The 2026 Winter Olympics have officially begun in Milan, Italy, and the competition is already delivering exciting medal moments. As of February 9, 2026, the Games have completed 16 events, producing 48 medals across disciplines. Early action has seen strong performances from traditional winter sports powerhouses as well as surprise contenders. Fans and analysts are closely watching the daily medal count, which is shaping the narrative of the Games in their opening phase.
Early Highlights from the Milan Winter Games
- The opening days of the 2026 Winter Olympics have been marked by standout individual and team performances.
- Team USA made an early impact with Breezy Johnson’s gold medal in Women’s Downhill skiing.
- Followed by another gold in the Figure Skating Team Event.
- These wins gave the United States a perfect gold-to-medal ratio early on. Several European and Asian nations have also started strong, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the Winter Games.
Read Here The Schedule And Other Details of This edition Winter Olympics 2026
Current Medal Tally: Who Is on Top?
- As per the latest update (February 9), Italy leads the overall medal count with nine medals, benefiting from home advantage.
- Japan follows with seven medals, while Norway and Switzerland continue their reputation as winter sports giants with high gold tallies.
- Although the United States has fewer total medals so far, it stands out with two medals both gold, indicating strong efficiency in finals.
Winter Olympics 2026 Live Medal Counter (Early Standings)
| Country | Total Medals | Gold Medals |
| Italy | 9 | 1 |
| Japan | 7 | 2 |
| Norway | 6 | 3 |
| Switzerland | 5 | 3 |
| Austria | 4 | 1 |
| Germany | 4 | 2 |
| USA | 2 | 2 |
| France | 2 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 2 | 1 |
| Sweden | 2 | 1 |
| Czechia | 2 | 1 |
| China | 2 | – |
| Canada | 2 | – |
What’s Next: Events to Watch Closely
- The next major opportunities for medal changes come on, with finals scheduled in Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Short Track Speed Skating Mixed Team Relay.
- Team USA is also set to contest its first-ever Olympic curling mixed doubles final, where it will face Sweden and enter the match as favourites for gold.
- These events could significantly alter the medal standings in the coming days.
Why Early Medal Counts Matter
- Early medal tallies often set the tone for the rest of the Olympics.
- Countries that gain momentum early tend to perform with greater confidence in later events.
- Host nations like Italy typically aim to maximise early results, while teams like Norway and Switzerland rely on consistency across multiple disciplines.
- Analysts also track gold-to-medal ratios to assess competitive efficiency, making these early numbers important for broader Olympic analysis.
About the Winter Olympics
- The Winter Olympics are held once every four years and feature sports contested on snow and ice, including skiing, skating, ice hockey, and curling.
- The Milan Cortina Games mark Italy’s return as a Winter Olympics host after two decades.
- Medal tallies are closely followed worldwide and often feature in competitive exam questions related to sports, international events, and host countries.