Records were broken and victors medaled during the 2026 Winter Olympics. From February 6 - 22, 2026, 2,900 athletes competed in 116 events across 16 disciplines and 8 sports at 15 different venues. Worldwide viewers tuned in to watch athletes from across the globe compete in Italy on one of the biggest stages in sports.
Olympic History
The first Winter Olympic Games were held in 1924 in the French Alps in Chamonix, France. At that time, 16 nations competed and the Games have since grown into the incredible global event we know today. Originally, the Summer Olympics (beginning in 1896) and Winter Olympics occurred every four years, but they began alternating every two years in 1994, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to stagger the games. In 1960, the IOC added the Paralympic Games, and the Youth Olympic Games followed in 2010 which are now part of both the Summer and Winter Games.
2026 Olympic Results
This year there were 92 National Olympic Committees (NOC), each representing a country or territory. Of those, 29 earned at least one medal and just 19 won one or more gold. The United States finished second on the leaderboard with 33 total medals including 12 gold, 12 silver, and 9 bronze. Norway was the top NOC with 41 total medals including 18 gold, 12 silver, and 11 bronze.
Durangoans in the Olympics
This year, Charlie Mickel represented the USA in Men’s Moguls as a first-time Olympian. He grew up in Durango, CO skiing at Purgatory Resort and has had success in the World Cup and World Championships since 2022. He ranked 6th in Men’s Dual Moguls and 12th in Men’s Moguls this year. The State of Colorado is home to 30 athletes that competed in the 25th Winter Olympics, bringing home nine medals.Throughout the years, many Durangoans have represented our area including: Clark Matis, Mike Elliott, Ronny Yeager, as well as many more in the Summer Olympics.
We look forward to the Summer Olympics returning to the United States for Los Angeles 2028, followed by the 2030 Winter Games returning to the French Alps. The Olympics are an amazing collaboration of countries and athletes, bringing the world together through sports. It’s wonderful to see Durango locals representing our city, state, and country and we look forward to the upcoming games!
