Global Sports and Geopolitics Updates

Norway broke its own record for the most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics when Johannes Dale-Skjevdal won the 15-kilometer mass start biathlon race, bringing Norway's total to 17 gold medals. The victory marked Norway's dominance at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, where they now lead the medal count with 37 medals. Dale-Skjevdal's teammate, Sturla Holm Laegreid, won silver, while Quentin Fillon Maillet of France took bronze. Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has earned the most gold medals at the games with 10, making him the second-most decorated gold medalist in Olympic history after Michael Phelps. Team USA is in second place with 27 medals, and host Italy is third with 27 medals.

The article discusses Surya Bonaly, a French figure skating legend, who performed a historic backflip at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. The move was considered groundbreaking and was initially penalized by judges. Bonaly reflects on her experience and praises Ilia Malinin, a young American figure skater who recently performed a similar backflip at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The article highlights Bonaly's pioneering spirit and her impact on the sport, as well as the contrast between her treatment and Malinin's celebration for the same move.

American freeskier Hunter Hess qualified for the Olympic halfpipe final despite facing backlash from former President Trump over his comments on representing the US during the Trump administration. Hess expressed 'mixed emotions' about representing the country due to the administration's immigration policies. Trump called Hess 'a real Loser' on TruthSocial, but Hess used the criticism as motivation and successfully qualified for the final. Hess emphasized his love for the US and stated that he was representing his friends, family, and supporters, not the country's politics.

The article discusses Russia's alleged coercive recruitment practices of foreign nationals, including those from Africa and Asia, to fight in the Ukraine war. The Ukrainian human rights organization Truth Hounds claims that Russia is using deceptive tactics to recruit vulnerable individuals, promising them civilian jobs with higher salaries, but later forcing them to sign military contracts. Many recruits are reportedly beaten, tortured, or coerced into signing contracts, amounting to potential human trafficking. The article cites figures indicating that over 18,000 foreigners have joined the Russian army, with many more missing or dead.

The U.S. is building up its military presence in the Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran, drawing comparisons to the 2003 Iraq War buildup. However, military experts say that while the scale of visible force may look similar, the design and intent are fundamentally different. The current deployment is centered on maritime and air power, with two aircraft carrier battle groups and air and missile defense systems, signaling readiness to act without boots on the ground. Experts believe the buildup is meant to pressure Iran into negotiations, not to invade. The legal authority and coalition structure also differ from the 2003 Iraq War, with no congressional Authorization for Use of Military Force approved for military operations against Iran.

A Stanford University swimmer, 20-year-old sophomore Addison Sauickie, collapsed in the pool after competing in the 500-yard freestyle event at the 2026 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta. During the race, Sauickie floated face down for a few seconds before recovering and finishing the lap. After the race, she remained in the pool for an extended period, eventually needing assistance to exit the water and collapsing onto the floor before being helped into a chair. The incident has raised concerns about Sauickie's health, and her status for the remainder of the competition is currently unknown as she continues to be evaluated by Stanford's medical team. Sauickie is still listed on the preliminary sheet for Saturday's 100-yard freestyle event, but her participation is uncertain.