Sport takes her places: The inspiring journeys of female athletes at Milano Cortina 2026
Performing in iconic venues, the women of Milano Cortina 2026 not only delivered extraordinary performances, they also showed how sport can open paths that transform lives. From Eileen Gu’s history‑making run in freestyle skiing to Francesca Lollobrigida’s double gold on home ice, and with athletes such as Claudia Riegler and Lara Markthaler pushing boundaries and opening doors for others, female athletes inspired millions around the world.
Key facts
- The Milano Cortina 2026 Games were the most gender-balanced in Olympic Winter Games history, with women accounting for 47 per cent of all athletes.
- Four new women’s events were added to the programme, bringing the total number of women’s events to 50 — more than at any previous Olympic Winter Games. 12 mixed events were included in the Games.
- In 12 of the 16 sports disciplines, women and men competed in equal numbers.
On International Women’s Day 2026, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shines a spotlight on their journeys and the transformative power of sport to build confidence, unlock potential and create a future where every girl can dream big.
“Milano Cortina 2026 will be remembered for extraordinary achievements by athletes who delivered their best performances in iconic venues. This year, more than at any previous Olympic Winter Games, those feats were by women, as we achieved the most gender-balanced Olympic Winter Games in history, with women accounting for 47 per cent of the athletes,” says IOC President Kirsty Coventry, herself a double Olympic champion in swimming.
Reflecting on the role of sport on her path to the IOC presidency, she said: “What I learned through sport is resilience, discipline and courage — qualities that guided me far beyond competition. My journey is proof that sport opens doors we may not even imagine when we first step onto the field of play. And every girl deserves that same opportunity.”
Throughout the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, female athletes shared their stories — highlighting how sport not only propelled them to the highest level of competition but also helped them overcome the hurdles they faced along the way. Their testimonies highlight the powerful role that sport plays in shaping lives.
Eileen Gu: building trust in herself through sport
Among the standout performers in Italy was China's Eileen Gu, who dazzled across three freestyle skiing disciplines, winning gold in halfpipe and silver in both big air and slopestyle to become the most decorated freeskier in Olympic history. Despite her success on the Olympic stage, Gu knows how "easy" it can be to doubt yourself, and how sport can provide a powerful antidote.
"You don't tell yourself: I can handle the pressure. You do it time and again. Sports are really honest, because you can't lie to yourself. You know when you showed up early or stayed late and other people weren't there. You know when you gave 100 per cent in training, day in, day out. I can look back on years, a decade, of hard work and pouring my heart and soul into this sport.
"It's trusting myself, but it's building that trust every day. That's a big reason why I encourage more young girls to get into sport, because I think the power it has to build and instil that confidence in people is really special and unique."
Francesca Lollobrigida: using the opportunity of home Games to inspire
On the ice, Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida delighted the home crowd inside the Milan Speed Skating Stadium when she triumphed in the 3,000m and 5,000m, setting a new Olympic record over the shorter distance.
The 35-year-old took time away from speed skating after Beijing 2022 to give birth to her son, but she was determined to return to the sport that had shaped her not only as an athlete, but also as a person.
"Sport is my life," Lollobrigida said. "From sport, I learned the meaning of fair play, how you relate to people and the world. Sport helps you travel, discover other cultures. That's the best thing about it."
After she claimed the third and fourth Olympic medals of her career, Lollobrigida also reflected on the deep sense of belief instilled in her by sport.
Whatever you want, even if it's something they say is impossible – you are the only one who can choose what's possible. That's my biggest message.
Pushing boundaries on the Olympic stage to encourage other women
For many of the female athletes at Milano Cortina 2026, sport did not just equip them with the confidence to perform at the highest level. It also empowered them to drive change and become visible role models for girls and women around the world.
Austria's Claudia Riegler is one such example. At 52, she became the oldest female Winter Olympian in history when she competed in the snowboard parallel giant slalom, defying her age to qualify for the finals, where she was beaten by reigning champion Ester Ledecka.
At 30, Riegler was told she was too old to compete, but she went on to win her first world title at 41. Her journey has been defined by defying expectations, and she hopes to inspire other women to do the same.
Others think, if she can do it, maybe I also can do it. They try, they go out of their comfort zone, they push boundaries. I think that's the point – to show what is possible. We are all a huge community, and we are all helping each other. I tell myself that's exactly why I'm doing this – to help others
Another trailblazer at Milano Cortina 2026 was Lara Markthaler, who made history as South Africa's first female Alpine skier at the Olympic Winter Games. For her, participation was not just a personal achievement, but also about opening a door for others.
"For me, being the first female Alpine skier at the Olympics for South Africa is a very big honour," she said.
I hope I can maybe even inspire just one young girl to start skiing. That would be a great accomplishment for me.
Sport Takes Her Places
The IOC will be celebrating the transformative power of sport throughout the month of March, highlighting its role in the journeys of women who were competing, coaching or in leadership roles at Milano Cortina 2026.
Follow the conversation during the month and discover more inspiring stories on the Olympic platforms.