1080s, 1260s, 1440s spin to win on day 3.
1080s, 1260s, 1440s spin to win on day 3
The spins and style points come into view on day three as the Slopestyle and Big air come into view for the women, as well as the tweaked combined event in alpine skiing, which will bring both speed and precision to the slopes of Bormio. The other medal events of the day see Jutta Leerdam return to the Olympic stage in the 1000m, and Domen Prevc will aim to reclaim the ski jumping crown for Slovenia.
Freestyle skiingAvery Krumme (USA): A rising star in the American ranks, Krumme surprised many by qualifying in fourth, just a fraction of a point behind Muir. While she lacks the experience of Gremaud or Gu, she brings a nothing-to-lose energy that often rewards skiers in high-stakes finals. Her qualifying performance showed she has the amplitude to match the heavy hitters, and she serves as the USA’s best hope for a slopestyle medal following a period of transition for the American women's team.
Megan Oldham (CAN): The Canadian standout sneaked into the final in seventh, but her qualifying rank belies her true potential. Oldham is one of the few women in the field with the biggest tricks, including a triple cork in her arsenal, that can rival Eileen Gu for raw scoring potential. If she lands her most ambitious run, she is a dark horse to jump from the middle of the pack straight onto the podium.
Han Linshan (CHN): Emerging as the clear second option for China behind Eileen Gu, Han put down a highly composed qualifying performance to finish in 5th. While she doesn't yet have the same name recognition as her teammate, her technical progression over the 2024/25 season has been exponential. She is particularly strong on the rail sections, often scoring higher than the top favourites in the top half of the course. If the pressure of a home-ish crowd in Milano Cortina gets to the Europeans, Han is perfectly positioned to snatch a podium spot and potentially give China a double-medal result.
Giulia Tanno (SUI): After missing the 2022 Olympics due to a devastating arm injury just days before the opening ceremony, Tanno’s presence in this final is the redemption story of the event. While she qualified in 10th, that ranking is deceptive; she was clearly skiing with a safety-first mindset to ensure she finally got to compete in an Olympic final. As a multiple X Games medalist, Tanno has the Big Air power required to go massive on the bottom three jumps. If she lands her trademark double corks, she could easily skyrocket from the bottom of the qualifying list onto the podium, providing the Swiss with a formidable 1-2 punch alongside Gremaud.
Gold: Gu
Silver: Gremaud
Bronze: Muir
Alpine skiing
Marco Odermatt & Loïc Meillard (SUI) Surprisingly, Marco Odermatt missed the podium in the Downhill, finishing 4th. While a disappointment by his standards, he is still elite, and he finished well ahead of most slalom-heavy pairings. Pairing him with Loïc Meillard, who is arguably the best All-Rounder in the world not named Marco Odermatt, makes them the most stable bet. They might not have the raw peak speed of Von Allmen or Noël, but their combined floor is higher than anyone else's.
Franjo von Allmen & Tanguy Nef (SUI) Following his sensational Gold medal performance in the Downhill, Franjo von Allmen is the man to beat. He handled the Stelvio bounce better than anyone, and if he repeats this again, he will hand Tanguy Nef a significant time cushion on most of the field. Nef is a wildcard who often struggles to finish, but when he puts a rundown is as fast as anyone, but with Von Allmen’s momentum and a potential lead of over a second on most of the slalom specialists, the Swiss 'second team' is a legitimate threat to win it all.
Giovanni Franzoni & Alex Vinatzer (ITA) The Italian duo is the primary threat to a Swiss sweep. Giovanni Franzoni proved his pace was no fluke by taking the Silver in the Downhill, finishing just 0.12 seconds behind Von Allmen. This means Alex Vinatzer will start his slalom leg essentially side-by-side with the leaders if things for Franzoni go to plan, but despite Vinatzer being a great slalom skier, he isnt one of the elite currently sat 13th in the slalom standings for this pair to meda.l Franzoni has to have them towards the front after the downhill.
Nils Allegre & Clément Noël (FRA) Nils Allegre put in a very respectable shift in the Downhill, finishing in the top 10 and only about a second off the lead. This is the exact scenario the French were hoping for. Clément Noël is capable of making up a second on almost anyone in a single slalom run, as when he is on fire, he is the fastest, but often struggles to put two runs together. If Allegre’s legs aren't too battered from the physical Stelvio downhill and keep Noel within a second of the lead, they have a great chance of a medal. Noël has the highest probability of jumping from the middle of the pack onto the podium.
Adrian Smiseth Sejersted & Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) Adrian Smiseth Sejersted had a difficult Downhill, finishing outside the top 10 as he struggled with the visibility on the San Pietro jump. This puts Atle Lie McGrath likely in a chase position. McGrath is arguably in better slalom form than anyone in the world right now, but he may be starting too far back to claim a medal. If Sejersted can keep them within a second, they have a chance.
Vincent Kriechmayr & Manuel Feller (AUT) The Austrians had a rough Downhill by their historical standards, with Vincent Kriechmayr losing significant time in the technical middle section. Manuel Feller is the best slalom skier in the world on his day. If this team clicks, they could run away with it, but both athletes are too inconsistent to be serious contenders for gold.
Outsiders for a medal:
Simon Sellaeg & Timon Haugan (NOR): similar to the other Norwegian team of Sejersted and Mcgrath the strength is in the slalom. If Sellaeg can keep Haugan within a second, they have a chance
Dominik Paris & Tommasso Sala (ITA) for this pair to podium as downhill bronze medallist Paris is going to have to do the heavy lifting and give Sala at least a half a second over the chasing pack.
Gold: Odermatt Meillard (SUI)
Silver: von Allmen & Nef (SUI)
Bronze: Allegre & Noel (FRA)
Speed skating
The Women’s 1000m speed skating event at the 2026 Games is expected to be a high-velocity chess match, where the tactical battle between opening speed and closing endurance will decide the podium. Here is a breakdown of the main contenders for the gold.
Jutta Leerdam (NED) The Dutch powerhouse enters as the marginal favourite and the woman everyone has to beat. Leerdam has a unique ability to carry massive speed through the transitions, making her the most consistent 1000m skater of this Olympic cycle. After a disappointing silver in 2022, she has refined her final lap endurance to ensure she doesn't blow up in the final 200 meters. If she skates a clean race, the gold is hers to lose, though the pressure of Dutch expectations is always a factor, especially as the opening speed skating events haven't gone the Dutch's way.
Miho Takagi (JPN) The defending Olympic champion is the ultimate technician of this distance. While she may not have the raw, explosive start of Leerdam, Takagi’s efficiency through the corners is unparalleled, allowing her to maintain speed with less effort. She has been managing her energy across multiple events in Milano Cortina, but the 1000m is her signature race. If she is within 0.2 seconds of Leerdam's split heading into the final lap, her superior finishing kick could see her defend her title.
Kimi Goetz (USA): Goetz has evolved into the most dangerous threat to the Dutch-Japanese duopoly. She has shown incredible form on the World Cup circuit this season, particularly in her ability to match the opening 200m splits of the pure sprinters while maintaining 1000m rhythm. She is currently at the peak of her career and ready to thrive in the Olympic final. Goetz is widely tipped to secure a medal, and if the top two falter even slightly, she is ready to snatch the gold.
Femke Kok (NED) Primarily a 500m specialist, Kok has significantly improved her stamina over the last two seasons to become a legitimate 1000m contender. She will likely lead the field after the first 600 meters, but the question remains whether she can hold off the endurance-based skaters in the death lap. If the ice in Italy is fast and hard, it will favour her sprinting style, potentially allowing her to hang on for a podium spot or even pull off an upset victory.
Brittany Bowe (USA) The veteran of the field and a former world record holder, Bowe is the sentimental favourite in what is likely her final Olympic appearance. While she may no longer have the pure top-end speed of Leerdam, her experience in pacing a 1000m race is second to none. She knows exactly how to use the draft on the backstretch to her advantage. A medal for Bowe would be a fitting lifetime achievement reward for one of the sport's greatest ambassadors.
Gold: Leerdam
Silver: Takagi
Bronze: Goetz
Snowboarding
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (NZL): The New Zealand star enters the final as the top qualifier and the rider with the highest ceiling in the field. Sadowski-Synnott has a unique ability to combine power with perfect style, as evidenced by her massive 90.00 first run in qualifying. Having already secured silver in Beijing, she has spent this cycle mastering the backside triple cork 1440 to ensure she can match the technical progression of her Japanese rivals. If she lands her two best tricks cleanly, the gold is hers to lose, as her amplitude and execution usually give her the edge in the eyes of the judges.
Kokomo Murase (JPN): The 2025 World Champion and recent X Games winner is the ultimate progressive force in women's snowboarding. Murase is the only woman in the field who has landed a backside triple cork 1620 in competition, a trick that effectively serves as a technical "cheat code" if she stomps it. While she qualified second behind Sadowski-Synnott, her potential score ceiling is higher due to that extra half-rotation. If she remains consistent across her three jumps, she is the most likely candidate to lead a potential Japanese sweep of the podium.
Mia Brookes (GBR): Brookes has evolved into the most dangerous threat to the established order of veteran riders. After a terrifying fall on her first qualifying run left her in 24th place, she showed incredible mental fortitude to land a backside 1260 melon for a score of 89.00, moving her into the third qualifying spot. She is at the peak of her technical powers and is known for being a "clutch" performer in big moments. Brookes is widely tipped to secure Britain's first snowboarding gold if she can successfully land her more creative, high-rotation cab tricks in the final.
Anna Gasser (AUT): The veteran of the field and two-time defending Olympic champion, Gasser is the sentimental favourite in her fourth and final Olympic appearance. While she qualified in 9th position and may no longer have the raw spinning speed of teenagers like Brookes or Murase, her experience in managing a three-run final is second to none. She knows exactly how to pace her difficulty to stay in contention until the final jump. A third consecutive gold for Gasser would be a historic achievement and a fitting conclusion for the sport’s most decorated ambassador.
Reira Iwabuchi (JPN): Primarily known for her technical precision, Iwabuchi has significantly increased her trick difficulty to stay competitive with the triple cork club. She qualified in 7th, but she is a rider who often holds back her biggest manoeuvres for the final. She is a master of the frontside double cork 1260 and is capable of matching the score of any rider if the leaders falter. If the wind in Livigno picks up, her smaller frame and tighter rotation style may favour her, potentially allowing her to sneak onto the podium.
The rest of the field also stands a chance of a medal, particularly the other Japanese athletes, Mari Fukada and Momo suzuki as well as Seungeun Yu (KOR) and Meila Stalker (AUS).
Gold: Brookes
Silver: Sadowski-Synnott
Bronze: Gasser
Ski Jumping
The Men’s Normal Hill individual event at the 2026 Games is expected to be a high-altitude game of inches, where the mastery of flight stability and the precision of the Telemark landing will decide the podium. Here is a breakdown of the main contenders for the gold.
Domen Prevc (SLO) The Slovenian sensation enters as the overwhelming favourite and the man with the most momentum in the world. Prevc has dominated the 2025–26 World Cup season, securing 11 victories and arriving in Italy on the back of four consecutive wins. Known for his aggressive, almost horizontal flight style, he has finally found the consistency to match his raw talent. If he manages to stay calm under the immense pressure of being the world number one, the gold is his to lose, as his current form suggests he is jumping on a completely different level than the rest of the field.
Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN) The defending Olympic champion is the ultimate technician and the only man truly capable of dismantling Prevc’s dominance. While his recent World Cup results have been slightly erratic, Kobayashi has a legendary ability to peak specifically for major championships. His aerial posture is mathematically perfect, allowing him to milk every possible meter out of the Predazzo hill. If the wind conditions become unpredictable, his experience and textbook technique will give him a significant advantage over the more daring jumpers.
Ren Nikaido (JPN) Nikaido has emerged as the breakout star of the season and the most legitimate threat to his countryman’s throne. Currently sitting third in the overall standings, he has shown a remarkable ability to land on the podium even when he isn't at 100%. He lacks the star power of Prevc or Kobayashi but possesses a relentless consistency that makes him a virtual lock for a high finish. Nikaido is widely tipped to secure at least a silver or bronze, and if the favourites falter in the first round, he is perfectly positioned to snatch the gold.
Stefan Kraft (AUT) The most decorated jumper in World Cup history, Kraft is the sentimental favourite looking for the one thing missing from his trophy cabinet: an individual Olympic gold. Earlier this season, he broke the all-time record for World Cup points, proving that his veteran legs still have the explosive power required for the normal hill. While he may struggle to match the pure distance of the younger athletes, his style points are consistently the highest in the world. If the competition is decided by judges' marks rather than just meters, Kraft’s elegance could see him finally reach the top step.
Daniel Tschofenig (AUT) The reigning Crystal Globe winner and a tactical master of the hill, Tschofenig represents the future of the powerful Austrian team. He has a unique ability to adjust his flight path mid-air to compensate for changing thermal conditions, a skill that will be vital on the sensitive Italian slopes. Although he hasn't been as dominant this season as he was in 2025, he remains the dark horse who can produce a massive second jump to leapfrog the leaders. A podium for Tschofenig would cement his status as the new leader of the Austrian squad.
People in the field who also stand a chance of a medal are Jan Hörl (AUT) and Philipp Raimund (GER), as well as Anže Lanišek (SLO) and Marius Lindvik (NOR).
Gold: Prevc
Silver: Kraft
Bronze: Kobayashi
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