Milan–Cortina 2026: Italy Wins Men’s Pursuit as Canada Defends Women’s Title

Day 11 of the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered historic victories, dramatic comebacks and weather disruptions, while the medal race continued to be dominated by traditional winter sport powers.

Italy sparked celebrations on home ice with a landmark triumph in the men’s speedskating team pursuit . The trio of Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini and Michele Malfatti surged past the United States to claim gold in 3:39.20 , securing the nation’s first Olympic title in the event since the Turin 2006 Games. Roared on by a passionate home crowd, the Italians accelerated over the closing laps, leaving the American world record-holders to take silver. Canada retained its dominance in the women’s team pursuit , as Ivanie Blondin, Valérie Maltais and Isabelle Weidemann successfully defended their Olympic crown ahead of the Netherlands.

France produced one of the most dramatic performances of the Games in the men’s biathlon relay . After early shooting errors dropped them far down the standings, Émilien Jacquelin and Quentin Fillon Maillet revived their chances before anchor Eric Perrot held off Norway’s Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen to secure France’s first Olympic gold in the event in 1:19:55.2 . Norway claimed silver, while Sweden finished with bronze.

Norway continued its dominance in Nordic disciplines as Jens Lurås Oftebro captured his second gold medal in a week by winning the Nordic combined large hill/10 km event. Austria’s Johannes Lamparter took silver and Finland’s Ilkka Herola bronze.

In pairs figure skating , Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara delivered a record-breaking performance to win gold, while Georgia celebrated its first-ever Winter Olympic medal as Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava secured silver.

Heavy snowfall in Livigno forced organisers to postpone the women’s snowboard slopestyle final , delaying New Zealand star Zoi Sadowski-Synnott’s title defence and highlighting weather challenges facing winter sport.

The Games also saw calls for gender equality, with U.S. skier Annika Malacinski protesting the absence of women’s Nordic combined. Meanwhile, American alpine legend Lindsey Vonn returned home after a severe downhill crash ended her comeback, underscoring both the risks and resilience that define Olympic competition.

Norway continues to lead the medal standings, with Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United States close behind.