Day 5 – Speed, Precision, and History in the Making

Olympic Winter Games 2026: Day 5 – Speed, Precision, and History in the Making

The fifth day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics marks a pivotal moment in the Games, where raw adrenaline meets technical mastery across the snow and ice. From the high-speed curves of the Super-G at the Stelvio to the historic debut of women’s doubles luge at Cortina, the stakes have never been higher for the world’s elite winter athletes. As the sun rises over the Dolomites, we prepare for a day defined by narrow margins, where medals will be decided by thousandths of a second in the sliding centre and mere inches on the cross-country trails of the Nordic combined.

Alpine skiing

Men's super G:
The final event for the fastest men in the mountains as they swap the downhill course for the more technical super-G, where the course is shorter in length with more turns than the downhill, meaning they generally reach speeds about 20mph slower than in the downhill. The Swiss will be looking to make it three golds out of three in the men's alpine events so far.

Marco Odermatt (SWI) The Swiss superstar enters as the undisputed man to beat. He has dominated the World Cup circuit this season, holding a significant lead in the Super-G standings. He recently won the  Super-G in Kitzbühel just weeks ago. His ability to maintain speed through technical sections makes him the gold-medal favourite.

Franjo von Allmen (SWI) The rising star of the Swiss team has been Odermatt’s closest rival lately. He finished a mere three-hundredths of a second behind Odermatt in the Kitzbühel Super-G and has shown incredible consistency in speed events all season, and with two gold medals already under his belt he will see this as a free hit.

Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) The veteran Austrian remains a powerhouse in Super-G. He won earlier this season in Beaver Creek, is currently second in the Super-G standings, and has the experience of multiple World Championship titles, plus coming into this on a high after claiming a bronze with Manuel Feller in the alpine combined.

Giovanni Franzoni (ITA) As a home-track favourite, Franzoni is carrying the hopes of Italy. He has been in blistering form, having recently won the Wengen Super-G in January and claiming silver in the downhill. He should definitely be in the mix for a medal despite not being quite as good at super-G as he is at Downhill.

Dominik Paris (ITA), the king of bormio will be looking to add to his downhill bronze in this one. Despite super-G not being his preferred discipline, his expertise on the Stelvio gives him every chance of a medal.

Stefan Babinsky (AUT) and Raphael Haaser (AUT). Both Austrians have been frequent podium threats this season and amongst the most consistent men on tour meanign they sit 3rd and 4th in the super-G rankings. I don't see either of these winning this, but they could both absolutely podium.

This figures to be a very tight battle for silver and bronze behind Odermatt, but he does have all the pressure on him as he has yet to claim a gold at these olympics but with this and the Giant slalom to come, expect Odermatt to win at least one and probably both.

Prediction:
Gold: Odermatt
Silver: Paris
Bronze: Kriechmayr

Nordic combined

The first event of the bizarre sport of Nordic combined features the Individual Gundersen Normal Hill/10km, where athletes first compete in a ski jumping round on the Normal Hill before transitioning to a 10km cross-country ski race. The starting order for the ski race is determined by the Gundersen method, where jumping points are converted into time penalties. It takes a beautiful combination of precision in ski jumping and the power to be competitive in the cross-country skiing.

Gemini saidThe Nordic Combined event on Wednesday, February 11, presents a fascinating clash between endurance and precision. This event features the Individual Gundersen Normal Hill/10km, where athletes first compete in a ski jumping round on the Normal Hill before transitioning to a 10km cross-country ski race. The starting order for the ski race is determined by the "Gundersen method," where jumping points are converted into time penalties.

Jarl Magnus Riiber (Norway) The undisputed king of the sport is the heavy favourite for gold. Riiber has been in a league of his own this season, often building such a massive lead in the jumping round that the cross-country portion becomes a victory lap. His technical mastery on the hill makes him nearly impossible to catch if he lands a clean jump.

Johannes Lamparter (Austria) As the reigning overall World Cup champion from previous seasons, Lamparter is the primary challenger to Riiber’s dominance. He is a more balanced athlete who can bridge gaps during the 10km ski. If Riiber falters even slightly on the jump, Lamparter has the engine to hunt him down and take the gold.

Stefan Rettenegger (Austria) The younger Austrian has emerged as a consistent podium threat this year. He has shown remarkable composure on the hill and often works in tandem with Lamparter during the ski portion to pressure the Norwegians. He is a very strong bet for a medal.

Jens Lurås Oftebro (Norway) While Riiber dominates the air, Oftebro is one of the fastest men on skis in the entire field. If he can stay within a minute of the leaders after the jumping round, his explosive finishing kick makes him a terrifying prospect for the leaders in the final kilometre of the race.

Vinzenz Geiger (Germany) The defending champion from the Beijing Games can never be counted out. Geiger is a specialist at the catch, known for starting deep in the pack and picking off rivals one by one. While the German team has had a quieter season by their standards, Geiger’s big-game temperament makes him a podium contender.

Kristjan Ilves (Estonia) Ilves has been the dark horse of the 2025/26 season, consistently hovering around the top five. He is an elite jumper who often starts the cross-country race in the top three. His challenge will be holding off the powerhouse skiers from Norway and Austria in the final laps.

Prediction:
Gold: Riiber
Silver: Lamparter
Bronze: Oftebro

Biathlon

Women's 15km individual is slightly shorter than men's, with five 3km loops rather than 4km loops, but the penalty for a miss remains at one minute, meaning hitting the targets in the women's event is even more important than the men's, as less ski time to claw the time back.

Lou Jeanmonnot (FRA): The French women are dominant in women's biathlon, with Jeanmonnot being the pick of the bunch as she is so clutch on the final shoot, and she is one of the few women who can afford a miss and still win, given her ski speed. She is the current World Cup leader and the favourite for this event after how great she was in the mixed relay.

Julia Simon (FRA): has been getting quicker and quicker throughout the season, as she had to play catch-up after she was banned by the French biathlon union for stealing, but she looks back close to her brilliant best as she was exemplary in the relay with the fastest shoot time while missing zero targets. Her ski speed still isnt quite where it once was, but if she hits all the targets, she will be right in the mix.

Justine Braissaz-Bouchet (FRA): One of the fastest skiers in the sport, but inconsistent. This format probably isnt the one where she is likely to win due to the extra penalty for a miss, but if she hits 18 out of 20 based on how many misses there were in the men's race, she could feature in the medals. Expect her to be closer to the top in the sprint or pursuit.

Elvira Oeberg (SWE): Will be coming into this annoyed after being controversially left out of the mixed relay, and when she is on, she is the fastest contender on the skis has had to deal with intermittent illness this season hasnt had ideal preperation but if she hits 18, she will be in contention.

Hanna Oeberg (SWE): Elvira's sister Hanna is one of the most inform athlete in the field, and she individually had a great relay, nearly dragging Sweden to fourth after being 21st earlier in the race. She is rapid on the skis and as consistent as she has ever been with the rifle.

Lisa Vittozzi (ITA): The fastest shot on tour, when she is at her best, she could spend under a minute and a half on all four shoots. The ski speed has been getting quicker and quicker as she had to sit out the whole 2024/25 season with injury, and if she hits most of the targets will be in contention as she can claw back up to 10 seconds on some athletes on the range.

Dorothea Weirer (ITA): The home darling who now has much less pressure on her due to the silver in the mixed relay. At 35, these Olympics will be the last event she ever does, and the ski speed isnt one what it was, but she shoots fast and won the opening individual of the season. If she is to repeat that, she has to hit all the targets.

Franziska Preuss (GER): Last year's overall champion has struggled with illness over the summer and into this season, so isnt quite at the same level she was last season, but she is one of the best shots on tour and is still competitive on the skis. She will be in the mix.

Suvi Minkkinen (FIN): The surprise of last season, who, at 3,1 is still somehow getting better and better. She is in the top five of the overall this season and is a great skier and great shot. Despite not being in the top five of each category, she is so consistent and will medal at some point in these Olympics.

Maren Kirkeide (NOR): The lone Norwegian woman with a chance to win, Kirkeide had a nightmare in the relay, missing five out of eight on the final shoot to drop the Norwegians from second to fourth. But she is brilliant on her day, rapid on the skis, and a reliable shot if she isnt in the top eight i'd be surprised.

Other contenders:
Amy Baserga, Lea Meier, Lena Haecki-Gross (SUI): The Swiss have a very competitive women's team despite having no elite athletes. All three have shown flashes over the last few seasons, and one of them will be in contention through at least three shots in this race. They're unlikely to podium but absolutely could.

Anastasiya Kuzmina (SVK): A six time olympic medalist, including three golds, at 42, she has been slowly getting quicker and quicker over the last season. After three years away, she is still lacking ski speed. She has seen it all in this sport, so she should be able to cope if shooting conditions are difficult

Lisa-Theresa Hauser (AUT): A veteran of the sport who has won this season, she will be in contention for a top 10, but I find it hard to see her medalling despite the fact that she has won a race this season.

In a wide-open race with most of the field very closely matched, Jeanmonnot is the favourite, but if she misses i find it hard to see her winning as one of the favourites will shoot clear.

Prediction:
Gold: Vittozzi
Silver: Jeanmonnot
Bronze: H. Oeberg

Freestyle skiing

The Women's Moguls final is shaping up to be a masterclass in high-speed technicality. The course at Livigno is notoriously unforgiving, demanding a perfect blend of turn points, the rhythmic absorption of those frozen bumps, and the air points earned from gravity-defying jumps like the cork 720.

Jakara Anthony (Australia) The defending Olympic champion is the clear woman to beat. After a collarbone injury sidelined her for much of last year, Anthony has returned with terrifying consistency, winning three of the four World Cup events leading into the Games. Her technical precision in the turns is second to none, and her ability to maintain a rock-solid line while others bounce off-course makes her the heavy favourite to become the first woman to win back-to-back Moguls gold.

Jaelin Kauf (USA) Known as the fastest woman on the hill, Kauf is the speed specialist. The Beijing silver medalist recently swept the World Championship dual moguls and arrives with massive momentum. While she occasionally sacrifices a bit of technical turn form for pure velocity, her sheer power and explosive jumps make her the primary threat to Anthony’s throne. If she lands a clean run at full throttle, her time score could be insurmountable.

Perrine Laffont (France) The 2018 Olympic champion and reigning world champion, is a legend of the sport who thrives under pressure. Laffont is perhaps the most balanced athlete in the field, possessing the French school elegance in her turns combined with decades of elite experience. Having topped the overall World Cup standings last season by a single point, she knows exactly how to find the extra gear when a medal is on the line.

Elizabeth Lemley (USA) The teenage phenom of the American squad, Lemley is the rising star of the 2025/26 season. She proved her grit by recovering from an ACL injury to secure multiple podiums this winter. She brings a fresh, aggressive style to her jumps, often incorporating complex grabs that the judges adore. She isn't just a future prospect; she is a podium threat right now.

Olivia Giaccio (USA) Giaccio is a technical wizard and a pioneer of the cork 720 in women's competition. She has been neck-and-neck with the top three all season, consistently finishing within fractions of a point of the leaders. Her strength lies in her high-difficulty air packages; if the leaders play it safe with their jumps, Giaccio’s higher degree of difficulty could propel her onto the steps.

Hinako Tomitaka (Japan) As the reigning World Championship silver medalist, Tomitaka carries the hopes of a Japanese team that has been a mogul powerhouse for years. She is incredibly disciplined, rarely making the leg splits or mistakes that lead to point deductions in the mogul fields. She is a model of consistency who is perfectly positioned to capitalise if any of the favourites falter in the super-final.

Prediction:
Gold: Anthony
Silver: Laffont
Bronze: Kauf

Speed skating

The 1000m is the combination of sprint and endurance in the men's speed skating events 

Jordan Stolz (USA): Stolz enters the 1000m with an almost unprecedented level of expectation. He is the current world record holder and has won every single World Cup 1000m race he entered during the 2025-2026 season.  His ability to maintain a high-end sprint speed while having the endurance to hold off the late-race fade that plagues pure sprinters makes him the phenom of this Olympic cycle.

While Stolz is the overwhelming favourite for Gold the battle for silver and bronze should be close

Damian Żurek (Poland) Żurek has emerged as the most consistent threat to the podium this season. He frequently finished second behind Stolz in the 2025-2026 World Cup circuit and is currently ranked second in the World Cup standings. His explosive start is among the best in the world, though his challenge remains holding that pace through the final lap.

Jenning de Boo (Netherlands) The Dutch always bring depth, but 21-year-old Jenning de Boo is their brightest star in this distance. He has been a consistent podium finisher throughout the season and is viewed as the primary hope for the Netherlands to keep their long-standing speed skating medal streak alive.

Ning Zhongyan (China) Ning is a versatile skater who excels in the 1000m and 1500m. His coach, Johan de Wit, has noted that Ning is faster than ever and significantly more stable than he was during the Beijing 2022 cycle. He finished the season ranked in the top five globally and is expected to be a major factor if he can execute a clean final corner.

Kjeld Nuis (Netherlands) The defending Olympic champion from 2022 and 2018, is the veteran of the field. While he hasn't quite matched the raw speed of Stolz this season, his experience in managing the pressure of the Olympic stage makes him a dangerous threat for silver and bronze.

Prediction:
Gold: Stolz
Silver: de Boo
Bronze: Żurek

Luge

The Women’s Doubles luge event is making its historic Olympic debut at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. Unlike the men's event, which has been a staple for decades, this inaugural race features a high-stakes rivalry between three powerhouse nations: Austria, Germany, and the host nation, Italy.

Selina Egle & Lara Kipp (Austria) The World Cup overall leaders and reigning 2025 World Champions are the gold standard heading into this debut. They have been incredibly dominant throughout the 2025/26 season, securing wins in Lake Placid, Sigulda, and Oberhof. Their greatest strength is their consistency; they rarely make the micro-mistakes at the start that can cost precious thousandths of a second. They are the favourites to become the first-ever Olympic champions in this discipline.

Jessica Degenhardt & Cheyenne Rosenthal (Germany). If anyone can upset the Austrians, it is this German duo. Degenhardt and Rosenthal have a history of peaking at exactly the right moment, including a victory at the European Championships just weeks ago in Oberhof. They possess the classic German school technique, aggressive lines, and immense power at the handles, which comes with a higher risk. They have traded blows with Egle and Kipp all winter, making this a true toss-up if the track conditions are fast.

Andrea Vötter & Marion Oberhofer (Italy) As the hometown heroes, Vötter and Oberhofer carry the weight of Italian expectations. They are the most experienced duo in the field, having won the overall World Cup titles in both 2023 and 2024. While they have spent much of the 2025/26 season in the silver and bronze positions, they have the "home-track advantage" at Cortina. Their familiarity with the curves of the new track could be the X-factor that bridges the gap to the Germans and Austrians.

Dajana Eitberger & Magdalena Matschina (Germany) Eitberger, a former singles Olympic silver medalist, made the switch to doubles specifically for this Olympic cycle. This pair has proven to be remarkably fast, often setting track records in the first heat before slipping slightly in the second. As the second-ranked German sled, they provide the depth that makes Germany a threat to sweep two of the three podium spots.

Chevonne Forgan & Sophia Kirkby (USA) The American duo represents the best chance for a non-European medal. They have been the best of the rest for much of the season, consistently finishing in the top five and snagging a podium in Lake Placid. They are known for their technical resilience; even when they have a messy start, they are exceptionally good at finding speed in the bottom half of the track.

Prediction:
Gold: Egle & Kipp
Silver: Degenhardt & Rosenthal
Bronze: Forgan & Kirkby

In the Men's Doubles luge, the narrative for the 2026 Winter Olympics revolves around a legendary German pair attempting to secure a fourth consecutive gold medal against an increasingly fast field of Austrian and Italian challengers.

The Tobis Seeking History: Tobias Wendl & Tobias Arlt (Germany)

The most successful doubles pair in history, Wendl and Arlt, are aiming for an unprecedented fourth straight Olympic gold in this event. While they are the veterans of the circuit, they remain the pair to beat, having dominated the 2025/26 World Cup circuit with a "hat trick" of wins leading into the Games. Their experience on high-pressure second runs is their greatest asset, though early training times in Cortina suggest they aren't quite as far ahead of the pack as they were in Beijing.

Thomas Steu & Wolfgang Kindl (Austria) This super-pair was formed specifically for the 2026 cycle. Steu is a veteran doubles specialist, while Kindl is one of the world's best singles sliders. Their combination of raw speed and technical steering has made them the primary threat to German dominance. They finished the 2025/26 season as the top-ranked Austrian sledge and have shown they can out-paddle the Germans at the start.

Juri Gatt & Riccardo Schöpf (Austria) The younger Austrian duo has been the surprise of the season, consistently landing on World Cup podiums. They are known for their fearless lines through the track’s most technical sections. If the ice at Cortina remains hard and fast, their aggressive style could see them snatch a medal from the more established veterans.

Emanuel Rieder & Simon Kainzwaldner (Italy) As the top Italian pair, they carry the home-crowd advantage. They were the fastest in several training heats at the Eugenio Monti track this week. In a sport decided by thousandths of a second, knowing every bump and transition of the home ice is a massive advantage. They are currently the favourites to secure Italy’s first men’s doubles medal since 2006.

Toni Eggert & Florian Müller (Germany) Toni Eggert, a multi-time World Champion, returned for 2026 with a new partner, Florian Müller. While they have struggled with consistency compared to Wendl and Arlt, they are still capable of track-record speed on any given day. They represent Germany’s second option for the medals.

Prediction:
Gold: Wendl & Arlt
Silver: Gatt & Schöpf
Bronze: Steu & Kindl

Figure skating

The ice dance competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games has reached its peak intensity after a thrilling Rhythm Dance. With the scores incredibly tight and the world’s top couples separated by thin margins, the Free Dance will decide who walks away with Olympic glory. 

Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France currently lead the field with a formidable Rhythm Dance score of 90.18. As they head into the final segment, their seasonal dominance remains their greatest asset; they hold the highest Free Dance Season Best in the world at 135.50. If they perform to this standard, they are projected to finish first with a total of 225.68, making them the statistical favourites to claim the gold medal.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the USA are hot on their heels in second place with a score of 89.72, trailing by a mere 0.46 points. While their Season Best Free Dance of 133.23 is slightly lower than that of the French, their projected total of 222.95 keeps them firmly in the silver medal position. However, because the gap is less than half a point, the Americans can fight for gold if they can maximise their artistic component scores.

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada occupy the third-place spot with 86.18 points after a sophisticated opening performance. Their Season Best Free Dance of 125.86 gives them a projected final score of 212.04, which currently places them at the front of the pack for the bronze medal battle, but some way off the battle for gold. They hold a nearly two-point cushion over the fifth-place Italians, but they must remain technically perfect to defend their podium position from the surging challengers below.

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain are currently in fourth place with a score of 85.47, putting them less than a point away from the podium. While their Season Best Free Dance of 124.04 results in a projected total of 209.51—dropping them slightly to fifth in the overall season-best rankings—their infectious energy often leads to higher-than-expected scores. They are the most immediate threat to the Canadians, as one minor mistake from the top three could vault the British pair into a medal position.

Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy sit in fifth place with 84.28 points, but the numbers suggest they are more dangerous than their current rank implies. Their Season Best Free Dance is a massive 125.86, matching the Canadians for the third-best Free Dance potential in the field. This gives them a projected total of 210.14, which would see them leapfrog the British pair into fourth place and put immense pressure on the Canadians for the bronze medal on their home ice in Milan.

Obviously, the potential rankings using the season's best isnt perfect as some of these teams will beat their season's best and some will be lower, but give a good idea of who is fighting for what. The French and American pairs look to be in a straight shootout for gold with Canada, Italy and potentially GB in a battle for bronze.

Prediction:
Gold: USA
Silver: France
Bronze: Italy

Gemini saidortina 2026 Games has reached its peak intensit