Day 2 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics lands on Sunday and delivers an early start packed with medal events across alpine skiing, Nordic disciplines, curling, and ice sports. Traditional powerhouses such as Norway, Italy, and Canada are expected to shape the medal table as several high-profile events come into play.
Key Day 2 Medal Events
The morning programme is dominated by endurance and precision-based disciplines, setting the tone for a demanding second day of competition.
Men’s Cross-Country Skiing – 10km + 10km Skiathlon (6:30 a.m.)
One of the toughest Nordic events on the calendar, the skiathlon forces athletes to switch from classic to freestyle mid-race. Norway enter as favourites, with Johannes Høsflot Klæbo widely tipped to challenge for gold against strong opposition from Finland and Sweden.
Biathlon Mixed Relay (8:05 a.m.)
Combining cross-country skiing with shooting accuracy, the mixed relay is a marquee event. Norway are heavily favoured thanks to their depth and experience, while Germany and Sweden are expected to contest the remaining podium spots.
Women’s Alpine Skiing – Downhill (around 11:30 a.m.)
One of Italy’s biggest medal hopes of the opening weekend. Home favourite Sofia Goggia leads predictions, with New Zealand’s Alice Robinson and France’s Romane Miradoli emerging as the main challengers on a high-speed course where margins are razor-thin.
Curling: Mixed Doubles Action
Mixed doubles curling continues with a busy slate of matches throughout the morning:
- Estonia vs South Korea – 4:05 a.m.
- Norway vs Czechia – 4:05 a.m.
- Canada vs Sweden – 8:35 a.m.
- Great Britain vs Switzerland – 8:35 a.m.
Canada and Sweden are expected to assert themselves early in the tournament, with both teams considered medal contenders.
Other Day 2 Highlights
Away from the headline events, several competitions add further depth to the schedule:
- Women’s Ice Hockey group-stage matches, including Sweden vs Italy, drawing strong home interest
- Women’s Speed Skating – 3,000m, a key early-distance event
- Men’s Luge – Singles Run 1, setting the tone for the sliding competitions
Nations to Watch on Day 2
Norway
Expected to be the standout nation of the day, particularly in the biathlon mixed relay and men’s skiathlon, where their athletes are favoured for gold.
Italy
The hosts place major emphasis on the women’s downhill, where Sofia Goggia represents their clearest gold medal opportunity so far.
Canada
Strong prospects in mixed doubles curling and short track speed skating events, with momentum building after early podium finishes.
Day 2 Outlook
With multiple medal events spread across endurance, speed, and technical disciplines, Day 2 has the potential to significantly reshape the early medal standings. Norway’s Nordic dominance, Italy’s alpine ambitions, and Canada’s strength in curling and skating make Sunday one of the most intriguing days of the opening week.
For full schedules, live timing, and updated results, fans should follow official coverage via Olympics.com and accredited broadcasters.
Read also: 2026 Winter Olympics Medal Winner Odds: Norway Leads the Medal Race Ahead of USA and Germany