The fourth day of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics presented a mixed picture for competing nations. Norway and Sweden further solidified their positions atop the gold medal standings, while host nation Italy captured bronze in mixed doubles curling. Great Britain's curling team experienced disappointment, missing out on a medal. Athletes across various disciplines continued to vie for podium spots, shaping the evolving medal table.

Overview of Day Four Events and Key Outcomes
Day four of the Winter Olympics, concluding on February 10th, 2026, featured a series of decisive events across multiple sports. Notable results included:

Curling:
Italy secured the bronze medal in the mixed doubles curling event, defeating Great Britain with a final score of 5-3.
This marks a second consecutive fourth-place finish for Great Britain in the event, mirroring their performance from the previous Winter Games.
Biathlon:
Norway's Johan-Olav Botn claimed gold in the men's 20km biathlon.
Cross-Country Skiing:
Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won his second gold of the Games, topping the men's cross-country sprint classic.
This victory also marks Klaebo's seventh Olympic gold medal and ends a 50-year medal drought for the U.S. in this discipline, with Ben Ogden achieving this feat.
Freestyle Skiing:
Birk Ruud of Norway won the gold medal in the men's freeski slopestyle.
Medal Standings:
Norway and Sweden are reported to be leading in the gold medal count with three golds each by the end of day four.
Switzerland also showed strength, with reported golds in slopestyle and the Alpine combined event on the preceding day.
Team USA has guaranteed at least one medal in mixed doubles curling after their semifinal win.
Belgium earned a bronze medal in the short track mixed team relay.
Nations Asserting Dominance and Emerging Strengths
Norway's Consistent Performance: Norway continued its legacy as a winter sports powerhouse. The nation added three gold medals on day four across biathlon, cross-country skiing, and freestyle skiing. This strong showing places them at the forefront of the medal count, a position they have historically maintained. Their overall Olympic history showcases a significant lead in gold medals, with 149 golds against the USA's 114.
Sweden's Resurgence: Sweden also demonstrated considerable success, matching Norway's gold medal tally on day four with victories in unspecified events, potentially including curling. Their presence at the top of the gold medal standings highlights a strong competitive presence.
Host Nation Italy's Success: Italy, as the host nation, secured a significant medal, clinching the bronze in mixed doubles curling. This achievement provided a boost for the home crowd and added to the nation's medal haul.
United States' Mixed Doubles Curling Progress: The U.S. mixed doubles curling team secured a spot in the gold medal match, guaranteeing at least a silver medal. This is a notable achievement for the American contingent.
Curling: A Tale of Two Teams
The mixed doubles curling bronze medal match proved to be a focal point of day four.
Read More: Finnish Ski Jumping Coach Sent Home From Olympics For Alcohol Issue

Italy's Triumph: The Italian duo, represented by Constantini, secured a 5-3 victory over Great Britain, claiming the bronze medal. This win was characterized by strong performances and tactical execution.
Great Britain's Disappointment: For the Great Britain team, consisting of Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds, this result represents a missed opportunity. Finishing fourth, similar to their performance in Beijing, signifies a difficult outcome after intense competition.
Notable Individual Performances
Several athletes delivered standout performances on day four:

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (Norway): Klaebo's victory in the men's cross-country sprint classic was his second gold of the Games and his seventh Olympic gold medal overall. His performance underscores his status as a leading figure in the sport.
Birk Ruud (Norway): Ruud's gold in men's freeski slopestyle added to Norway's impressive medal haul. His background includes significant success at the X Games and World Championships.
Johan-Olav Botn (Norway): Botn's gold in the men's 20km biathlon contributed to Norway's strong presence in the medal standings.
Expert Commentary and Context
Historical Performance: Norway's position at the top of the medal table is consistent with its historical dominance in Winter Olympic sports. As the most successful nation in Winter Olympics history, their continued success is noteworthy.
U.S. Medal Drought Ended: The U.S. ending a 50-year medal drought in men's cross-country skiing through Ben Ogden's performance highlights the unpredictable nature of Olympic competition and the potential for athletes to break long-standing trends.
Team Event Dynamics: The report notes that team events count as a single medal, a rule that influences the structure of the medal table and the impact of each victory.
Concluding Assessment and Future Implications
Day four of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics saw established winter sports nations like Norway and Sweden continue to assert their strength, particularly in accumulating gold medals. The host nation, Italy, found success on home ice in curling, while Great Britain experienced the disappointment of narrowly missing a medal. Individual athletes like Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Birk Ruud delivered memorable performances, adding to their career accolades and their nations' medal counts. The ongoing competition indicates that the medal table remains dynamic, with numerous events yet to conclude and other nations, such as Switzerland and the United States, also securing significant results and guaranteed medals. The progression of the Games suggests continued competition for top rankings, with the final medal standings to be determined over the coming days.
Key Sources and Context
BBC Sport: Provided live updates and summaries of events on day four, focusing on British athletes and key medal decisions.
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/winter-olympics/live/cew8q22e9ext
The New York Times (The Athletic): Offered comprehensive live coverage of the Winter Olympics, including detailed updates on athlete performances and medal outcomes.
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/winter-olympics-2026-milano-cortina-live-updates-day-four-schedule-events-scores-results/jk6wv0H7wzyr/
Los Angeles Times: Delivered live updates on results, medal counts, and highlights from the Milan-Cortina Games.
Link: https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/live/milan-cortina-2026-live-winter-olympics-medal-count-results-highlights
Heavy.com: Provided updates on the Winter Olympics medal count, highlighting national standings and specific results like the U.S. curling team's progress.
Link: https://heavy.com/sports/olympics/winter-olympics-medal-count-today/
Sporting News: Tracked the Winter Olympics medal standings, offering a country-by-country breakdown of gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Link: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/olympics/news/olympics-medal-tracker-2026-standings/cf9fbff6c240dd9a808a3693
Sports Illustrated (SI.com): Offered live updates on the medal count for the Milan-Cortina Games, providing a snapshot of national performance.
Link: https://www.si.com/winter-olympics/2026/winter-olympics-medal-count-live-updates-milan-cortina-games
Sports Mole: Provided an overview of the Winter Olympics medal table, discussing historical rankings and current standings.
Link: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/winter-sports/feature/winter-olympics-medal-table-2026591370.html
The Washington Post: Featured an interactive medal count tracker for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, allowing users to follow the standings.
Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/interactive/2026/milan-olympics-medal-count-tracker/
The Guardian: Delivered live updates and key event summaries for day four of the Winter Olympics.
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/feb/10/winter-olympics-2026-live-day-four?filterKeyEvents=false
Read More: Skier Johannes Klæbo's Fast Uphill Run Becomes Famous Online