Guardian Writers Share Their Most Memorable Winter Olympics Moments
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics delivered breathtaking performances, emotional triumphs, and unforgettable controversies. Guardian journalists who covered the Games have compiled their personal highlights, disappointments, and predictions for the future of winter sports.
Standout Performances and Emotional Victories
Several athletes captured the hearts of both spectators and journalists. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo dominated the cross-country skiing events, winning six gold medals and breaking records. His incredible achievement was noted by multiple writers as the defining performance of the Games.
Matt Weston earned special recognition for delivering Great Britain's first gold medal in skeleton, with his victory described as "masterful" and "well-deserved." Meanwhile, Elana Meyers Taylor made history by becoming the oldest Winter Olympic champion in an individual event at age 41, using sign language to share her monobob gold medal victory with her deaf children.
Heartbreaking Near-Misses and Controversies
The Games weren't without disappointment. Kirsty Muir of Team GB experienced particular heartbreak with two fourth-place finishes in freeski events, coming agonizingly close to the podium. The British skeleton relay team of Freya Tarbit and Marcus Wyatt also narrowly missed medals, finishing fourth in their event.
Controversy emerged when Canadian curler Marc Kennedy told the Swedish team to "fuck off" after being accused of cheating, creating memorable drama that sparked widespread discussion and social media attention. The incident highlighted the intense competitive spirit of the Games.
Rising Stars and Future Prospects
Several young athletes emerged as ones to watch for future Olympics. Lara Colturi, the 19-year-old Albanian skier and daughter of former Olympic champion Daniela Ceccarelli, impressed with top-20 finishes in slalom events. Mao Shimada, the Japanese figure skater named after Mao Asada, missed these Games due to age restrictions but is expected to be a major contender in 2030.
Other notable mentions include Macklin Celebrini, the 19-year-old Canadian ice hockey player who recorded five goals and five assists in six games, and Rio Nakata, the 17-year-old Welsh-born Japanese skater who was too young to compete in Milan-Cortina.
Event Highlights and Crowd Favorites
The snow cross and ski cross events received particular praise for their head-to-head racing, daring jumps, and photo finishes. The figure skating gala also stood out, with memorable moments including Mikhail Shaidorov's panda costume and the emotional embrace between gold medalist Alysa Liu and bronze medalist Ami Nakai.
Jamaican bobsleigh's continued presence with three sleds competing was celebrated as an important representation of diverse nations in winter sports. Haiti's alpine skier Richardson Viano also won hearts with his celebratory dance moves after completing his slalom run.
Critiques and Suggestions for Future Games
Several writers expressed disappointment with the Games' sustainability claims, noting that biodegradable cutlery and electric vehicles couldn't offset environmental impacts from venue construction. The sprawling footprint across multiple locations also made it challenging for journalists and spectators to see all desired events.
Looking ahead to France 2030, journalists suggested several potential new sports including women's nordic combined (to achieve gender equality), ice cross downhill, snow volleyball, and even the Japanese snowball fighting sport Yukigassen. Many emphasized the need for more dual events and relays, which provide particularly exciting viewing experiences.
Three-Word Summaries Capture Games' Essence
Guardian writers distilled the Milan-Cortina Games into concise three-word descriptions that ranged from "Joyful, ambitious, impressive" to "Exhilarating, newsy, fun" and "Amusing, exhilarating, exhausting." Some focused on specific aspects like "Never too old" in recognition of veteran athletes' successes, while others simply noted the dominant performer: "Johannes Høsflot Klæbo."
The consensus emerged that despite challenges and controversies, the Winter Olympics continue to deliver moments of pure athletic excellence, human drama, and international camaraderie that resonate long after the closing ceremony.
