The medal race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina is heating up as the Games reach the halfway mark. As of Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 (9:40 a.m. ET), Norway has tightened its grip at the top of the standings, while Brazil has delivered one of the most historic moments of the competition.
Traditional winter powerhouses — Norway, Italy and the United States — continue to dominate the medal table, but Saturday’s action proved that surprises can still reshape the Olympic story in a single race.
🏅 Medal Standings
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| 2 | Italy | 6 | 3 | 9 | 18 |
| 3 | United States | 4 | 8 | 4 | 16 |
| 4 | France | 4 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| 5 | Germany | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 6 | Sweden | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| 8 | Austria | 3 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| 9 | Japan | 3 | 3 | 8 | 14 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 11 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Czechia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 13 | South Korea | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 14 | Slovenia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Brazil | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Great Britain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Kazakhstan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Canada | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 19 | China | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 20 | Poland | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 | New Zealand | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 22 | Latvia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | Bulgaria | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 23 | Finland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 25 | Belgium | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Team USA Check:
The United States stands at 4 gold, 8 silver, and 4 bronze (16 total medals) — remaining firmly in the top tier by overall volume.
Norway: Gold Standard of the Games
Norway continues to show why it is considered the ultimate Winter Olympic powerhouse. With 9 gold medals and 19 total medals, the Norwegians have separated themselves from the field — especially in a gold-first ranking system.
While Italy’s total medal count (18) remains close, the three-gold gap gives Norway a comfortable cushion at the top. In Olympic medal tables, gold medals act as the primary sorting metric — meaning one gold can outweigh multiple silvers or bronzes.
Simply put: more golds, more control of the standings.
Brazil Makes History: A Golden Breakthrough
One of the most talked-about moments of Feb. 14 came in alpine skiing.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen captured gold in the men’s giant slalom — delivering Brazil’s first-ever Winter Olympic medal, and remarkably, it’s gold.
For medal-watchers, this was a dramatic shift:
- Brazil entered the Winter Olympics with no podium finishes.
- Within one race, it jumped straight onto the gold board.
- A brand-new nation joined the medal table — at the very top step.
Moments like these are why the Olympic medal race is never predictable. A single performance can instantly rewrite history.
Italy: Host Nation Still in the Hunt
As hosts, Italy has been one of the most consistent teams of the Games. With 6 gold medals and 18 total medals, Italy remains right behind Norway.
On the “volume” side, Italy’s total medal haul is nearly equal to Norway’s. The home crowd energy across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo has clearly fueled strong performances across disciplines — from alpine skiing to sliding sports.
If Italy can close the gold gap in the coming days, the medal table could tighten quickly.
United States: Climbing by Volume
The United States remains at 4 gold medals, but its strength lies in medal depth. With 16 total medals, Team USA continues stacking podium finishes across multiple sports.
In a gold-first system, the U.S. currently sits third. However, if standings were sorted by total medals alone, the picture would look slightly different — showing just how important a single gold can be in Olympic rankings.
With several alpine, skating, and sliding events coming up, the Americans still have strong opportunities to add more golds.
Why the Medal Table Can Look Different
Many fans notice differences between Olympic medal graphics. That’s because:
- Most official tables rank by gold-first.
- Some broadcasters sort by total medals.
For example:
- Norway leads comfortably in gold-first format (9 gold).
- But the total medal counts between Norway (19) and Italy (18) are extremely close.
That’s why a single gold medal often reshapes headlines faster than multiple bronze medals.
Biggest Movers of the Day (Feb. 14)
Norway – Extended lead to 9 gold, 19 total
Brazil – Historic first medal (gold)
United States – Total climbs to 16
Mid-table nations such as Austria, Japan and Switzerland remain within striking distance. A strong day across multiple events could dramatically reshuffle positions between ranks 4–10.
What’s Next in the Next 12 Hours?
More medals are still to be awarded across:
- Alpine skiing
- Speed skating
- Figure skating
- Sliding events (luge, skeleton, bobsleigh)
These disciplines can quickly swing the medal table — especially when one nation wins multiple podiums in a short window.
Looking Back: Feb. 13 Snapshot
Just one day earlier (Feb. 13), the medal race looked tighter:
- Norway led with 7 gold, 14 total
- Italy had 6 gold, 17 total
- USA had 4 gold, 14 total
In just 24 hours, Norway expanded its lead, while Brazil entered the medal board for the first time. That’s how quickly momentum shifts at the Winter Games.
The Games at the Halfway Mark
Saturday marks a symbolic midpoint of the Milano Cortina Olympics. Organizers report strong demand and global viewership, making the medal race even more closely followed.
With events split between Milan’s ice arenas and Cortina’s alpine venues, fans are enjoying a diverse mix of competition — from figure skating elegance to high-speed downhill drama.
Medal Count FAQ
How is the Olympic medal table ranked?
Most tables use gold-first ranking (gold, then silver, then bronze).
Who leads the 2026 Winter Olympics medal count?
As of Feb. 14 at 9:40 a.m. ET, Norway leads with 9 gold and 19 total medals.
Why does one gold matter so much?
Because gold medals determine ranking priority over total medal count.
Final Takeaway
At the halfway point of the 2026 Winter Olympics:
- Norway controls the top spot.
- Italy remains firmly in contention.
- The United States is building medal depth.
- Brazil has created one of the most unforgettable stories of the Games.
With several high-impact events still ahead, the medal race is far from decided — and one golden performance could flip the table again.













