Winter Olympics 2026: A Week of Unforgettable Drama
Just under seven days since the spectacular Opening Ceremony launched the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, the games have already generated enough drama to fill a month. Daily Mail Sport examines the most viral stories from the first week, ranking the moments that have captured global attention, from heartbreaking crashes to unorthodox celebrations and controversial decisions.
Medal Mishaps: Celebrations Turn Sour
Another Olympic cycle brings another medal controversy. While the Milano Cortina medals have not shown the rapid degradation seen in Paris, several athletes have experienced issues. American gold medalists Breezy Johnson (women's downhill skiing) and Alysa Liu (team figure skating) both saw their medals snap off their ribbons during overzealous celebrations. "Don't jump in them. I was jumping in excitement, and it broke," Johnson explained. German biathlete Justus Strelow also dropped his bronze medal while celebrating on the podium.
Andrea Francisi, chief games operations officer for the organising committee, confirmed they are investigating. "We are aware of the situation... we are paying maximum attention to this matter, as the medal is the dream of the athletes," he stated. Drama rating: 6/10
Olympic Village Romance: A Modern Approach
The Olympic village's reputation for romance continues, with Team USA luge star Sophia Kirkby taking a bold approach. The 24-year-old shared an Instagram video captioned "Athlete Village's Most Eligible Bachelorette Arrives Tomorrow" to her 23,000 followers. Kirkby plans to document her dating experiences during the games, noting the challenges of athletes' schedules. After finishing fifth in her event, she revealed receiving 600 direct messages and scheduling two Valentine's Day dates. Drama rating: 6/10
"Penis-gate": Unusual Doping Rumours Surface
Before the games began, rumours circulated about ski jumpers allegedly injecting hyaluronic acid into their genitals to increase suit surface area for aerodynamic advantage. The theory suggests every two centimetres of suit can provide five percent lift. While jumpers undergo 3D body scans to prevent suit tampering, these extreme methods raised eyebrows. American jumper Kevin Bickner commented, "It's definitely the spot on a suit that can make the biggest difference... but I think there are methods that most people would come up with before deciding that they wanted to inject themselves." The World Anti-Doping Agency investigated but found no evidence. Drama rating: 7/10
Snoop Dogg's Olympic Return Sparks Mixed Reactions
After his popular NBC coverage in Paris, Snoop Dogg returned as a Team USA ambassador. The 54-year-old rapper attended events including downhill skiing and curling, drawing smiles with his participation. However, Dutch speed skating legend Marianne Timmer claimed Snoop's security team pushed her aside as she waited to interview medal winners. "(The security guard) came back and started acting all up against me," Timmer recounted. Snoop's presence continues to divide opinion. Drama rating: 7/10
Controversial Celebration Amid Fraud Conviction
French biathlete Julia Simon made headlines after winning gold in the women's 15km biathlon with a finger-to-lips "ssh" celebration aimed at her critics. This followed her conviction for spending over €2,000 on teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet's credit card, resulting in a €15,000 fine and three-month suspended sentence. Simon initially denied the charges for three years before confessing. She received a six-month ban from the French Ski Federation, with five months suspended, allowing her Olympic participation. "I put my finger to my mouth, it was for one person and they know who," Simon said post-race. Drama rating: 8/10
Ukrainian Athlete Disqualified Over Memorial Helmet
In a highly controversial decision, Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for insisting on wearing a helmet decorated with images of Ukrainian athletes killed since Russia's 2022 invasion. Despite arguing that "remembrance is not a violation" of IOC rules on political statements, and an emotional plea from IOC president Kirsty Coventry, Heraskevych chose disqualification. "I am disqualified from the race. I will not get my Olympic moment," he stated, while his father wept nearby. The decision has been condemned by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and sparked protests from other Ukrainian athletes. Drama rating: 9/10
Lindsey Vonn's Heartbreaking Comeback Crash
US skiing legend Lindsey Vonn's comeback from retirement at age 41 ended tragically when she crashed just 16 seconds into her downhill event, suffering a complex tibia fracture. Despite rupturing her ACL a week earlier, Vonn decided to compete strapped up. She was airlifted off the mountain and underwent multiple surgeries. In a social media statement, Vonn explained, "In Downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as 5 inches... I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line." She expressed no regrets about competing. Drama rating: 10/10
Olympic Confession: Love Rat Reveals All
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid created a global stir after winning bronze in the men's 20km individual biathlon by confessing in a television interview that he cheated on his girlfriend three months prior. "Six months ago, I met the love of my life... three months ago I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her," he tearfully declared. His ex-girlfriend, speaking anonymously, said the cheating remains "hard to forgive." Lægreid later apologised for upstaging compatriot Johan Olav Botn's gold medal win. Drama rating: 10/10
