Milan Cortina 2026, Italia wins five medals and climbs to eight

Lindsey Vonn, after her bad fall in Cortina, has been operated at the Ca' Foncello hospital in Treviso to stabilise a fracture in her left leg. This was announced by the management of Ulss 2 of Treviso. The American was rescued by the staff of the Regional Medical Service for the Olympic Games and immediately transferred by helicopter to the Policlinico Codivilla in Cortina, run by Ulss 1, where all the diagnostic tests were carried out, and then transferred to Ca' Foncello. A new medical bulletin is expected tomorrow at 12 noon.

Italy's Dominik Fischnaller is third after three luge heats. In the lead is Germany's Max Langenhan, chased by Austria's Jonas Mueller. Fischnaller is almost half a second ahead of Latvian Kristers Aparjodos, who is fourth. Leon Felderer lost one position, sixth behind Austrian Nico Gleirscher. At 18:34 the fourth and final heat

Second medal for Italia from speed skating at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. It was surprisingly won by young Riccardo Lorello in the men's 5,000 metres.

The victory and gold medal went to Norway's Sander Eitrem with a time of 6'03"95, a new Olympic record. Silver went to the talented Czech Republic's Metodej Jílek at +2.53, bronze to Lorello detached by +5.27. Only fourth place went to the great favourite Davide Ghiotto, trailing by +5.62.

"The Milan-Cortina Olympics are an extraordinary showcase for our country, which is increasingly welcoming, attractive, reliable, loved and admired around the world. This was underlined by the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, speaking at the event 'Italian Sport Industry & Business Connections' in Cortina. ''In 2025, which was a horrible year of conflicts and wars,'' Urso added, ''with the trade difficulties for our companies, we became the fourth exporting country in the world, overtaking Japan. In 2025 exports grew even in the USA, despite tariffs, and in new markets. The number of foreign tourists visiting our country has also grown. Here tonight there are many sports businesses, which are a spearhead of Italia's exports. These successful Olympics can be a showcase for Made in Italy in the world''.

Six people have been charged in connection with yesterday's clashes in the Corvetto district of Milan, at the end of the demonstration against the Olympics. They are three men and three women. The eldest of them - according to Adnkronos - is 51 years old. The other two women and the three men are between 25 and 26 years old. Four are from Milan, one came from Turin and another from Valle d'Aosta. At the moment they are under investigation for the crimes of unauthorised demonstration (the procession should have ended in Piazzale Corvetto) and disguise, because - from the first investigations carried out by the Milan Digos, led by director Antonio Marotta - the six are said to be among the small group who, at the end of the procession, wore helmets, hoods and balaclavas, to continue in Via Carlo Marochetti.

It was there that the clashes took place, when the hooded men, throwing stones, bottles, firecrackers and fireworks at police and Carabinieri at eye level, attempted to force the police blockade and advance towards the motorway junction, but were repulsed with charges and water cannons. The Digos police officers, who will send a report on the incident to the Prosecutor's Office tomorrow, will analyse yesterday's images to better define the responsibility of the six. Investigations are also continuing to identify other people who took part in the clashes.

Trump's words refer to statements made earlier by the 27-year-old athlete, who after failing to qualify for the Beijing 2022 Games due to a knee injury, returned to compete at the Olympic level in Italia. Hess had explained that 'representing the United States at the moment causes me mixed feelings' and that 'it's a bit difficult, there are obviously a lot of things I don't like and I think a lot of people see it the same way'.

The athlete had added that for him the meaning of Olympic participation is primarily personal, stating that 'for me I represent mostly my friends and family back home, and all the things I believe are good about the United States'. He also pointed out that "if this is in line with my moral values, then I feel that I represent them" and that "just because I wear the flag doesn't mean that I represent everything that is happening in the United States".

Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner collect their fifth win out of seven matches in the Olympic curling in Milan-Cortina. The Italian pair, gold medallists in Beijing in the doubles, extended their winning streak to reach the semifinals by beating the Czech Republic with a score of 8-2. Very few errors were made by the Italian duo, who seem to have returned to the level of the 2022 gold medalists.

"I still can't believe it, I started crying after the finish and I can't stop. I keep touching the medal. To that little girl with the broken ACL from 13 years ago what would I say? She would be happy, I started competing when I was 5/6 years old when I was doing my first races, to be on the podium has always been a dream. I got there and now I can dream even bigger'. Thus Lucia Dalmasso, bronze in the women's PGS at the Milan Cortina Games. Until not too many years ago, the Italian was a promise of Alpine skiing. Then a serious cruciate injury in both knees turned her plans upside down.

"The board gives me great emotions because when I broke my cruciate I didn't believe in it any more, then I started to believe in it again. I had fun and continued to have fun. It has been an evolution of emotions and results and I will continue to grow. I am looking forward to the next Olympics in four years. This medal means everything to me, not resilience is everything," she added. "I had two derbies, it's certainly not everyone's dream, we were hoping for more medals but that's OK. I was hoping not to finish against another Italian. The failure of the Italian Dream Team to make the podium? I'm very sorry because Fischnaller deserved it as they all did. The family is big and we are a super mega strong team,' he added. "Here today with me was mum, dad and two friends. I dedicate this medal to my grandfather, to my parents, to the Guardia di Finanza who gave me the opportunity, to Coni and Fisi to all those who created a family around me and who believed in it,' he concluded.

The Olympics got off to the best possible start for biathlon Italia in the temple of Antholz. After an approach to the Games complicated by the doping case (with Rebecca Passler appealing to the Tas against the disqualification decreed last week), the Italian national team won the silver medal - the best result achieved in a Five Circles event - in the mixed 4X6 km relay.

The Italian quartet composed of Tommaso Giacomel, Lukas Hofer, Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi held their own against France, which stretched its lead especially in the third stage, with Lou Jeanmonnot, the World Cup leader, impregnable on skis and very precise on the shot, who was able to dig a gap of about twenty seconds. This advantage was defended by the last fractionist Julia Simon, who was extremely solid on the range.

The women's snowboard parallel giant slalom was won by Czech Zuzana Maderova, who took gold by beating Austrian Helge Payer, who won the silver medal.

The Milan days of J.D. Vance, in town with his family for the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, continue. For lunch, the US vice-president chose a typical Milanese restaurant a few steps from the hotel where he is staying, the Gallia at the Central Station. It is the Osteria Cornalia that 'blends the tradition of Milanese cuisine with the pursuit of high quality, carefully selected grilled meats,' reads the restaurant's website. Risotto, mondeghili and cotoletta were the dishes on the menu that Vance and his family wanted to taste, lunching in a reserved room with an entrance separate from the main one. The area around the restaurant is closed to traffic and security measures are impressive, with police forces manning the area. At the moment, of course, the restaurant is reserved for the US delegation and other customers cannot enter.

"The ticket controversy? The federation bought one ticket per person for each athlete participating in the competitions. It is a bit limiting for Italians to come and watch our events, especially considering that we do six days in the first bracket at that price'. This was said by Pietro Sighel, Italy's top short track athlete, responding to a question on the subject of ticket prices deemed too high for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. "I never said this to polemic, but to tell a reality, precisely because we are a minor sport. I hoped that at least the first bracket would be a little cheaper,' he added, 'so that more people, especially those who are hesitant or undecided, could be enticed to come and see a competition that they may never have seen. "Spending 150 euro to see one day out of six makes you think, especially today, with how much life costs in Italia and all the economic problems there are. I felt sorry for that," Sighel concluded.

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini is also in Cortina for the women's downhill at the Milan-Cortina Games. After witnessing the double medal in the men's downhill in Bormio, the minister also followed the bronze medal won by Sofia Goggia on the Tofane Olympia.

The one who is expected to be the big winner in the electoral clash for Japan's lower house, Premier Sanae Takaichi, published a post on X today that, without explicitly referring to the emerging vote results that see her party with an absolute majority, shows her on the phone with Japanese snowboarding gold medallist at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics Aoi Kimura.

"I called today to congratulate Aoi Kimura, who gave Team Japan its first gold medal of these Games," Takaichi wrote, calling the feat "a historic achievement, the first Olympic victory for a Japanese in this discipline".

"The last colour I was missing. I'm a bit disappointed, I made a mistake on the Tofane Schuss, I arrived at the Duca d'Aosta feeling that I wasn't going on. The wait for Vonn's fall didn't help either. We see things more from a general point of view, it's three Olympic Games always medalling. It's something great'. So said Sofia Goggia after finishing her run in the Olympic free race in Cortina, which earned her the bronze medal.

Sofia Goggia, in the women's downhill, was third.

The American Lindsey Vonn, racing despite a broken ACL, fell after a few seconds and was left on the ground screaming in pain. She was immediately rescued.

Italia is currently off the podium in the women's downhill: Austria's Cornelia Huetter knocked Laura Pirovano off the bronze medal.

Italian skier Laura Pirovano was second in the women's downhill behind American Breezy Johnson.

In the women's downhill, Italy's Federica Brignone was second behind Austria's Ariane Raedler. Third was Swiss Jasmine Flury.

Excellent audience results for Rai 2, which reached "Olympic" goals on many of the sports disciplines broadcast during the day. In particular, the "Men's Downhill Skiing" was followed by 2 million 851 thousand viewers, scoring a 30.4% share between 11.27 am and 12.54 pm. Even in the Rai prime time, the Olympics have collected consensus: "Curling and Figure Skating" were followed by 2 million 35 thousand viewers with 11.3% share; in particular 1,989,000 viewers equal to 10.7% with Curling from 21:01 to 22:03 and 2,088,000 viewers equal to 12% with Figure Skating from 22:06 to 23:00.

Roland Fischnaller and Aaron March got off to a good start in the first run of the parallel giant slalom snowboard at the Milan Cortina Games. The two Italians set the two best times (42'39 and 42"74). Further back was Maurizio Bormolini, 18th, one of the favourites in the race, at risk of elimination. Ninth time for Mirko Felicetti.

The first women's run of the parallel snowboard giant slalom of the Milan Cortina Games ended in Livigno. In the lead was Czech Ester Ledecka with 45"04, sixth the Italian Elisa Caffont, ninth Lucia Dalmasso and fourteenth Jasmin Coratti.

The Olympic price bubble seems to be deflating in the host cities of the Milan Cortina 2026 Games.

Within two months, prices for an Olympic weekend in February (two nights for two people) have fallen: compared to the December survey, the end of January 2026 survey shows an average drop of 30%, with Cortina plummeting by as much as 75%. Milan and Val di Fiemme were the places where the drop was least. This is stated by a survey by Altroconsumo that compared the prices of the past months with the current ones.

'Milan Cortina 2026 is a widespread Olympics that makes the territories protagonists, not extras. The real legacy of the Games will be a network of infrastructures and services designed first and foremost for those who live in the mountains. Accessibility, inclusion and sport for all: this is the deepest legacy we want to leave behind. Milan Cortina 2026 is not a goal, but a starting point for the future of Trentino'. Thus the President of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Maurizio Fugatti.

"The scene only lasted a few minutes but it was really intense, memorable. The moment when the president approached me, held out his hand, thanked me for taking him to the San Siro, was really special'. Thus Valentino Rossi, recounting his meeting with President Mattarella to shoot the film that opened the Olympics in Milan-Cortina, interviewed by the newspapers Corriere della sera and Repubblica. When the Head of State 'arrived it was beautiful. You could tell immediately that everyone loved him. There are people who, as soon as you see them, and it doesn't matter if they are important people or not, you immediately feel an emotion. It's as if you feel all the charge, the weight. A special atmosphere,' Rossi added. 'The truth,' he continued, 'is that I was a bit in awe. He approached me with a smile. And I immediately felt good. Between breaks, when a scene had to be re-enacted, we talked. He asked me a few questions'. Mostly, he specified, 'motorsport stuff. How the MotoGP is going. He was curious about Bagnaia: he had met him at the Quirinale, I think four years ago, Tony Cairoli and I were there too, with a delegation of riders'. Finally, Rossi said he is a passionate snowboarder. "I take the board as soon as it is possible. I just saw the downhill, we took two beautiful medals with Giovanni Franzoni and Dominik Paris, very good' and then, 'Francesca Lollobrigida's triumph in skating with the Olympic record'.

"I express my closeness and solidarity with the Police Forces who, once again, find themselves facing clashes and aggression from some demonstrators. Even against the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Images that no one would like to see, violent gestures to be condemned without ifs and buts. A hug to those who work for the success of the Games and who also have to face these absurd situations'. This was written on social media by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana.

'These are with certainty malicious acts and according to the first findings also by Rfi technicians' and 'they were done to create the maximum inconvenience'. So said Salvatore Deidda, deputy of Fratelli d'Italia and chairman of the transport commission of the Chamber of Deputies, in an interview with Corriere della sera.

'For now, there is no direct proof that these could be actions linked to the Olympic Games, as happened on the French railway network during the ceremony for the 2024 Olympics. It must be said, however, that there are Italian precedents because, for example, in 2014 in Bologna there was an attack with damage at the hands of anarchists,' the MP added. President Salvatore Deidda added: 'What frightens us is an action on the day of the start of the Olympic Games, a fact that follows a generalised increase in tensions and clashes at events'.

These are the medals that will be awarded today and tomorrow (X, races without Italians) at the Olympics in Milan-Cortina:

Today's medals 11:30 Alpine skiing - Downhill (D), MEDALS RACE 12:30 Cross-country skiing - 20 km skiathlon (U), MEDALS RACE 14:05 Biathlon - Mixed relay (X), MEDALS RACE 14:26 Snowboard - Parallel giant slalom (D), B final 14:29 Snowboarding - Parallel Giant Slalom (D), FINAL 14:36 Snowboarding - Parallel Giant Slalom (U), Final B 14:39 Snowboarding - Parallel Giant Slalom (U), FINAL 16:00 Speed Skating - 5000 m (U), RACE TO MEDALS 18:32 Luge - Single (U), RACE TO MEDALS ?? Germany - M. Langenhan (52.902) 23:00 Figure Skating - Team Race (X), Overall Classification USA - 44.00