The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics were held in two different cities in Northern Italy: Milan, the second biggest city in Italy, and Cortina, a popular ski destination located in the Dolomites. This was the first time in history that the Olympics have been hosted in two different cities. The Olympics started on February 6, 2026, with opening ceremonies in both Milan and Cortina, and concluded on February 22, 2026.
Debuting sports
Ski Mountaineering (also called Skimo) made its Olympic debut this winter. AHS students were thrilled to watch this new endurance sport. Team USA had two strong athletes: Anna Gibson from Jackson, WY, and Cam Smith from Crested Butte, CO.
“Growing up here, I’ve always admired professional skiers, and as a runner, I look up to endurance athletes.” AHS Junior Jack Diaz said, “I am so happy that skimo is a new Olympic sport, because it combines both those things. It is so inspiring to watch people who are so tuned in to what they do; it is the peak of human performance, and it is beautiful.”
Dual Moguls also made its Olympic debut this winter. Similar to regular moguls, skiers race down a bumpy course, but in duals, they race another athlete head-to-head instead of the clock. Dual moguls were a very popular event this year, gaining support from ski-fans around the world.
For the first time in Olympic history, Skeleton athletes competed in a mixed doubles relay event: teams of two, one woman and one man from the same nation, race back-to-back, with their final standing decided by the sum of the individual’s run times.
Athletes From Close To Home
Alex Ferreira, an AHS graduate and AVSC alum, competed in the Olympics. He recently dominated the X-Games and is competing in the Men’s Freestyle skiing event. Ferreria’s goal to win gold has driven his training the past 4 years, after placing 3rd at Beijing in 2022. He expects Milano Cortina to be his last Olympics, and returned home with a gold medal in men’s freeski halfpipe.
AHS students were thrilled to see Ferreira, as well as other competitors, compete in freestyle skiing events.
“I really like the expression we see within freestyle skiing.” AHS Junior Sam Wilson said, “There is always a wide diversity with what tricks we see people perform, as people all have different tastes when it comes to what they feel comfortable with.”
Basalt native and Basalt High School graduate Hailey Swirbul, a cross-country skier, also competed in the Olympics this year. She did very well.
Young cross-country skiers at the school are eager to see their favorite athletes ski.
“I am a Nordic skier, and therefore I cannot wait to watch some of my favorite athletes (like Jessie Diggins) race.” Junior Kathryn Daniels says, “Their form is just so beautiful!”
Italian Olympic Legacy
The Winter Olympics are estimated to bring in just over 1 billion dollars. Most of this money will go towards strengthening the region. The money will be invested in existing infrastructure instead of building new venues for events.
In the Milan athlete’s village, the apartments were built on an abandoned railroad yard, and after the Olympics, will offer almost 2,000 apartments for affordable student housing.
In Cortina, 400 mobile homes will be used for camping sites around Italy in the future, instead of going to waste.
The 2026 Olympics are focused on long-term sustainability instead of current popularity.
