevych expressed feelings of "emptiness."

  • In Alpine skiing, the Stelvio course in Bormio and the Olympia delle Tofane slope in Cortina are noted for their challenging gradients.

Event Schedule and Progression

The competition is structured to span the entire Olympic period. Events are categorized by day, with multiple gold medal events often awarded on the same day. For example, Day 1 (February 7th) included five gold medal events, while Day 2 (February 8th) featured eight. Preliminary rounds for many sports, such as ice hockey and curling, began prior to the official opening.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are progressing as scheduled, with a full slate of events across diverse disciplines and locations. Early results are beginning to emerge, providing a glimpse into the competitive landscape. As the Games continue, ongoing monitoring of medal counts, athlete performances, and any developing narratives will be crucial. Further detailed results from all sports, including speed skating, ice hockey, curling, and various snow sports, are available through official channels.

Read More: Ollie Davies competes in Livigno ski cross on Saturday after Team GB wins

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the early results from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics?
Early events have seen USA beat Sweden 1-0 in men's ice hockey on Day 12. Great Britain's men's curling team also defeated Sweden 6-3. Snowboarding and speed skating competitions have also begun.
Q: When did the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics start?
Preliminary competitions for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics began on February 4th, 2026. The official Opening Ceremony was on February 6th, and the Games run until February 22nd, 2026.
Q: Where are the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics events taking place?
Events are spread across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Livigno, Predazzo, Tesero, and Anterselva in Italy. Milan hosts ice hockey and figure skating, while Cortina hosts curling and sliding sports.
Q: What were some notable athlete performances in the early days?
USA's win over Sweden in ice hockey was a key result. In curling, Great Britain's men's team won against Sweden, but their women's team lost to China. Matt Weston is leading the men's skeleton after two runs.
Q: What is the schedule for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics?
The Games run from February 6th to February 22nd, 2026, with the Paralympic Winter Games following from March 6th to March 15th. Many sports like ice hockey and curling had preliminary rounds before the opening ceremony.