There's nothing like breaking records on the world's biggest stage.

At the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, there were several iconic moments, with athletes and nations reaching unprecedented milestones and raising the competition bar. 

Here is a look back at some of the top record-breaking moments of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

At Milan Cortina, Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo was simply unstoppable. The appropriately nicknamed “King Klaebo” went six-for-six in cross-country skiing events, becoming the first Winter Olympic athlete to win six gold medals at a single Games. He surpassed American Eric Heiden's five speed skating gold medals won at the 1980 Games. Klaebo started his Milan Cortina campaign with a win in the skiathlon on Feb. 8, then added gold medals in the men’s 4x7.5km relay, men’s 10km free, men’s sprint classic, men’s team sprint free and men’s 50km mass start classic.

USA's Elana Meyers Taylor has had a long and illustrious career, and she entered the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics already owning several records. She further cemented her Olympic legacy, however, by finally securing a gold medal — a feat that had eluded her up to this point. With a 1st place finish in women's monobob, Meyers Taylor:

• Became the oldest U.S. woman to win a Winter Olympic medal and the second-oldest woman to win a Winter Olympic gold medal.
• Tied speed skater Bonnie Blair as the most decorated U.S. woman in Winter Olympic history.
• Became one of four U.S. Winter Olympians with six or more medals (joining Apolo Ohno, Bode Miller and Blair)

The sliding sport powerhouse brought things to a whole new level at Milan Cortina, sweeping the podium in two-man bobsled for the second consecutive Winter Olympics. When they swept the podium at the 2022 Beijing Games, it was the first time it had ever been done in the event. Germany's dominance continued with yet another record-breaking performance at the Cortina Sliding Centre.

Women's hockey players were on a mission at Milan Cortina. Marie-Philip Poulin, a member of the Canadian team that won the silver medal, netted her 19th career goal in a 2-1 semifinal win over Switzerland. That set the record for most goals ever scored by a women's hockey player in Olympic history, but she tacked on another one to bring her record total to 20.

Team captain Hilary Knight set the record for most Olympic goals scored by an American women's hockey player in dramatic fashion. With just over two minutes to play in the gold medal game, Knight found the back of the net to tie it up and send the game to overtime. It was Knight's 15th career goal and 33rd career point — both U.S. women's hockey records. The United States went on to win the gold medal in overtime.

Siblings Domen Prevc and Nika Prevc were members of the Slovenian team that entered the mixed team normal hill ski jumping competition as heavy gold medal favorites — and they delivered.

The brother and sister duo won gold with teammates Nika Vodan and Anze Lanisek. Domen and Nika's older brothers, Peter and Cene, have both previously won Olympic medals.

The Prevcs are now the only family with four siblings who have each taken home Olympic hardware.

Entering the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, Brazil — who typically sends a small delegation to the Winter Olympics — had never taken home a Winter Olympic medal. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen changed that when he won gold in the men's giant slalom on Feb. 14. With the victory, he became the first athlete representing a South American nation to earn a Winter Olympic medal.

Italy's Arianna Fontana made history in front of a home crowd at Milan Cortina.

The short track skater added to her legendary career by becoming the first woman to win a medal at six consecutive Winter Olympic Games. She won three medals at Milan Cortina (one gold, two silvers), bringing her career total to 14 — the most of any Italian Olympic athlete. The 35-year-old ends her career as the second-most decorated Winter Olympian in any sport, and the most decorated short track Olympian.

For the very first time, the U.S. women and men took home gold in hockey at the same Winter Olympic Games. Both teams defeated Canada in their respective gold medal games, and both victories came in overtime. Remarkably, the games also ended with identical scores: 2-1.

The Winter Olympics powerhouse was dominant once again at Milan Cortina. Norway finished the Games with 41 total medals, the most any nation has ever won at a single Winter Olympics. The number broke the previous record, 39, set by Norway at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Norwegian athletes also took home more gold medals (18) than any nation previously had at a single Games.

For the third consecutive Winter Olympics, Norway topped the medal count. This marks the first time a nation has taken home the most medals at three consecutive Winter Olympics since Germany accomplished the feat in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

Alpine skiers Sarah Schleper and Lasse Gaxiola from Mexico made history, becoming the first mother-son duo to compete at the same Winter Olympics. Schleper competed in the women's super-G and giant slalom, while Gaxiola competed in the men's slalom.

Milan Cortina marked a successful Winter Olympics for several nations, including Italy, Australia and the United States.

The host nation had its most successful Winter Olympics to date, taking home 30 medals, the third-most of any country. This far surpassed the nation's previous best, 20, set at the 1994 Lillehammer Games.

Australia also recorded its most successful Winter Olympics, taking home six total medals including three gold.

The U.S. took home 12 gold medals, the most the country has ever won at a single Winter Olympics. Team USA left Milan Cortina with 33 total medals.