Highlighting powerful athletes, unforgettable stories, and podium-worthy media moments
Few things have the power to unite the world quite like the Olympic Games. Every two years, life is held at a standstill; folks who have never once thought about gymnastics or bobsledding are fully immersed in the rush and patriotism of professional sports. This year, the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics Games captivated audiences once again, filling television screens with epic highs and lows, as well as controversial moments. Headlines from the 2026 Olympics were dominated by stories of exceptional women athletes, as they broke ground, set records and showed up with strength and authenticity.
There were some exceptional feats by Maritime talent at these Olympics. 25-year-old short-track speedskater Courtney Sarault of Moncton, N.B. brought home four medals for Canada: a silver in the 1000 m skate, a silver in the mixed 2000 m relay, a bronze in the 500 m, and a bronze in the 3000 m relay. In an interview with CBC, Sarault discussed her mindset while competing. “Performing under pressure is something really big, especially in short track, where there’s a lot of chaos and high intensity things.” She continued, “You just have to be able to focus on the process and keep yourself grounded.”
While this was her second Olympic Games, she became the first Canadian from outside of Québec to medal in the individual short track events. She shared her thoughts on the support she has received from her home province with the CBC. “I think that just shows what New Brunswick is all about […] we give everyone love and support no matter what placement they come in.” She continued, “I know that I have them behind me, and it means the world to me, and I’m skating for them as much as I’m skating for myself.”
One trailblazer was 20-year-old American figure skater Alysa Liu. Liu brought something unexpected to the Olympic Games: fearless joy and radical optimism. Despite her age, Milano-Cortina was Liu’s second Olympic Games. Liu chose to step back from skating at the age of 16, wanting to have more control over her life and enjoy being a teenager. She retired for two seasons. In a 2026 interview with NBC, she shared her past competition experiences. “[…] I was living by myself for many years, no family, no friends around, all for the sake of training.” She continued, “And I didn’t even pick my own programs, like people put me in dresses that I didn’t want to wear, I was literally just like a dress-up doll and I didn’t want to do it, but I felt like I had to do my duty of going to the Olympics for my younger self.”
Liu decided that if she were to return to skating, it would be on her own terms. This meant choosing her own meals and training schedules, skating to music she likes, and fully expressing herself through her iconic halo-dyed black and blonde hair. Liu went on to secure two gold medals, winning the team skating event for Team USA, and placing first in the women’s singles category. This feat marked the first time an American woman had won the division in 24 years. Her unconventional approach recentered fun and authenticity within the sport, and has made her a worldwide sensation.
Chinese-American athlete Eileen Gu, the most decorated female freeskier skier of all time, also had a moment of virality in a press conference. Gu is no stranger to success, as a six-time Olympic medalist, model, and international relations student at Stanford University. After being asked by French reporter John Weaver whether she considered her recent silver medals “two silvers gained or two golds lost,” Gu did not hesitate to set the record straight. “How do I say this: winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete; doing it five times is exponentially harder, because every medal is equally hard for me, but everyone else’s expectations rise, right?”
She continued, “The two medals lost situation, to be quite frank with you, is kind of a ridiculous stance to take. I’m showcasing my best skiing, I’m doing things that have quite literally never been done before, and so I think that is more than good enough, but thank you.” This interview raised online discussion surrounding whether the interviewer’s question was appropriate, as well as Gu’s confident and articulate response.
These three women have broken ground, risen above the odds, and made Milano-Cortina an unforgettable Olympics.