02/12/26 17:38
How closely have you been watching the Winter Olympics? Take our mid-Games quiz
– Sarah Wallace
It’s halfway through the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, and the competition will only heat up from here.
There’s already been a lot of tears (both happy and sad), lifelong dreams being fulfilled and heart-wrenching injuries. But how well have you been paying attention?
Take our quiz to test your knowledge of the 2026 Winter Olympics so far.
02/12/26 17:20
Analysis: Canada’s first Olympic hockey win was a chemistry test
– Grant Robertson
Open this photo in gallery:
Head coach John Cooper’s experiment paid off today.Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
About midway through Canada’s opening game at the Olympics today, Mitch Marner lifted a backhand saucer pass over a sprawling Czech defender, leaving Mark Stone with a wide-open net.
In fact, Stone was left with such an excessive amount of net to work with that he was still marvelling at Marner’s pass a few hours hour later as he strode off the ice following Canada’s 5-0 win over Czechia.
“Perfect,” Stone said. “If you don’t have your stick on the ice, it makes you look stupid.”
As Canada tries to figure out its line combinations in Milan, Stone and Marner have a slight advantage over their teammates. Heading into Canada’s first game at the Olympics, Stone figures the two have probably played on the same line for about 15 or 20 games with the Vegas Golden Knights this year.
But for most the team, these are new co-workers. And there are legitimate questions about how it will all come together.
Would the combinations cooked up by Team Canada’s coaches work? Would mixing four lines of all-star forwards onto a single roster result in immediate cohesion or would it take time? Because at the Olympics, there’s not much time to tinker.
Head coach Jon Cooper, wearing a red maple leaf tie to the game, might as well have donned a white lab coat: This game was a full-on chemistry experiment.
Read the full analysis here.
02/12/26 16:30
Opinion: Every medal tastes sweeter in these bitter times for Canada. Thank you, Olympians
– Eric Reguly
Open this photo in gallery:
Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury hugs his family after winning his silver medal in men’s moguls.Fabrizio Troccoli/The Globe and Mail
Thank you, lads. We – we Canadians, that is – needed your medals.
We needed Mikaël Kingsbury, the freestyle skier with the most wins in the history of the sport, to climb the podium in the men’s moguls final in the Milan Cortina Olympics. Ditto Éliot Grondin in the men’s snowboard cross (both won silver on Thursday). Not just because we were short of medals at this stage in the Games – we were – but because we were short of good news in a country that once seemed to have everything going for it.
The headlines since Donald Trump became U.S. President for the second time and took a wrecking ball to democracy, to world trade – especially with Canada – to the environment, to diplomacy in general, and to human decency have been universally gloomy, distressing even.
The list goes on – and on. Then there is the non-political news. The Tumbler Ridge killings plunged us into national mourning. Mass killings are regular events in the U.S.; they are not supposed to happen to us (though they do once in a while).
As the existential crisis pierces the soul of Canada, Canadian athletes did what they were supposed to do: Train hard to make us proud in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Read the full column here.
02/12/26 16:18
Gold-medal favourite Dandjinou misses men’s 1000m short-track podium
Open this photo in gallery:
Dandjinou was the favourite to take the men’s 1000m short track gold.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Canadian William Dandjinou, the gold-medal favourite, just missed the podium in the men’s 1,000-metre final in short-track speedskating.
The Netherlands’ Jens van ’t Wout claimed gold, followed by China’s Sun Long and South Korea’s Rim Jongun.
Dandjinou, of Montreal, led for most of the race but placed fourth after being passed in the final lap.
– The Canadian Press
02/12/26 16:04
Courtney Sarault wins bronze medal in women’s 500m short track
– Cathal Kelly
Open this photo in gallery:
Courtney Sarault is Canada’s standout star of the Games so far.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Canada’s Courtney Sarault, 24, won a bronze medal in the women’s 500m event on Thursday night at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
This is Sarault’s second medal of these Games, after winning silver in the mixed team relay. Thus far, she is Canada’s standout performer in Italy.
The bronze brings Canada’s total medal total to 7.
Read the full story here.
02/12/26 15:12
Elizabeth Hosking comes 8th in women’s halfpipe; two-time reigning champ Chloe Kim edged out of gold
Open this photo in gallery:
Hosking finished 8th in women’s halfpipe.Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
Choi Ga-on of South Korea won the gold medal in the women’s snowboard halfpipe at the Milan Cortina Olympics, edging out two-time reigning Olympic champion Chloe Kim of the United States.
Kim took silver and the bronze went to Mitsuki Ono of Japan. Canadian Elizabeth Hosking finished in eighth place after falling twice in her final runs.
– Reuters
02/12/26 14:12
Italy’s Brignone completes comeback with historic women’s Super G gold
Open this photo in gallery:
Federica Brignone of Italy reacts after her run.Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters
For much of last year, it wasn’t clear if Italian skier Federica Brignone could compete at her home Olympics at all, let alone contend for a medal.
She came away with gold in the women’s super-G today, following a year spent largely in rehab after breaking multiple bones in her leg. She only returned to racing last month.
Brignone shrugged off difficult, foggy conditions to win her fourth career Olympic medal and become, at 35, the oldest female gold medalist in women’s Alpine skiing. Romane Miradoli of France took silver and Cornelia Huetter of Austria got bronze.
– The Associated Press
02/12/26 13:33
Figure skating coach accused of abuse remains banned amid probe
An Olympic figure skater’s coach remains banned from the Milan Cortina Winter Games while he is investigated for “physical and psychological abuse” alleged by his former athlete, sport’s highest court said today.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said it dismissed an urgent appeal by Raimo Reinsalu of Estonia, who was provisionally suspended Saturday by the International Skating Union.
Reinsalu was listed to coach Meda Variakojytė of Lithuania in the women’s individual event next week.
“The provisional suspension is in place whilst the ISU investigates the matter and until a final decision is rendered,” CAS said.
Reinsalu appealed to the court arguing his ban from the Olympics caused “irreparable harm to his professional reputation and adversely affects the athlete he coaches.”
The court said the provisional ban “is not to imply any presumption of guilt, but to safeguard the integrity of the sport.”
– The Associated Press
02/12/26 13:03
Canada dominates Czechia to win men’s hockey opener 5-0
– Grant Robertson
Open this photo in gallery:
Bo Horvat celebrates his goal against Czechia with Drew Doughty and Brad Marchand.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
19-year-old Macklin Celebrini showed exactly why he’s a star today, opening the scoring for Team Canada at the Olympics in a 5-0 win against Czechia.
With seconds remaining in the first period, Celebrini tipped a Cale Makar point shot past the outstretched arm of Czech goaltender Lukas Dostal for Canada’s first goal of the tournament.
Mark Stone extended the lead about midway through the second frame. Mitch Marner curled off the boards and lifted a backhand pass over sprawling Czech defenceman David Spacek, giving Stone a wide-open net.
Bo Horvat put Canada up 3-0 late in the second period when he took a pass from Brad Marchand at centre ice and split two Czech defenders before slipping a backhand low through Dostal’s legs.
MacKinnon made it 4-0 on a power play midway through the third period, taking a feed through the crease from McDavid. Nick Suzuki made it 5-0 late in the third, with assists from McDavid and Thomas Harley.
Canada suffered a key injury on defence when Josh Morrissey left the game and did not return. It is unclear how serious the injury is, and if it will keep Morrissey out of future games.
Canada plays its second round-robin game Friday against Switzerland.
Read the full story here.
02/12/26 12:23
Canada up 3-0 over Czechia after 2nd period
– Paul Attfield
Open this photo in gallery:
Mark Stone scores Canada’s second goal.GEOFF BURKE/Reuters
Canada’s men hockey team took full control of their opening Olympic game against Czechia in the second period, scoring twice to establish a 3-0 lead in Milan.
Mark Stone doubled the lead 6:40 into the game’s middle stanza, taking a pass from Vegas Golden Knights teammate Mitch Marner to score, with Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby also earning an assist on the play.
And Bo Horvat scored a highlight-reel goal just 2:34 before the intermission, taking a pass from Brad Marchand at speed and splitting the defence before beating Lukas Dostal along the ice. Defenceman Thomas Harley earned the secondary assist.
Teenager Macklin Celebrini had given Canada a first-period lead.
Despite the lopsided score, the game has been fairly even, with Team Canada just edging Czechia 23-22 in shots on goal, although Jordan Binnington has been outplaying Dostal in net so far.
02/12/26 12:21
Canada blanks Finland 5-0 in Olympic women’s hockey
Open this photo in gallery:
Emily Clark celebrates scoring Canada’s fifth goal with Blayre Turnbull.Marton Monus/Reuters
Emily Clark scored twice for Canada in a 5-0 win over Finland in Olympic women’s hockey.
Kristin O’Neill had a goal and an assist, and Jenn Gardiner and Darryl Watts added singles for Canada.
Ann-Renée Desbiens posted a 17-save shutout in her third start in four days. Julia Gosling and Laura Stacey each had two assists.
Sanni Ahola stopped 18 shots for the Finns in a penalty-free game.
Canada (3-0-0-1) finished second in Group A for a quarterfinal date with Germany on Saturday, when Finland takes on Switzerland.
Read the full story here.
– The Canadian Press
02/12/26 11:54
Speed skater Weidemann finishes fifth in women’s 5,000m
– Robyn Doolittle
Open this photo in gallery:
Isabelle Weidemann races in the women’s speed skating 5000m.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Medal hopeful Isabelle Weidemann finished off the podium in the women’s 5000m.
The 30-year-old finished her race Thursday afternoon in fifth place with a time of 6:50.08, about four seconds back from gold-medal winner Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida, who also won the women’s 3000m.
In Beijing in 2022, Weidemann brought home Canada’s first medal of the Games — a bronze in the 3000m — and then went on to win silver medal in the 5000m and gold in team pursuit alongside her teammates Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais.
The trio will be looking to defend their title later in the Games.
02/12/26 11:33
Team Canada men lead Czechia 1-0 after first period
– Paul Attfield
Open this photo in gallery:
Lukas Dostal of Team Czechia makes a save on Canada’s Connor McDavid during first period men’s Olympic hockey action.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Team Canada men have a 1-0 lead over Czechia after the first period of their opening Olympic game.
Macklin Celebrini, the youngest player on the team at just 19, scored the goal with just 5.7 seconds remaining in the period, tipping a shot from Cale Makar past Lukas Dostal in the Czechia goal. Connor McDavid registered the secondary assist on the goal.
Canada appeared to have taken a lead 7:44 into the period when Nathan MacKinnon put the puck in the net, but linemate Nick Suzuki was penalized for tripping in the process of getting the puck to MacKinnon, so the goal was wiped off.
In a largely even period, Canada just edged the shots on goal 11-10, with both teams getting one power-play opportunity apiece.
Jordan Binnington got the nod as Canada’s starting goaltender.
02/12/26 11:21
U.S. cross-country skier celebrates medal with backflip off podium
Open this photo in gallery:
Silver medalist Ben Ogden, of the United States, does a back flip from the podium.Evgeniy Maloletka/The Associated Press
Ben Ogden snapped a selfie, handed off his Olympic silver medal and the plush mascots of Tina and Milo, and then did what few would dare.
He launched into a backflip off the podium.
The 25-year-old American lost his hat mid-rotation, amusing the two Norwegians on the podium who followed with playful jumps of their own after Tuesday’s sprint race. The celebration marked a breakthrough for American cross-country skiing — and, Ogden hopes, a catalyst for the future.
Before the Milan Cortina Winter Games, an American man hadn’t won an Olympic medal in the sport in 50 years. Ogden believes a generational breakthrough is now possible.
“There’s been a really strong group of younger men coming up through the sport that I’ve had the pleasure of racing against for my whole life,” Ogden said.
– The Associated Press
02/12/26 10:58
Opinion: Thanks to the IOC, Ukrainian slider went from hero to global icon of resistance
– Cathal Kelly
Open this photo in gallery:
Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych arrives at the finish during a men’s skeleton training session on Tuesday.Alessandra Tarantino/The Associated Press
The International Olympic Committee is renowned for its ability to be both the driver of the world’s sports agenda, as well as the thing that runs over it. Pick a hot sports topic. The IOC has somehow messed it up.
However, their handling of the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine may surpass all previous screw-ups.
That issue went turbo on Thursday after the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych.
Heraskevych was due to compete on Thursday. He made global news after announcing he intended to wear a helmet decorated with the images of friends who have died in the war with Russia. Officials instructed him to change helmets. He refused. Now he has been expelled.
Read more from the article.
02/12/26 10:53
Women’s hockey team defeats Finland 5-0 to secure second spot in Group A
Open this photo in gallery:
Daryl Watts and Claire Thompson of Team Canada celebrate the team’s 5-0 victory against Finland.Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Defending champions Canada sailed to a 5-0 win over Finland to secure second spot in Group A of the women’s Olympic ice hockey tournament on Thursday, where the victors were still without injured captain Marie-Philip Poulin in the final game of the group stage.
Coming in on the back of a humbling 5-0 loss to rivals the United States, Canada opened the scoring in the first period through Jennifer Gardiner. Daryl Watts and Kristin O’Neill netted in the second period, with Emily Clark scoring twice in the final period.
The rescheduled game, which was postponed last Thursday after members of Finland’s team tested positive for norovirus, ended up being a face-off for the runners-up place in the group from which all five teams advance to the quarter-finals.
The United States topped the group, winning all four of their games, and will face hosts Italy in the last eight on Friday, with third-placed Czech Republic taking on Group B winners Sweden.
Canada meet Germany and Finland play Switzerland, who they defeated in the group stage, on Saturday.
– Reuters
02/12/26 10:17
Canada leads Finland 3-0 after second period
Daryl Watts and Kristin O’Neill padded Canada’s lead against Finland as the women’s team extended their lead in the second period.
Watts scored half way through the period with assists by Sarah Fillier and Sophie Jaques. O’Neill netted her’s just two minutes later, assisted by Ella Shelton and Julia Gosling.
Fillier went hard into the boards behind the Finnish net early in the second period and headed to the dressing room, favouring her left hand.
She returned to the bench a short time later with her hand appearing to be taped.
– The Canadian Press
02/12/26 09:38
Canada leads Finland 1-0 after first period of round robin
– Globe Staff
Open this photo in gallery:
Canada’s Jennifer Gardiner celebrates with teammates after scoring on Thursday.PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP/Getty Images
Team Canada women lead Finland 1-0 after the first period of their long-delayed round-robin game.
Jennifer Gardiner scored at 15:12 of the period, assisted by Julia Gosling and Kristin O’Neill.
Canada has outshot the Finns 14-8.
The game was originally to be played before the opening ceremonies but was postponed because of norovirus cases among the Finns.
The Canadian women are looking to rebound after a 5-0 loss to the United States on Tuesday. This is their second game playing without captain Marie-Philip Poulin who suffered a lower-body injury in Monday’s 5-1 win over Czechia.
02/12/26 09:31
Éliot Grondin wins silver in men’s snowboard cross
Open this photo in gallery:
Canada’s Éliot Grondin (green bib) and Aidan Chollet of Team France during the men’s snowboard cross final.Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Canada’s Éliot Grondin has won a silver medal in the men’s snowboard cross at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The 24-year-old from Ste-Marie, Que. finished just behind Austria’s Alessandro Haemmerle to claim his third Olympic medal.
Grondin looked strong in qualifying, winning his 1/8, quarterfinal and semifinal matchups.
He crossed the line just a fraction of a second behind the Austrian in the big final in a tightly-packed race.
Grondin won a silver medal in the event in Beijing, 2022, as well as a bronze in the mixed team event with Meryeta O’Dine.
Grondin’s medal is Canada’s sixth of the Milan Cortina Games.
Read the full story here.
– The Canadian Press
02/12/26 08:59
Canadian women’s hockey team begin game against Finland without Poulin
Open this photo in gallery:
Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin waits before face-off during a preliminary round women’s hockey game on Saturday.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
The Canadian women’s hockey team have started playing their long-delayed game against Finland.
The game was originally scheduled for the day before the opening ceremonies but was postponed because of norovirus cases among the Finns.
Canada is looking to rebound after a 5-0 loss to the United States on Tuesday as they continue to play without injured captain Marie-Philip Poulin.
– The Canadian Press
02/12/26 08:23
Downhill star Breezy Johnson gets engaged near super-G finish line
Open this photo in gallery:
United States’ Breezy Johnson looks at the engagement ring she was given by Connor Watkins at the finish area of a women’s super-G race on Thursday,Andy Wong/The Associated Press
Olympic downhill champion Breezy Johnson didn’t add to her medal haul during the women’s super-G on Thursday.
The American star left Trofane with something precious anyway: an engagement ring.
Johnson’s longtime boyfriend Connor Watkins proposed to her near the finish line. Surrounded by members of the U.S. Ski Team, Johnson said “Yes!” and the two embraced.
The 30-year-old Johnson then extended her left hand to show off her new bling — a blue sapphire, surrounded by white sapphires, set in white gold.
The joyful proposal came about an hour after Johnson’s bid to reach the podium in the super-G ended with a crash. Her right pole clipped a gate high in the course, sending her tumbling into the catch fence. Johnson pulled herself to her feet and was unharmed.
– The Associated Press
02/12/26 08:23
Italy’s Brignone wins super-G after painful recovery, becomes oldest gold medalist in women’s alpine
Open this photo in gallery:
Italy’s gold medalist Federica Brignone celebrates on the podium of the women’s super-G event.STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP/Getty Images
Italian skier Federica Brignone’s long, painful climb back to the top is complete.
The 35-year-old earned the first Olympic gold medal of her decorated career by winning the women’s super-G on Thursday.
Less than a year removed from breaking multiple bones in her left leg – which resulted in two surgeries and months of rehab – Brignone navigated the tricky technical Trofane course in 1:23.41.
Romane Miradoli of France and Cornelia Huetter of Austria were in silver and bronze position as the back half of the field – typically filled with less-accomplished racers – prepared to hit the starting gate.
Brignone’s victory made her the oldest gold medalist in women’s alpine. The gold is also her fourth Olympic medal.
– The Associated Press
02/12/26 08:07
Marie-Philip Poulin not playing in hockey game against Finland
Canadian women’s hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin was scratched from the lineup in an Olympic women’s hockey game against Finland.
Poulin wasn’t expected to play after sustaining a lower-body injury early in Monday’s 5-1 win over Czechia.
The leading active scorer in Olympic women’s hockey also sat out Tuesday’s 5-0 loss to the United States.
Canada and Finland are playing with second place in Group A on the line.
The game originally scheduled for the day before the opening ceremonies was postponed because of norovirus cases among the Finns.
Canada will play in a quarterfinal Saturday.
– The Canadian Press
02/12/26 07:38
Mikaël Kingsbury wins silver in men’s Olympic moguls
– Eric Reguly
Open this photo in gallery:
Mikaël Kingsbury competes in the second half of the men’s freestyle skiing finals on Thursday.David Ramos/Getty Images
Canada’s Mikaël Kingsbury took silver in the men’s Olympic moguls even though his overall score was the same as gold medal winner Cooper Woods of Australia.
Woods scored slightly higher on the turns, which the judges use as the tiebreaker.
Kingsbury’s run was near perfect and put the judges and audience in awe. When he finished with a score of 83.71, the audience cheered him wildly, assuming he had placed first.
But there was one more competitor among the eight finalists – Woods – whose dazzling run made it instantly possible that the shoot out would go to him, not the Canadian. It did.
Read more about the event.
02/12/26 07:15
Canada’s Kingsbury, Viel into medal round in men’s moguls
Canadian freestyle skiers Mikaël Kingsbury and Julien Viel are into the medal round of the men’s moguls final.
Kingsbury, of Deux-Montagnes, Que., finished second in the first round of the final, behind Australia’s Cooper Woods, while Quebec City’s Viel qualified in seventh.
Kingsbury is seeking a fourth career Olympic medal in the event.
– The Canadian Press
02/12/26 06:50
France’s biathlete Simon shushes media critic after winning individual gold
Open this photo in gallery:
France’s Julia Simon reacts after crossing the finish line of the women’s 15km biathlon.Matthew Childs/Reuters
French biathlete Julia Simon put her finger to her lips as she cruised across the finish line to win the women’s 15km individual race on Wednesday, gesturing to a media critic following a fraud conviction to be silent.
The 29-year-old, who picked up her second gold of the Games following Sunday’s mixed relay victory, was handed a three-month suspended prison term and fined 15,000 euros in October, 2025, after admitting credit-card fraud and theft related to the credit cards of teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and a team physiotherapist.
“I saw a bad article yesterday evening, and I think these people have to show me respect, because I respect him (the journalist). And yesterday, it was not … it was very bad,” Simon told reporters, declining to name the journalist or the media outlet in question.
“It was just like, I’m there for sports, I’m doing my best sport, so now we have to speak about sport and not … if you want to speak about gossip, go away,” she added.
Open this photo in gallery:
From left: Silver medalist Lou Jeanmonnot, of France; gold medalist Julia Simon; and bronze medalist Lora Hristova, of Bulgaria.Andrew Medichini/The Associated Press
Simon’s comments about her media critic were arguably the only time she has seemed flustered at the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena, where she has so far performed superbly to secure one team and one individual gold medal, but she almost missed the Olympics after her conviction.
The 2023 overall World Cup winner was given a six-month ban by the French Ski Federation (FFS) at the beginning of November, but the sport’s governing body suspended five months, meaning she only missed the opening World Cup meet of the season in Oestersund, Sweden.
“I can’t explain my actions. I’ve had to work with a psychologist to understand and grow from this,” she told the court at the time of her conviction.
Despite missing one month of training and competing under the auspices of the FFS and the International Biathlon Union (IBU) due to the ban, Simon still came into the Winter Games in flying form and she will be among the favourites in the women’s 7.5km sprint on Saturday.
– Reuters
02/12/26 05:55
Canada begins bid for women’s curling gold with win over Denmark
– Rachel Brady
Open this photo in gallery:
Canada’s Emma Miskew, Sarah Wilkes and Rachel Homan in action during their match against Denmark on Thursday.Issei Kato/Reuters
Rachel Homan’s Canadian team started its bid for Olympic gold with a confident-looking 10-4 win over Denmark that needed just seven ends on Thursday.
The skip Homan, lead Sarah Wilkes, second Emma Miskew and third Tracy Fleury won the first of Canada’s nine round robin games in the women’s Olympic curling bonspiel, clearing off the ice in under two hours.
“It feels great to get everyone out there for their first Olympic real game slides and throws and just really cool moment to share,” said Homan after the game, wearing a delicate gold maple leaf earring and necklace set.
Canada is the favourite for gold in Cortina, and the world’s top-ranked women’s team. Team Canada hasn’t topped the women’s Olympic curling podium since Team Jennifer Jones did it at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.
This marks Homan’s third straight Olympic appearance but she has yet to reach the podium.
Read more from the story.
02/12/26 05:47
Ukrainian skeleton racer not allowed to compete in helmet that honours war dead
Open this photo in gallery:
Ukraine’s skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych holds his helmet on Thursday,ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, a likely medal contender at the Milan Cortina Games, was not allowed to compete Thursday after refusing a last-minute plea from the International Olympic Committee to use a helmet other than the one that honours more than 20 of his country’s athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia.
The decision came roughly 45 minutes before the start of the competition, ending a three-day saga where Heraskevych knew he was risking being pulled from the Games by wearing the helmet – one that the IOC says bans rules against making statements on the field of play – in training and vowing to do so again in the race.
He received written word Thursday from the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, which said his decision to wear the helmet was “inconsistent with the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression.” The IOC asked – pleaded might be the better word – for him to wear a different helmet for races and offered concessions such as the right to wear a black armband or even the ability to display the helmet once he was off the ice.
Ukrainian skeleton competitor Vladyslav Heraskevych said on Monday (February 9) a helmet he has used in training at the Milano Cortina Games with images of compatriots killed during the war in Ukraine cannot be used in Olympic competition after being told by the IOC that it violates a rule on political statements.
Reuters
“I believe, deeply, the IBSF and IOC understand that I’m not violating any rules,” Heraskevych said. “Also, I would say (it’s) painful that it really looks like discrimination because many athletes already were expressing themselves. … They didn’t face the same things. So, suddenly, just the Ukrainian athlete in this Olympic Games will be disqualified for the helmet.”
IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who was slated to be in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Thursday to see Alpine skiing, went to the sliding center instead to meet Heraskevych. She was waiting at the top of the track when he arrived around 8:15 a.m., and they met privately a few minutes later. After about 10 minutes, Coventry unable to change Heraskevych’s mind.
“We didn’t find common ground in this regard,” Heraskevych said.
– The Associated Press
02/12/26 05:20
Canada’s Viel and Kingsbury in second and third going into men’s moguls finals
– Eric Reguly
Open this photo in gallery:
Canada’s Julien Viel warms up.Michael Reaves/Getty Images
After this morning’s second men’s moguls qualification round, Canada’s Julien Viel and Mikaël Kingsbury are in second and third spot going into the finals at 12:15 p.m. (6:15 a.m. ET). Japan’s Ikuma Horishima placed first.
The results were identical to those on the first qualification round on Tuesday.
Given the trio’s superb runs, especially those of Horishima, one or two of them, barring disaster, are virtually assured of podium appearances later today. Twenty athletes will compete in the first final round; the top eight will go into the second round – the medal round.
The event is taking place in Livigno, one of the Milan Cortina Olympic towns and the centre of the freestyle competitions. The sunshine will assure almost ideal conditions.
Kingsbury, 33, faces a lot of pressure. Milan Cortina is last Olympics and he wants to go out with a bang. He told The Globe and Mail a few weeks ago that there is no doubt that Horishima is a formidable athlete and his main competition.
But Viel, who is 24 and from Quebec City, has come on strong during the games and could deny his colleague a silver medal – or even gold if the ski gods smile on him today.
02/12/26 05:00
Today’s Olympic schedule and event start times
– Globe staff
It’s another packed day in Italy as Canada’s men’s and women’s hockey teams both hit the ice, women’s curling begins, and Mikael Kingsbury looks for his fourth Olympic moguls medal.
Canada’s speed skaters are also trying to add to the country’s medal tally in the women’s 5000m, and the short track women’s 500m and men’s 1000m.
Here are the events to watch for, and you can find the full schedule here.
- 8:30 a.m. ET – Canada vs. Finland women’s hockey round-robin
- 10:40 a.m. ET – Canada vs. Czechia men’s hockey round-robin
- 2:15 p.m. ET – Short track women’s 500m quarterfinal (Canada’s Courtney Sarault, Florence Brunelle and Kim Boutin)
- 2:28 p.m. ET – Short track men’s 1000m quarterfinal (Canada’s William Dandjinou and Félix Roussel)
- 3:10 p.m. ET – United States vs. Latvia men’s hockey round-robin
Medal events:
- 5:30 a.m. ET – Women’s super giant slalom (Canada’s Cassidy Gray and Valérie Grenier competing)
- 6:15 a.m. ET – Men’s moguls (Canadians Mikaël Kingsbury and Julien Viel competing)
- 7:00 a.m. ET – Cross-country women’s 10k freestyle (Sonjaa Schmidt among Canadians competing)
- 8:56 a.m. ET – Men’s snowboard cross
- 10:30 a.m. ET – Speed skating women’s 5000m (Canada’s Isabelle Weidemann and Laura Hall competing)
- 12:30 p.m. ET – Luge mixed team relay
- 1:30 p.m. ET – Snowboard women’s halfpipe (Canada’s Elizabeth Hosking competing)
- 3:31 p.m. ET – Short track women’s 500m
- 3:43 p.m. ET – Short track men’s 1000m
02/12/26 05:00
Where to watch the Olympics in Canada
– Globe staff
CBC is Canada’s official Olympic broadcaster. The 2026 Winter Games will be available to watch on CBC through your TV provider, or to stream for free on the CBC Gem app or at CBCGem.ca.
You can also follow The Globe and Mail’s live coverage of all the latest news and analysis of the Games, on our website or mobile app.
02/12/26 05:00
Your guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics
– Globe staff
The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics have begun and are poised to be historic in more ways than one, as Team Canada and the world’s best athletes converge in northern Italy.
From hockey to figure skating and the debut of ski mountaineering, the competition will be nothing short of thrilling. But at the most geographically widespread edition of the Winter Games ever, international tensions – particularly toward the United States – will also be on full display.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Games.
02/12/26 05:00
Ask us your Olympics questions
– Globe staff
From how Canada is doing so far to what the energy is like in Italy, tell the The Globe’s Olympics team what you want to know about the Games. We’ll do our best to answer them.
Ask us your Olympics questions
What do you want to know about the 2026 Winter Games and Team Canada so far? Send us your questions, and The Globe’s journalists on the ground in Italy will try to answer them.
