As the sun sets over the Italian Alps on Saturday, February 21, 2026, the Milano Cortina Winter Games have reached a historic crescendo. Day 15 was defined by the shattering of decades old records and the finalization of the ultimate podium battleground.
Here is your definitive recap of the penultitmate day of action.
Day 15: The “Record Breakers” Highlights
King Klæbo’s Historic Sixth
The headline of the day and perhaps the entire Games belongs to Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. In a grueling display of endurance, Klæbo conquered the Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic, crossing the finish line in 2:07:07.1.
- The Record: This victory marks Klæbo’s sixth Gold Medal of the 2026 Games, making him the first athlete in history to win six golds at a single Winter Olympics.
- The Sweep: In a dominant show of force, Norway secured a full podium sweep with Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget (Silver) and Emil Iversen (Bronze).
Curling: Great Britain’s Golden Draw
The Men’s Gold Medal match was a high-stakes chess match on ice. Great Britain’s Team Mouat faced off against Canada in a thriller that went down to the final stone.
- The Result: Skip Bruce Mouat delivered a masterclass performance, securing an 8–7 victory over Canada. This marks GB’s first Men’s Curling Gold in over a century, while Canada takes home a hard fought Silver.
Aerials: Team USA Flies to Gold
In the Freestyle Skiing Mixed Team Aerials, Team USA proved their depth. High scoring jumps from Kalia Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Christopher Lillis vaulted the Americans into the top spot with a total of 208.16 points, narrowly edging out China for the Gold.
The Hockey Final is Set
The “Battle for the Ages” is officially locked in for Sunday.
- The Bronze: Finland rallied after their heartbreaking loss to Canada to defeat Slovakia 4–2, securing the Bronze medal.
- The Main Event: Team USA and Canada will meet Sunday for the Gold. With NHL stars like McDavid and Matthews at the helm, it is being hailed as the most anticipated hockey game since the “Miracle on Ice.”
The Official Medal Table: Conclusion of Day 15
Norway has officially “broken” the Games, setting a new all time record for both gold medals (18) and total medals (40) in a single Winter Olympics.
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 18 | 11 | 11 | 40 |
| 2 | United States | 11 | 12 | 8 | 31 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 10 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| 4 | Italy | 10 | 6 | 14 | 30 |
| 5 | France | 8 | 9 | 6 | 23 |
Day 15 Key Takeaways
- The “Golden Standard”: Norway’s 18th Gold (sealed by Klæbo) officially surpasses their own previous record of 16. They are no longer just competing; they are rewriting the manual on winter sports dominance.
- USA vs. Italy: The race for 2nd place is a “photo finish.” Both nations sit at 10 Golds. Team USA holds the tie breaker with more Silvers (12), but the host nation Italy has more total medals (28), fueled by a passionate home crowd.
- British Resurgence: With golds in Curling and Freestyle Skiing (Zoe Atkin), Great Britain has climbed into the Top 5, marking their most successful Winter Games in history.
The Grand Finale: Day 16
Tomorrow, the curtain falls. The Closing Ceremony at the ancient Verona Arena will transition the world toward 2030, but not before the USA vs. Canada hockey showdown decides the final bragging rights of the 2026 Games.