Italy on the podium in Antholz: silver for the mixed relay quartet

• BIATHLON

Italy’s biathletes secured a place on the podium in the 4x6 km mixed relay. On the Antholz track, in the race that opened the discipline’s programme at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, the quartet of Tommaso Giacomel, Lukas Hofer, Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi (in running order) claimed silver, matching the nation’s best-ever Olympic result — Pieralberto Carrara’s second place in the 20 km at Nagano 1998. It is also Italy’s third medal in the event at a Winter Olympics, following the bronze medals at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018.

Italy (photo Giuseppe Giugliano/CONI) lay third behind Norway and France after the first exchange, with Giacomel forced to use two spare rounds in the standing shoot. Hofer also needed two reloads standing, and Italy was fourth behind Norway, Germany and France at the second changeover. Four nations were in contention for three medals at the final exchange between Wierer (one spare round standing) and Vittozzi, who together with the final legs for Norway and Germany launched their challenge on France, which led by just under 20 seconds.

Gold went to France, who crossed the line in 1:04:15.5 (seven spare rounds). Silver, amid scenes of jubilation in the South Tyrolean stands, went to a sensational Italy (+25.8 with five spare rounds), propelled into second by a flawless shooting performance from Vittozzi, who decisively won the duel with Germany (bronze at +1:05.3 with one penalty loop and three spare rounds) and Norway (fourth at +1:37.2 with six spare rounds).

Another bronze for Dominik Fischnaller in the men’s singles: Beijing result repeated in Cortina

• LUGE

Back among the world’s best, back with bronze around his neck. At the Milano Cortina Olympics, Dominik Fischnaller climbed onto the third step of the podium in the men’s singles luge, repeating the result he achieved four years ago on the Beijing track.

At the revamped Cortina Sliding Centre, named in memory of Olympic bobsleigh champion Eugenio Monti, the 32-year-old Italian (photo Simone Ferraro/CONI) secured third place in Saturday’s opening run and successfully defended it across the next three heats, though he was unable to challenge Germany’s Max Langenhan for gold or Austria’s Jonas Mueller for silver. After ending the third run 0.542 seconds off the lead, Fischnaller fended off final-run attacks from Latvia’s Kristers Aparjods (4th) and Austria’s Nico Gleirscher (5th) to finish 0.934 seconds behind the new Olympic champion.

Leon Felderer placed seventh (+1.926), improving on his 11th place from Beijing 2022. Alex Gufler also qualified for the final run, finishing 17th (+4.016). 

Lucia Dalmasso takes bronze in Livigno: Italy back on an Olympic PGS podium after 24 years

• SNOWBOARD

Italian women’s snowboarding is back among the Olympic medallists in the parallel giant slalom, 24 years after Lidia Trettel’s bronze at Salt Lake City 2002. In the PGS at Milano Cortina 2026, staged at the Livigno Snow Park, Lucia Dalmasso won the all-Italian small final against Elisa Caffont to take bronze, in a race won by Czech rider Zuzana Maderova, who defeated Austria’s Sabine Payer (+0.83) in the final. It is the fifth medal for the Italia Team at these Winter Games.

In the draw, Dalmasso — fourth after the two qualification runs — edged fellow Italian Jasmin Coratti by six hundredths in the round of 16 and then repeated the feat in the quarter-finals against Poland’s Aleksandra Krol-Walas (+0.26). The victory guaranteed Italy a medal thanks to Caffont’s progress in the other half of the bracket. Sixth in qualification, Caffont beat Switzerland’s Julie Zogg (+0.47) in the round of 16 and Japan’s Miki Tsubaki (+0.02) in the quarter-finals.

Both Italians were halted in the semi-finals: Dalmasso lost to Payer, who finished 0.23 seconds clear, while Maderova defeated Caffont (+0.45). In the bronze-medal derby it was the 28-year-old from Feltre (photo Roberto Di Tondo/CONI) who celebrated, beating her team-mate by +0.11. Sofia Valle, meanwhile, was eliminated in qualification.

No joy for the Italia Team in the men’s event. Roland Fischnaller, reigning world champion and the most capped Italian athlete in Winter Olympic history (seven appearances), was knocked out by Korea’s Kim Sangkyum and stopped just short of the semi-finals, as was Mirko Felicetti, beaten by Slovenia’s Tim Mastnak. Aaron March and Maurizio Bormolini exited in the round of 16.

Sofia Goggia clinches bronze in the Cortina downhill: third consecutive Olympic podium

• ALPINE SKIING

No one has ever done it like her. Sofia Goggia claimed the Olympic bronze medal in the downhill at Milano Cortina 2026, becoming the first female skier to stand on the podium three times in a row at the Winter Games in this discipline, following gold at PyeongChang 2018 and silver at Beijing 2022. For the Italia Team it is the fourth medal of these Olympics, the third in alpine skiing after the silver won by Giovanni Franzoni and the bronze secured yesterday by Dominik Paris in the men’s race.

On the Olympia delle Tofane — where she has triumphed four times in World Cup downhills — the Bergamo-born star (photo Simone Ferraro/CONI), who started with bib number 15 after a long delay caused by rescue operations for American Lindsey Vonn, who crashed in the upper section of the course just nine days after suffering a knee injury in the Crans-Montana downhill, stopped the clock at 1:36.69. She finished 0.59 seconds behind the United States’ Breezy Johnson, the reigning world champion, who took gold ahead of Germany’s Emma Aicher, silver at +0.04.

Laura Pirovano placed sixth on her Olympic debut, finishing +0.94 off the lead, behind Austria’s Cornelia Huetter and the other American Jacqueline Wiles, both at +0.86. A top-ten result also for Federica Brignone, 10th at +1.19, in her first downhill of the season, 311 days after the serious injury (a displaced, multi-fragment fracture of the tibial plateau and fibular head) sustained in the giant slalom at the Italian Championships in Val di Fassa in April 2025. Behind her was Nicol Delago, 11th at +1.55 (level with Austria’s Mirjam Puchner), the same placing she achieved at Beijing 2022.

Media Day: Italian journalists visit the Olympic Villages of Milan and Cortina

• THE TRICOLOUR TAKES CENTRE STAGE

The Tricolour steals the spotlight at the Olympic Villages of Milan and Cortina. With just three days to go until the Opening Ceremony, Italian journalists already on site at the Games were given the opportunity, during Media Day, to explore the residential units, offices and lounges prepared to host the Italia Team (photos by Ferdinando Mezzelani and Simone Ferraro/CONI).

In Milan, the delegation was guided through the visit by Enzo Bartolomeo, Deputy Chef de Mission and Head of the Milan Cluster, while Dr Maria Rosaria Squeo, CONI’s Medical Director for the Olympic Area, illustrated the medical facilities and organisational set-up.

As athletes from individual and team sports continue to arrive, members of the media were able to gain deeper insight into the behind-the-scenes operations and the initiatives designed to support the daily lives of those who will soon be competing on snow and ice under the five rings, driven by the dream of delivering a medal for their country. (agc)

President Mattarella inaugurates Casa Italia Milano: “A place that expresses the quintessence of the country”

• OLYMPIC GAMES

President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella officially inaugurated Casa Italia Milano, set up at the Triennale, on the day of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games. Accompanied by his daughter, Signora Laura, he was welcomed by CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, Secretary General and Chef de Mission Carlo Mornati and Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi.

Following a visit to the medal celebration hall, the President moved to the Triennale’s Salone d’Onore, where Signora Laura cut the ribbon, officially opening Casa Italia Milano.

Addressing the audience after the national anthem, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio said:

“Casa Italia in Italy, Casa Italia at home. It is from here that energy, vision, tradition and efficiency begin. Today we are presenting Italy at its very best: a sporting, industrial and economic system united around the figure who embodies the unity of the Nation.”

President Mattarella followed with his own remarks, highlighting Casa Italia as both a window onto Italy and, on this occasion, a true gateway into the country – a place that expresses its character, culture and lifestyle.

The Head of State then toured the exhibition path, structured into nine sections, each dedicated to a muse inspiring a discipline, before joining athletes, Olympic champions and institutional representatives for lunch at Casa Italia.

Mixed doubles: Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner ready to open the Games for the Italia Team

• CURLING

Reigning Olympic and world champions Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini will be the first Italia Team athletes to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

The golden mixed-doubles pair from Beijing four years ago will make their debut on Thursday 5 February at 10:05 in the round robin at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium against South Korea. At 19:05, the Italian duo (photo by Simone Ferraro/CONI), who arrive at these Games on a remarkable 22-match winning streak, will return to the ice to face Canada in their second match of the day.

At 14:40, attention will also turn to the Italian women’s ice hockey team, who will face France in their opening Group B match at the Milan Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.

“Training sessions since our arrival in Milan have gone well. I see the girls fully focused and, above all, able to avoid the distractions that inevitably come with such a unique setting. Our focus is entirely on hockey: we are a family and we think only about ourselves. We are not looking at anything else or at our opponents – we just want to give everything to show the quality of this group,” said defender and captain Nadia Mattivi.

For the women’s national team, as with the men’s side – who will make their debut against Sweden at 21:10 on Wednesday 11 February – this marks a historic return to the Olympic stage, 20 years after the last home Games in Turin 2006.

Later in the evening, from 19:30, there will also be space for young snowboarder Ian Matteoli, who will compete in the men’s big air qualifiers at the Livigno Snow Park.

President Mattarella visits the Milan Olympic Village: “You will honour the Tricolour”

• OLYMPIC GAMES

President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella visited the Milan Olympic Village this morning, on the eve of the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Games. Accompanied by his daughter, Signora Laura, the Head of State was welcomed by CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, Secretary General and Chef de Mission Carlo Mornati, President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation Giovanni Malagò, Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala and President of the Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana.

“On behalf of all the athletes, I extend my warmest welcome,” said CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, addressing the Head of State after the national anthem. “We are ready – even more so after your arrival – because we know how much you care about us, how closely you follow us and how much enthusiasm you convey. We feel reassured knowing that someone is standing behind us, protecting us every day and following us with attention. This is not only a sign of responsibility for us, but also an incentive to do better and make Italians proud of what we do.”

After signing the Olympic Truce Wall, Sergio Mattarella (photo Quirinale) addressed the Italian delegation in the Chef de Mission Meeting Room:

“It is a great pleasure to meet you. You are about to begin. On the eve of the Opening Ceremony, it is important to remember that simply being selected and being part of the Olympic team is already a major achievement. Participation is the first great result. Then comes competition with athletes from all over the world, which will be exciting and stimulating. I believe the first competition for each of you will be with yourselves and your own limits.”

He concluded by wishing the delegation success and expressing his confidence that they would honour the Tricolour.

The President later received and wore a white Italia Team jacket, presented by short track star Arianna Fontana and speed skaters Davide Ghiotto and Francesca Lollobrigida. He then visited the Italian Mission headquarters before sharing lunch with the athletes at the Olympic Village dining hall.

Australia announces flag bearers at the Aquagranda Olympic Preparation Centre, Mornati: “We are delighted by the friendship that binds us”

• LIVIGNO

At CONI’s Olympic Preparation Centre at Aquagranda in Livigno, the official ceremony announcing Australia’s flag bearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games took place (photos by Roberto Di Tondo/CONI).

With Friday 6 February approaching – the day of the Opening Ceremony and the inauguration of Casa Italia at the very same venue – the Olympic Committee’s centre hosted an event celebrating the friendship between the Italia Team and the Australian Olympic Team. This bond was underlined in the opening remarks by Carlo Mornati, CONI Secretary General and Head of the Italian Delegation:

“It is a great honour to host you. We hope you will enjoy the Olympic Games to the fullest – it will be an extraordinary event. This will be Casa Italia in Livigno, our hospitality house, which will also be present in Milan and Cortina. We are delighted by the friendship that binds us and wish you every success.”

Following the institutional greetings came the official announcement: Australia’s flag bearers will be freestyle skiers Jakara Anthony, reigning Olympic champion in moguls, and Matthew Graham, who won silver in the same discipline at PyeongChang 2018.

Compagnoni, Tomba and Goggia light the Cauldrons: 146 Italian athletes parade at the Milano Cortina Ceremony

• OLYMPIC GAMES

A unique Olympic Games opened with an equally unique Opening Ceremony. With the words of President Sergio Mattarella at San Siro and the lighting of the cauldrons by Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba in Milan and Sofia Goggia in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the curtain rose on the 25th Olympic Winter Games, 20 years after Turin 2006.

For the first time in history, the ceremony was hosted by two cities, Milan and Cortina, unfolding as a distributed event that simultaneously connected mountain venues such as Livigno and Predazzo.

A total of 146 Italia Team athletes took part in the Opening Ceremony across the various venues, led by flag bearers Arianna Fontana, Federico Pellegrino, Federica Brignone and Amos Mosaner.

The ceremony concluded with the simultaneous lighting of two Olympic cauldrons – one at the Arco della Pace in Milan and the other in Piazza Angelo Dibona in Cortina – sealing a powerful and emotional opening to the Games.