President Mattarella visits the Olympic Village and Casa Italia in Cortina: “Fortunate to be here”
- OLYMPIC GAMES
Cortina shone in blue and gold as President Sergio Mattarella arrived in the town. The Head of State, who arrived yesterday in the Ampezzo resort in coincidence with the triumphs of lugers Marion Oberhofer and Andrea Voetter in the women’s doubles and Simon Kainzwaldner and Emanuel Rieder in the men’s doubles, watched this morning as Federica Brignone claimed victory in the women’s super-G, personally congratulating the Italian champion at the end of the race while the Frecce Tricolori of the National Aerobatic Team flew over the Olympia delle Tofane. In the early afternoon President Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter, Signora Laura, visited the Cortina Olympic Village, where he was welcomed, among others, by CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, Secretary General and Chef de Mission Carlo Mornati, President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation Giovanni Malagò, President of the Veneto Region Alberto Stefani, Mayor of Cortina Gianluca Lorenzi and President of the Province of Belluno Roberto Padrin. After greeting members of the Italia Team present, the Head of State first signed the Olympic Truce Wall before sharing a convivial lunch moment with the athletes, sitting alongside curling champions Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, fresh from winning bronze in the mixed doubles tournament.
The President of the Republic then travelled to Casa Italia, where he was welcomed by CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, Secretary General and Chef de Mission Carlo Mornati and Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi. Also present were Deputy Chef de Mission Alessio Palombi, the two curling champions Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, and the two Italian lugers Leon Felderer and Alex Gufler. Mattarella — who visited the art collection of Galleria Farsetti inside the venue — was thanked by Buonfiglio for his presence and closeness to the athletes: “Casa Italia is the home of Italians and you have given us this gift by spending two days with us. I wish you would stay every day given the three gold medals in two days. We are making Italians proud of these performances. We owe you so much in terms of affection, expertise and presence. Thank you from the heart, please always remain close to us because we need it,” said Buonfiglio, addressing the Head of State, who then spoke alongside Constantini and Mosaner after congratulating them for “the hard-earned bronze that adds to the gold of four years ago”.
“I thank President Buonfiglio; for me it is an opportunity that returns. Casa Italia in Cortina is the twin of that in Milan and equally serves as a gateway to discovering our country. Congratulations to all the athletes who are giving life not only to an Italian presence at the Games, but to a sign of friendship with all the other athletes from every other nation. That is the meaning of the Olympic Games and of Casa Italia, which opens its doors to all those who come to share the beauty of these places but also the values of human fraternity and shared perspectives among all peoples through sport. Thank you for this opportunity and best wishes, but above all appreciation for what has been achieved, as we await the coming days,” declared the President of the Republic, who also reflected on the happy coincidence that saw the Italia Team win three golds in Cortina during his two days of visit: “The medals belong to the athletes; I have been fortunate to be here. The important thing is to continue competing with the same spirit and commitment, striving with fairness and success,” concluded Mattarella, who posed in front of the Olympic Rings before leaving Casa Italia. (agc)
Federica Brignone’s masterpiece on the Olympia delle Tofane: historic super-G gold with President Mattarella watching
- ALPINE SKIING
A legendary triumph. A masterpiece signed by Federica Brignone on the Olympia delle Tofane in front of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. Three hundred and fifteen days after the very serious injury (compound fracture of the tibial plateau and fibular head in her left leg) sustained during the giant slalom at the Italian Championships in Val di Fassa, the Italian star claimed the gold medal in the women’s super-G, the final speed event of these Olympic Games, and secured the 14th podium for the Italia Team at this home edition. A performance to frame under the gaze of the Head of State, who followed the race alongside his daughter, Signora Laura, the President of CONI, Luciano Buonfiglio, the President of the IOC, Kirsty Coventry, the President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, Giovanni Malagò, and CONI Secretary General and Italy’s Chef de Mission Carlo Mornati.
Starting from gate six, Brignone (photo Simone Ferraro/CONI) finished +0.41 ahead of France’s Romane Miradoli (silver) and +0.52 clear of Austria’s Cornelia Huetter (bronze). The other Italians also placed in the top 10, with Laura Pirovano fifth alongside Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie at +0.76 from the lead, and Elena Curtoni seventh at +0.77 on her debut at these Games. After a few technical inaccuracies, while firmly in contention for a podium place, Sofia Goggia (DNF), fresh from last Sunday’s downhill bronze, went out following a gate jump.
In Cortina, Brignone kept her appointment with history: it is her first Olympic medal in the super-G after those won in the giant slalom (bronze at PyeongChang 2018 and silver at Beijing 2022) and in the alpine combined (bronze, also at Beijing 2022), as well as the third Olympic gold in this discipline for Italian alpine skiing following those of Daniela Ceccarelli (Salt Lake City 2002) and Deborah Compagnoni (Albertville 1992). With 11 days of competition remaining, the Italia Team, with five golds, two silvers and seven bronzes, has equalled the 14-medal tally achieved at Albertville 1992, the third most prolific Winter Olympic campaign ever for Italy. The alpine skiing schedule now gives way to the technical events: the two giant slaloms and the two slaloms, with their runs scheduled between 14 and 18 February.
President Mattarella receives Olympic champions Voetter and Oberhofer: “Brilliant, a magnificent gold”
- LUGE
President Sergio Mattarella received Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer, the newly crowned Olympic champions in the women’s doubles. A guest of the Officers’ Club of the Italian Navy in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Head of State congratulated the two Italians, who triumphed in a discipline making its historic Olympic debut: “Brilliant, you were magnificent. It was a fine competition,” said President Mattarella.
Also present at the meeting (photo Quirinale) were technical director Armin Zoeggeler and CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, who later witnessed live the feat of the two Italians, followed by the triumph of Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner in the men’s competition.
“We are still emotional. We knew the German and Austrian pairs were very strong and that motivated us to do even better,” said Voetter and Oberhofer, who then posed for a photograph with the Head of State. The two Olympians will also compete tomorrow in the team relay, the event that will bring the luge programme at Milano Cortina 2026 to a close. (agc)
Gold for Rieder and Kainzwaldner in the men’s doubles: Italy triumphant again after 32 years
- LUGE
Sixty minutes that have already entered the annals of Italian luge history. An hour after the magical triumph of Voetter and Oberhofer in the women’s event, the winding ribbon of the Cortina Sliding Centre provided the stage for another epic gold medal in the men’s doubles, won by Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner.
It marked Italy’s third podium in four luge events at these Games, including Fischnaller’s bronze in the singles three days earlier. A legendary success for the experienced Italian crew who, buoyed by the support of CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, restored an Italian pair to Olympic glory in the men’s doubles 32 years after Kurt Brugger and Wilfried Huber triumphed at Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics. Before them, only Paul Hildgartner and Walter Plaikner had achieved the feat, at Sapporo 1972 Winter Olympics.
Rieder and Kainzwaldner (photo ANSA) hinted at their affinity with the Cortina track in the opening run, finishing provisionally third, just 17 thousandths behind leaders Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa of the United States. Their true masterpiece, however, came in the second and decisive run, where they set the fastest time to secure victory overall in 1:45.086.
Silver and bronze went respectively to Austria’s Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl (+0.068) and Germany’s Olympic champions Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (+0.090), who climbed two places from fifth after the first run. Italy also recorded a seventh-place finish for Ivan Nagler and Fabian Malleier (+0.218), penalised by minor errors in both runs. Just ahead of them were Mueller and Haugsjaa (sixth, +0.207), who slipped five places after leading at halfway. (agc)
Voetter and Oberhofer triumph in the first historic women’s doubles: third gold for the Italia Team
- LUGE
Italy’s luge team can once again celebrate an Olympic podium at the Cortina Sliding Centre. On the track named in memory of Olympic champion Eugenio Monti (gold medallist in both the two-man and four-man bobsleigh at Grenoble 1968), three days after Dominik Fischnaller claimed bronze in the men’s singles, the pairing of Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer (under the watchful eye of CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio) achieved a remarkable feat, capturing gold in the women’s doubles — a discipline making its historic debut in the Winter Olympic programme.
It was a moment of apotheosis for the Azzurri, who returned to dominate the Olympic stage 20 years after the ‘Cannibal’ Armin Zoeggeler (now technical director of the Italian team) secured the second of his two Olympic titles at Torino 2006 Winter Olympics. At Milano Cortina 2026, Italy’s gold tally has now risen to three, following victories by speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida in the 3,000 metres and the Italian short track quartet in the 2,000-metre mixed relay.
Voetter and Oberhofer (photo Giuseppe Giugliano/CONI), after encouraging signs across six official training runs, lived up to expectations when it mattered most. The two-time World Cup winners in the discipline (2023 and 2024) led after the opening run by just 22 thousandths ahead of the formidable German duo Dajana Eitberger and Magdalena Matschina. In the final descent, the well-drilled Italian tandem successfully defended their lead, sealing victory with a combined time of 1:46.284. The German pair (+0.120) had to settle for silver, while Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp claimed bronze (+0.259). (agc)
President Mattarella meets Goggia and telephones Fontana: “Congratulations, another Olympics of success”
- MILANO CORTINA 2026
After declaring the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games open during the Opening Ceremony at the Stadio San Siro on 6 February, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, returned to the Olympic venues, travelling on this occasion to Cortina d'Ampezzo, where tomorrow he will attend the women’s super-G and visit Casa Italia.
A guest of the Officers’ Club of the Italian Navy, the Head of State met (photo Quirinale) Italy’s alpine skiing champion Sofia Goggia, who will compete tomorrow at 11:30 (alongside fellow Italians Federica Brignone, Laura Pirovano and Elena Curtoni) in the second speed event of these Games, following the bronze medal she secured in Sunday’s downhill.
“Congratulations. It is your third Olympics and your third medal,” Mattarella began during a meeting lasting around half an hour, held in the presence of his daughter, Signora Laura, and the President of CONI, Luciano Buonfiglio. “We are all honoured that you are here to watch and support us. I will pass on your greetings to the whole team,” Goggia told the President of the Republic.
Subsequently, the Deputy Chef de Mission and Head of Communications and Ceremonial, Danilo di Tommaso, handed the phone to President Mattarella, enabling him to congratulate short track champion Arianna Fontana, Italy’s most decorated Winter Olympian with 12 medals, fresh from the gold won yesterday in the mixed relay.
Extending his congratulations to the other members of the Italian team — Chiara Betti, Elisa Confortola, Thomas Nadalini, Pietro Sighel and Luca Spechenhauser — the Head of State celebrated yet another prestigious result for the Lombard skater: “You were magnificent, that gold is worth a great deal. And as for the upcoming races, I shall say nothing. See you soon,” were the words of the Head of State.
“We managed to stay calm and that proved to be the winning formula,” the Italian champion explained over the phone. (agc)
New Italia Team record: Torino 2006 podium tally already equalled after four days
- ELEVEN-MEDAL MARK
Two golds, two silvers and seven bronzes. After four days of competition at Milano Cortina 2026, the Italia Team medal table carries significant statistical weight: the 11 podium finishes have already equalled the total achieved 20 years ago at Torino 2006, until now the most successful Winter Games ever staged on Italian soil.
Another milestone follows last Sunday’s record-breaking six medals in a single day, an all-time best for Italy at the Winter Olympic Games. At present, Milano Cortina already ranks as Italy’s fifth most successful Winter edition, behind Lillehammer 1994, Beijing 2022, Salt Lake City 2002 and Albertville 1992.
And there are still 12 days of competition to come… (agc)
Constantini and Mosaner take bronze in mixed doubles: Great Britain beaten 5–3 in Cortina
- CURLING
For the second consecutive edition, Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner have reached the Olympic podium. On the ice of the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, after their historic gold four years ago at Beijing 2022, the Italian duo secured bronze in the mixed doubles tournament, signing Italy’s second-ever Olympic curling medal in Winter Games history.
The reigning world champions (photo ANSA), after finishing the round robin in second place (six wins and three defeats) and narrowly losing 9–8 in the semi-final against the United States pairing of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, faced Great Britain’s formidable Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat in the bronze medal match – the same British team that had beaten Italy 9–6 in the eighth preliminary round fixture.
This time, however, buoyed by the fervent support inside the Ampezzo arena, it was Constantini and Mosaner who prevailed, defeating the British side 5–3. A highly tactical, low-scoring encounter was decided only in the closing stages of the final end. With Italy leading 4–3, they held the last stone and delivered the decisive shot that sealed victory, earning their country another point in the contest and, above all, the 11th medal (two golds, two silvers and seven bronzes) at Milano Cortina 2026. (agc)
Historic gold for Italy’s mixed relay: 10th medal for the Italia Team at Milano Cortina
- SHORT TRACK
The 10th medal for the Italia Team at Milano Cortina 2026 coincided with a historic gold for Italy’s mixed short track relay, as the Azzurri returned to the Olympic podium and improved upon the silver secured four years ago at Beijing 2022.
The Italian quartet – Elisa Confortola, Arianna Fontana, Thomas Nadalini and Pietro Sighel – dominated the 2,000m final at the Ice Skating Arena. Also receiving medals were Chiara Betti and Luca Spechenhauser, who took to the Milan ice respectively in the first semi-final and in the opening quarter-final heat, where Italy finished second behind the Netherlands. In the penultimate act, the Italian team (photo Claudio Scaccini/CONI) crossed the line ahead of China, the Netherlands and France to book their place in the A final reserved for the top four nations.
In the decisive race, Italy moved into the lead on lap five, consolidating their advantage over Canada (silver) and Belgium (bronze). It marks Italy’s fourth Olympic gold in short track history.
It was a team triumph made even more special by Arianna Fontana, Italy’s most decorated athlete in Winter Olympic history. Twenty years after her relay bronze at Torino 2006, she claimed her 12th career medal (three golds, four silvers and five bronzes), just one shy of fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti, who holds the record as Italy’s most medalled Olympian of all time (six golds, five silvers and two bronzes), including Summer Games appearances.
It was Fontana and Elisa Confortola – then just 17 and fresh from success at the EYOF 2018 – who spoke in Lausanne in June 2019 during the 134th IOC Session that awarded Italy the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. A home celebration rooted in a journey that began long ago. (agc)
Short track: gli azzurri si laureano campioni olimpici nella staffetta mista di Milano
Lollobrigida sets Olympic record to win 3,000 metres – Buonfiglio’s first gold
- SPEED SKATING
The Italia Team completed a medal treble at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. After the morning’s double podium by Giovanni Franzoni and Dominik Paris in the men’s alpine downhill at Bormio, gold—along with an Olympic record—arrived on the ice of the Milano Ice Park thanks to a sensational Francesca Lollobrigida over 3,000 metres in speed skating. It is Italy’s first gold of these Games and the nation’s first women’s Olympic triumph since the successes of Enrico Fabris (1,500 m) and the men’s team pursuit at the last home Olympics, Turin 2006.
The veteran from the Castelli Romani (photo Ferdinando Mezzelani/CONI), competing on her 35th birthday and under the watchful eye of Luciano Buonfiglio—who witnessed his first Olympic gold as CONI President—produced a magnificent performance on Milan’s long track. Skating in the third-last pairing alongside Canada’s Valérie Maltais, the Italian champion stopped the clock at 3:54.28, smashing the previous Olympic record. Norway’s Ragne Wiklund (+2.26) and Maltais (+2.65) were left with silver and bronze respectively.
“This is the Olympics of first times; it’s hugely emotional and it makes me want to cry. I don’t know if we fully realise what’s happening. FISI and FISG are two federations with two presidents, technical, logistical, medical and Olympic-preparation staffs who have left nothing to chance and deserve this success and the applause of Italy and the entire Italian sporting world. The protocol of the Institute of Sports Medicine and Science on athletes in maternity is an invitation to all athletes to have many children, and an invitation to the Italian Government to provide the right support so our girls can continue their careers and be protagonists of success,” Buonfiglio said.
For the 1991-born skater from Frascati, this is her third career medal at the Winter Games, following the two won four years ago at Beijing 2022 (silver in the 3,000 m and bronze in the mass start). It is her first Olympic podium as a mother-athlete, nearly three years after the birth of her son Tommaso—joy she shared with fellow athletes while playing a leading role as ambassador for the ‘Athletes in Maternity’ project promoted by CONI and the National Athletes’ Commission. (agc)
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