2026 Winter Olympics: Historic Wins and Upsets

American speedskater Jordan Stolz won his second Olympic gold medal in the 500-meter event at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, becoming the first American since 1980 to win two gold medals in the sport. He previously won gold in the 1,000-meter event, marking the first American medal in that race since 2010. Stolz is a two-time world champion at the 1,000-meter distance and holds the record for the fastest 1,000-meter skate. He will compete in two more events in Milan: the 1,500-meter race and the mass start. Stolz hopes to help bring speedskating to the U.S. and has competed professionally for the Dutch speedskating team, Albert Heijn Zaanlander.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, a Norwegian-born skier representing Brazil, won the gold medal in the Olympic giant slalom at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, earning South America's first-ever Winter Olympics medal. Braathen, 25, finished with a combined time of 2 minutes and 25 seconds, beating Swiss racer Marco Odermatt by 0.58 seconds. Braathen had previously represented Norway until October 2023, when he retired, but returned to alpine skiing in March 2024 to represent Brazil, his mother's native country. This victory marks several 'firsts' for Braathen and Brazil, including Brazil's first-ever Winter Olympics medal, first Brazilian Alpine racer to finish on a World Cup podium, and first-ever World Cup win for the country. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva celebrated the achievement on social media, praising the talent, dedication, and work that led to this historic result.

American figure skater Ilia Malinin, known as the 'Quad God', suffered a shocking upset at the 2026 Winter Olympics, falling twice during the free skate and finishing in 8th place. Malinin had led by a comfortable margin after the short program but struggled with his jumps, failing to land several quadruple jumps. Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov took the gold medal with a career-best 291.58 points, while Yuma Kagiyama won silver and Shun Sato took bronze. Malinin's loss ended a two-plus-year unbeaten streak and was met with visible emotion from the skater.

Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history by winning the gold medal in the men's giant slalom at the Winter Olympics, marking the first time a South American country has been awarded a medal in the Winter Games. The 25-year-old athlete expressed his shock and elation after the victory, stating that he was 'not even able to grasp reality'.

The article provides a recap of Day 8 of the 2026 Winter Olympics, highlighting Jordan Stolz's double gold medal win in speedskating and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen's historic gold medal win in giant slalom, representing Brazil. Other notable events include Canada's advancement to the hockey semifinals and the U.S. men's hockey team's win over Denmark. The article also touches on Norway's win in the women's cross-country skiing relay and Domen Prevc's gold medal in ski-jumping.

The article highlights the best outfits at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, featuring teams from various countries, including Italy, France, Mongolia, Jamaica, Haiti, Canada, Great Britain, Colombia, Norway, and Eritrea. The author praises the designs, materials, and cultural influences behind each team's uniform, showcasing a mix of modern and traditional elements. Notable mentions include Italy's sleek Emporio Armani designs, France's retro-inspired Le Coq Sportif collection, and Mongolia's traditional garments created by Goyol Cashmere. The article also highlights individual athletes and their stylish attire, such as Jamaica's Rivers triplets and Great Britain's Tom Daley.