After six days of competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games, Italy leads all nations with 17 total medals.

The host nation was tied with winter sport-powerhouse Norway heading into Thursday, but a four-medal day gave Italian athletes the edge ahead of Day 7.

Less than half of the medal events at the 2026 Games have been contested, but Italy has already matched its total medals won during the 2022 Beijing Games. At Milan Cortina, the team is just four podium finishes shy of recording its most successful Winter Olympics to date. With six gold, three silver and eight bronze medals already secured, Italy will look to surpass its 20-medal performance achieved at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympic Games.

Alpine skier Federica Brignone was the first Italian athlete to win a gold medal on Day 6, taking the top spot in the women’s super-G. At 35 years old, Brignone became the oldest gold medalist, man or woman, in the sport’s Olympic history. The victory marked the culmination of a challenging journey for the skier, who broke multiple bones in her left leg and tore her ACL just 10 months ago.

In speed skating, Francesca Lollobrigida continued her dominant 2026 Milan Cortina campaign, securing her second gold medal of the Games in the women's 5000m. Lollobrigida was the first Italian athlete to win a medal at the 2026 Games when she topped the podium in the 3000m on Feb. 7, setting an Olympic record in the process. On Thursday, she became one of just five athletes to win two or more gold medals at Milan Cortina.

Short track star Arianna Fontana also secured her second podium finish of the Games, taking home silver in the women’s short track 500m. Though Fontana was unable to three-peat in the event, the 2nd place finish was historic in its own right — by securing her 13th Olympic medal, Fontana matched Italy's all-time Olympic medal record set by fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti. Fontana, 35, led Italy to its first-ever gold in the mixed relay on Tuesday, becoming the oldest female short track athlete to reach an Olympic podium.

It was a remarkable feat by savvy Italian women as three 35-year-old females claimed medals within hours before their delighted home crowd.

After sweeping men's and women’s doubles luge with two gold medals on Wednesday, Italy turned in another impressive performance with a bronze in the luge team relay. It was the second medal of the Games for Andrea Votter and Marion Oberhofer (after the gold in women’s doubles), Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner (gold in men’s doubles) and Dominik Fischnaller (bronze in men’s singles).

When it comes to the Winter Olympics, home advantage is real.

Italy’s early success is impressive, however, it follows the trend of recent Winter Olympic Games. At the 2022 Beijing Games, host nation China had its most successful Winter Olympic Games to date. China secured 15 total medals (nine gold, four silver, two bronze), the fourth-most of any nation.

At the 2018 PyeongChang Games, Korea won 17 medals (five gold, eight silver, four bronze), also marking the country’s best performance at a Winter Olympics.

The medal count will be updated daily throughout the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.