Jordan Stolz, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, and Norway Shine at 2026 Winter Olympics

American speedskater Jordan Stolz continued his dominant run at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, capturing his second gold medal in two events by winning the men’s 500 meters on Saturday. Stolz, 21, sprinted to victory with a time of 33.77 seconds, setting his second Olympic record in four days, following his triumph in the 1,000 meters on Wednesday.

Jordan Stolz and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen Achieve Historic Milestones at Olympics

Racing in the penultimate pairing, Stolz’s performance solidified his place in Olympic history, joining Eric Heiden as the only skaters to win both the 500 and 1,000 meters at the same Games. Stolz’s consistency and speed have made him a standout figure, and his upcoming events include the 1,500 meters on Thursday and the mass start on February 21. In the 500 meters, Dutch skater Jenning de Boo took silver, replicating his 1,000-meter finish, while Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil earned bronze with a time of 34.26 seconds.

The Milan Cortina Games also witnessed historic achievements from other nations. Alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen earned South America its first-ever Winter Olympic gold by winning the giant slalom for Brazil. The 25-year-old posted a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 25 seconds, narrowly defeating defending champion Marco Odermatt of Switzerland by 0.58 seconds.

Loic Meillard, another Swiss athlete, took bronze. Pinheiro Braathen highlighted the personal significance of his win, celebrating his Brazilian heritage and the breakthrough it represents for the continent in winter sports.

Norway Dominates Biathlon and Cross-Country Events With Historic Olympic Performances

Norway excelled in multiple disciplines, highlighted by Maren Kirkeeide’s gold in the women’s 7.5-kilometer biathlon sprint. After a disappointing 49th-place finish in her first Olympic race, Kirkeeide rebounded with a perfect shooting record and a finish time of 20 minutes, 40.8 seconds, edging out France’s Oceane Michelon by 3.8 seconds. Lou Jeanmonnot, also from France, claimed bronze, adding to her collection from prior events, including silver in the 15-kilometer individual race and a mixed relay gold.

Norway continued its dominance in cross-country skiing, capitalizing on a dramatic setback for Sweden in the women’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay. Ebba Andersson of Sweden snapped a ski binding mid-race, forcing her to ski on one ski and lose significant time. Norway surged to claim gold with a time of 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 44.8 seconds, finishing 50 seconds ahead of Sweden, while Finland earned bronze more than a minute behind.

With multiple record-breaking performances, historic milestones, and dramatic finishes, the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics are showcasing a mix of emerging stars and national triumphs across winter sports. Jordan Stolz’s continued success positions him as a central figure in speedskating, while athletes like Pinheiro Braathen and Kirkeeide highlight the expanding global reach and unpredictability of the Games.