Seven medal events lit up Day 7 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering record-breaking performances, historic milestones and stunning upsets across multiple sports.
From cross-country dominance by Johannes Hosflot Klæbo to a shock figure skating upset, Friday’s action showcased both expected champions and dramatic twists.
Klæbo Moves Closer to Olympic Immortality
Norway’s Johannes Hosflot Klæbo strengthened his claim as one of the greatest cross-country skiers of all time, winning the men’s 10km free for his eighth Olympic gold.
The 29-year-old matched the Winter Games record for gold medals, joining Norwegian legends Bjorn Dæhlie, Marit Bjorgen and Ole Einar Bjorndalen. With several races still to come, Klæbo has a realistic shot at becoming the most decorated Winter Olympian ever.
Fillon Maillet Adds Another Biathlon Gold
France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet captured the men’s 10km sprint title to secure his second gold of the Games and seventh Olympic biathlon medal overall.
The race was decided by flawless shooting and strong skiing, with Fillon Maillet edging Norway’s Vetle Sjastad Christiansen and Sturla Holm Lægreid, all of whom hit every target.
Snowboard Gold for Australia’s Baff
Australia celebrated its first medal of the Games as Josie Baff won women’s snowboard cross, beating former Olympic champions Eva Adamczykova and Michela Moioli.
Adamczykova made history by becoming the first snowboarder to win three Olympic medals.
Teen Sensation Triumphs in Speed Skating
Czech teenager Metodej Jilek claimed the men’s 10,000m speed skating title, adding gold to the silver he earned earlier in the week.
The 19-year-old delivered a commanding performance, finishing several seconds clear of the field to underline his emergence as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
Totsuka Upsets Scotty James in Halfpipe
Japan’s Totsuka Yuto delivered a standout second run to win men’s snowboard halfpipe gold with a score of 95.00.
The victory denied Australia’s Scotty James a long-awaited Olympic title, leaving the four-time world champion with silver once again. Japan’s Yamada Ryusei took bronze.
Matt Weston Makes British History
Great Britain’s Matt Weston dominated the men’s skeleton, setting track records in all four runs to secure a historic gold medal.
The victory marked Britain’s first individual Winter Olympic gold since 1980 and capped a commanding performance from the two-time world champion.
Figure Skating Produces Major Upset
The biggest surprise of the day came in men’s figure skating, where overwhelming favourite Ilia Malinin struggled in the free skate and fell to eighth overall.
Instead, Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov seized the moment with a superb performance to claim gold — his country’s first Olympic figure skating title. Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato completed the podium.
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