Key Achievements of the Day
The eleventh competition day confirmed the sustained superiority of the favorites, who not only maintained their positions but also increased their lead. Norway was the first to reach the 30-medal mark, adding a gold and a silver to its tally in the morning events.The host Italian team won its ninth gold medal in the men's team pursuit in speed skating, outpacing competitors from the USA, who, in turn, increased their overall medal count to 20 after securing silver.
American freestyler Mac Forehand won silver in big air, finishing just behind Norway's Tormod Frostad.
The highlight of the day was the performance of the German crews in the two-man bobsleigh, who took all three podium spots — a rare example of complete dominance by one team in a technical sport.
Nordic Combined: Second Gold for Oftebro and the Future of the Discipline
Norwegian Jens Luraas Oftebro became the main hero of the day, winning the large hill event combined with a 10 km race and securing his second individual gold medal at the Games.
Photo Getty Images.
Silver once again went to Austrian Johannes Lamparter, who finished just a few seconds behind the winner, while the bronze medal was awarded to Finnish Ilkka Herola, marking his first Olympic medal after four participations.
Oftebro started with a 22-second deficit but managed to significantly accelerate in the final stage and confidently finished first.
The competitions were accompanied by actions calling for gender equality, as protesters reminded that women's Nordic combined is still absent from the Olympic program, and the future of this discipline remains in question.
Biathlon: Victory by Character
One of the most intense moments of the day was the men's relay in biathlon, where the French team managed to seize the initiative in the final stages and outpaced the Norwegians — their main rivals.
This is France's first gold in men's biathlon. Photo Getty Images.
The race remained intriguing until the last shooting, and the final distribution of places symbolized the high competition in the discipline, where even the slightest mistake can cost a gold medal.
Results of the men's relay: gold - France, silver - Norway, bronze - Sweden.
Experts note that team races are becoming increasingly popular at major tournaments, often concluding with dramatic finishes.
Hockey: Battle for the Quarterfinals
National teams in hockey fought for a spot in the quarterfinals. France lost to Germany 1-5, Switzerland defeated Italy 3-0, the Czech Republic triumphed over Denmark 3-2, and in the final match of the day, Latvia lost to Sweden 1-5.
Photo Bruce Bennett / Getty Images.
Thus, the quarterfinals will feature the USA against Sweden, Canada against the Czech Republic, Slovakia against Germany, and Finland against Switzerland.
Among the strongest teams, as in this Olympics, Canada and the USA are traditionally considered favorites, with many experts believing that the USA team looks even stronger than Canada this year.
Speed Skating: Emotional Victory for the Hosts
The victory of the Italians in the team pursuit was one of the most touching moments of the tournament: the support of the local crowd was invaluable, and the athletes demonstrated nearly perfect tactics.
Photo Getty Images.
This success solidified Italy's position in the medal standings and confirmed the effectiveness of strategic preparation for the home Olympics.
The Olympic champions from Canada won the final of the women's team pursuit. Ivanie Blondin, Valerie Maltais, and Isabelle Weidemann started somewhat poorly but perfectly timed their final push and repeated their success from Beijing in 2022.
Photo Getty Images.
The Netherlands won silver, while the Japanese athletes, defeating the USA team, claimed the bronze medals.
Freestyle: Norwegian Style at Its Best
In the men's big air, Norwegian Tormod Frostad confirmed his reputation as one of the best riders of the season, while Mac Forehand brought another medal for the USA.
Tormod Frostad. Photo Getty Images.
The final took place in a highly competitive atmosphere, with judges noting the complexity of the tricks and the stability of the medalists, reflecting the overall rise in the level of the discipline.
Weather Conditions: Challenges for Organizers
Heavy snowfall caused delays in the qualifying competitions for women's freestyle acrobatics — organizers had to clear the courses and adjust the schedule.
Photo Getty Images.
Weather surprises are traditionally considered one of the main challenges of the Winter Olympics, especially when it comes to competitions in open mountain venues.
Figure Skating: The Start of the Medal Battle
The figure skating competitions for women began in Milan, opening a new intrigue in the tournament.For many athletes, the short program served as a foundation for future success, and the density of results traditionally leaves chances for medals for several contenders.
German Dominance in Bobsleigh
In the two-man bobsleigh competition, Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer won gold with a lead of 1.34 seconds. Three out of four runs of their team lasted less than 55 seconds, and the total time was 3:39.70.
Photo Getty Images.
Second place went to Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schüller with a time of 3:41.04, while Adam Ammour and Alexander Schaller took third with 3:41.96.
The German team won gold in the two-man bobsleigh for the third consecutive Olympics and for the second time in a row took all three podium spots.
Overall Medal Context: Formation of Leaders
By the middle of the Olympics, a group of countries emerged that consistently contended for gold. Norway confidently leads, while Italy and the USA continue to battle for second place.Experts emphasize that it is often the second half of the Olympics that brings unexpected successes, especially in alpine and team disciplines.
Conclusion
The eleventh day of the 2026 Olympics was significant: the favorites confirmed their positions, but fierce competition unfolded for every medal.Norway strengthens its leadership, France demonstrated spirit in biathlon, Germany showcased team unity at the highest level, and Italy confidently moves forward with the support of its fans.
