Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Day 12: A Pictorial Recap
The twelfth day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered a spectacular array of moments, captured in stunning imagery from across the venues. From the precision of alpine skiing to the intensity of ice hockey, the day was filled with athletic prowess and unexpected highlights.
Alpine Skiing and Freestyle Events
In the women's slalom, Croatia's Leona Popovic showcased her skills during the second run, while Sweden's Anna Swenn-Larsson celebrated a bronze medal with a podium selfie alongside Switzerland's Camille Rast and USA's gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin. Meanwhile, China's Chen Meiting practiced for the women's freestyle skiing aerials qualifiers, and Winter Vinecki experienced a dramatic crash in the aerials final.
Team Sports and Biathlon
The women's 4x6km biathlon relay saw France's team, including Camille Bened, Lou Jeanmonnot, Océane Michelon, and Julia Simon, clinch gold in a jubilant celebration. Spectators watched intently as athletes skied past, and shooters aimed with precision. In ice hockey, Germany's Leon Draisaitl faced off against Slovakia's Adam Ruzicka in a quarter-final, but Germany's goaltender Philipp Grubauer looked dejected after a 6-2 loss.
Unique Moments and Canine Intrusion
A surprise highlight occurred when a local dog named Nazgul ran onto the course during a women's cross-country skiing team sprint qualification, captured by a photo-finish camera. Additionally, a vintage Graflex camera was used to photograph the finish area of the women's slalom, echoing the 1956 Cortina Games.
Cultural Celebrations and Training Sessions
New Zealand's team performed a haka for compatriot Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, who won silver in women's snowboard slopestyle. Germany's Francesco Friedrich and teammates trained for the four-man bobsleigh, pushing their sled with determination.
These images encapsulate the drama, joy, and unpredictability of the Winter Olympics, offering a visual feast for sports enthusiasts worldwide.
