Germany at Milano Cortina 2026: Gold in the Snow, Heartbreak on the Ice
MILAN, 21 February 2026 – As the XXV Olympic Winter Games enter their final 48 hours, the German delegation in Northern Italy finds itself in a position of contrasting fortunes. While the sliding tracks of Cortina d’Ampezzo have once again become a “German living room”, the highly anticipated men’s ice hockey campaign has come to a premature and painful end. With the closing ceremony scheduled for tomorrow, Germany remains a powerhouse in traditional disciplines despite emerging challenges in newer sports like Ski Mountaineering.
Current Medal Standings and Highlights
As of Saturday, 21 February, Germany continues to battle for a top-five finish in the overall medal table. The penultimate day of competition has been defined by dominance in the bobsleigh and a historic breakthrough in freestyle skiing.
Gold for Daniela Maier
In a thrilling display of speed and tactical precision, freestyler Daniela Maier secured the gold medal in the Ski Cross event yesterday. Maier’s victory provided a significant boost to the German team’s morale following a week of mixed results in the Nordic disciplines. Her performance is being hailed as one of the standout individual achievements of these Games.
Bobsleigh: The German Dominance Continues
The track at Cortina d’Ampezzo has seen Germany assert its technical superiority. In the Two-Woman Bob, the duo of Laura Nolte and Deborah Buckwitz currently lead the field heading into the final runs. Meanwhile, in the men’s competition, Johannes Lochner has set both start and track records, holding a narrow lead over teammate and rival Francesco Friedrich at the halfway point.
Ice Hockey: Quarter-Final Exit for the NHL Stars
The most significant disappointment for German fans came two days ago on the ice in Milan. Despite a roster bolstered by NHL superstars Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, and Moritz Seider, the German men’s national team was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
The campaign began with promise but faltered during the group stages, including a heavy 1-5 defeat against the USA last Sunday. After navigating a qualification play-off against France earlier this week, Germany faced the Slovakia in the quarter-finals—the same opponent that ended their run in Beijing 2022. In a repeat of history, the clinical Slovakian side capitalised on defensive lapses to send the German “Dream Team” home without a medal.
Mixed Results in Biathlon and Nordic Combined
The German biathlon team has faced a challenging fortnight in Antholz. Ahead of the final women’s mass start today (scheduled for 14:15 CET), the team has managed only one medal across the entire competition. Philipp Horn narrowly missed the podium in the men’s mass start yesterday, finishing in a frustrating fourth place.
Similarly, the Nordic Combined team has faced internal and external scrutiny. Following a disappointing second competition where the athletes fell out of contention during the ski jumping phase, veterans of the squad described their own performances as “abysmal,” sparking a debate about the future of the training programme in Germany.
The Debut of Ski Mountaineering (Skimo)
Milano Cortina 2026 marked the Olympic debut of Ski Mountaineering. The German Alpine Club (DAV) sent a dedicated trio—Tatjana Paller, Helena Euringer, and Finn Hösch—to compete in this grueling new discipline. While the team did not reach the podium, the event was overshadowed by a selection scandal involving several top-tier German athletes who were excluded from the squad for “sporting reasons,” leading to significant friction within the national federation.
Milano Cortina 2026: Key Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Dates | 6 February – 22 February 2026 |
| Host Locations | Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Joint Hosts) |
| Total Disciplines | 16 (8 Sports) |
| Total Events | 116 Medal Decisions |
| German Flag Bearers | To be confirmed for Closing Ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is the Closing Ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The closing ceremony will take place tomorrow, Sunday, 22 February 2026, marking the end of the 16-day competition in Northern Italy.
Why did the German Ice Hockey team struggle?
Despite having elite NHL talent, analysts have pointed to a “performance gap” between the top stars and the depth of the roster. Losses to Latvia in the opening week and a clinical Slovakia in the quarter-finals highlighted defensive vulnerabilities.
Where are the sliding events being held?
The bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events are being held at the historic track in Cortina d’Ampezzo, while the ice hockey and figure skating events are centred in Milan.
How is the DOSB protecting German athletes from online abuse?
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) has implemented AI-driven filtering software during these Games to protect athletes from a surge in “hate speech” and social media harassment following disappointing results.