2026 Winter Olympics Underway: Eight Nations Win Medals on Opening Day, Ukraine Yet to Podium

The 2026 Winter Games Are Officially Open

According to Главком: The first medal events of the XXV Winter Olympic Games commenced on February 7, 2026, in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Five gold medals were awarded across five different sports on this opening day, though Ukrainian athletes did not secure a place on the podium in these initial contests.

Day One Medal Standings

Medals were claimed by athletes from eight different countries on the first day of competition. Four nations won two medals each, while three countries-Italy, Japan, and Norway-achieved a full set of gold, silver, and bronze.

• Alpine Skiing:
  • Gold: Franjo Von Allmen (Switzerland)
  • Silver: Giovanni Franzone (Italy)
  • Bronze: Dominik Paris (Italy)
• Cross-Country Skiing (Women's Skiathlon):
  • Gold: Frida Karlsson (Sweden)
  • Silver: Abby Anderson (Sweden)
  • Bronze: Heidi Weng (Norway)
• Speed Skating (Women's 3000m):
  • Gold: Francesca Lollobrigida (Italy)
  • Silver: Ragne Wiklund (Norway)
  • Bronze: Valérie Maltais (Canada)
• Ski Jumping (Women):
  • Gold: Anna Strøm (Norway)
  • Silver: Nika Prevc (Slovenia)
  • Bronze: Nozomi Maruyama (Japan)
• Snowboarding (Men's Big Air):
  • Gold: Kira Kimura (Japan)
  • Silver: Ryoma Kimata (Japan)
  • Bronze: Yimin Su (China)

The Olympic Games will continue for a total of 16 days. While Ukraine has not yet won a medal, many events remain on the schedule. The Ukrainian team, which has historically performed well in sports like biathlon and figure skating, will have further opportunities to compete for the podium.

The start of the 2026 Winter Olympics has been marked by intense medal competition among leading nations, showcasing impressive athletic performances. With the Games scheduled to continue for another two weeks, Ukrainian athletes still have the chance to make their mark and contend for medals in other disciplines.

Further performances and potential achievements by Ukrainian athletes will be watched closely in the coming days.