Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy) (AFP) – In just nine days of competition, Italy already broke its record for medals in a Winter Games on Sunday, taking advantage of the effect of competing at home and, above all, the great investment made by the country in its athletes.

First modification: 02/16/2026 - 15:59

With one week left in the Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy was second in the medal table on Sunday night, with 22 medals in total: 8 gold, 4 silver and 10 bronze.

Only Norway surpassed the host in number of metals (27) and Olympic titles (12).

The record until now for the Azzurri team was Lillehammer's 20 medals in 1994 (7 gold, 5 silver and 8 bronze).

In that edition she finished fourth in the medal table, her best classification, equaling that of Grenoble 1968.

Podiums in 9 disciplines

This success has exceeded all expectations. Before the third Winter Games on Italian soil, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), Luigi Buonfiglio, had set himself the goal of "at least 19 medals."

"I would never have imagined that we had such a strong team," the Italian sports boss admitted in surprise after breaking the record.

"With the organization of these Games, we were condemned to win and make the Italians proud and this team has responded presently," added Buonfiglio.

Success is not explained only by the fact of "playing at home."

For the top Italian sports official, this success is the result of preparation planned a long time ago: "While we are here, there are coaches who are already preparing for the next Games."

At the head of the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) since 2012, Flavio Roda also aims to increase the financial resources allocated to the different national teams.

Budget increase by 40%

"Compared to four years ago, our federation has spent between 35% and 40% more on its athletes," he explained to AFP.

"And this in all sports; none is more important than another," insisted Roda, who controls all snow disciplines, as well as bobsleigh, luge and skeleton.

This diversified investment is paying off: Italy has won medals in nine different disciplines, while Norway, for example, has won medals in only six sports.

For now, it is not even equaled by the United States, the country surely with the greatest representation in all disciplines.

It is difficult to quantify what percentage of success corresponds to the investment and how much to the fact of competing in Italy, but Roda is clear: "Everyone understood that the success of these Games also depended on our results."

© 2026 AFP

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