The Guardian's sports writers have shared their most memorable moments from the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, highlighting British successes, standout athletes, and controversies. Matt Weston's double gold in skeleton was widely praised, with one writer calling it 'so well deserved' and noting the emotion of his victories. However, the disappointment of the second GB skeleton relay team—Freya Tarbit and Marcus Wyatt—finishing fourth was palpable, with the sadness of missing a medal described as 'so visible'.
Among the stars of the Games, figure skater Alysa Liu was celebrated for returning to elite sport 'on her own terms', reminding everyone that 'sport is joy'. Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo also earned high praise, winning six gold medals—more than Great Britain's entire tally. Eileen Gu's halfpipe gold and the debut of skimo were other highlights, alongside the crowd-pleasing Jamaican bobsleigh team, which fielded three sleds.
Notable disappointments included Ilia Malinin's falls in figure skating and Kirsty Muir and Mia Brookes missing out on medals for Britain. The Games were also marred by greenwashing accusations, with one writer criticizing the 'draining rivers, felling trees and gouging out mountains' despite claims of sustainability. A viral moment came from Canadian curler Marc Kennedy, who told the Swedish team to 'fuck off' after being accused of cheating, drawing boos but also amusement.
Looking ahead to France 2030, writers tipped Kirsty Muir and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo as ones to watch, along with 19-year-old skier Lara Colturi and 17-year-old Welsh-born figure skater Rio Nakata. Suggestions for new sports included more dual events and relays, as well as fell running and cyclo-cross. The Games were summed up in three words: 'joyful, ambitious, impressive' by one writer, and 'exhilarating, newsy, fun' by another.
