Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Condom shortage, emotional gold, fugitive arrest and cheating confession mark early days

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics have delivered a mix of sporting triumphs and off-piste drama in its opening week, from a condom supply crisis in the athletes’ village to a tearful comeback gold, a fugitive’s arrest, and a Norwegian star’s public infidelity admission.

Condom crisis hits athletes’ village

Organizers provided only 10,000 free condoms for the village, but the entire stock was depleted within three days of the Games opening.

An anonymous athlete said restocking was promised, but timing remained unclear.

Compared with Paris 2024’s 300,000 condoms for roughly 10,500 athletes, Milano Cortina’s provision for under 3,000 competitors proved insufficient from the start.

With cross-visits between national delegations banned, athletes have turned creative, using the Relax Room’s soft lighting, music and privacy screens for discreet encounters.

Shiffrin claims emotional gold after eight-year wait

American alpine skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin won women’s slalom gold in a total time of 1:39.10, her third Olympic gold and first since PyeongChang 2018.

She dominated the first run in 47.13 seconds and held on after major rivals faltered in the second.

Crossing the line, the 30-year-old collapsed in tears on the snow, dedicating the victory to her father, who died unexpectedly six years ago.

Hong Kong’s first-time Olympian Eloise King Yung-shih finished the first run in 1:04.16 but did not complete the second, recording a DNF.

Fugitive wanted for 16 years arrested while cheering Slovakia

A 44-year-old Slovak man, wanted since 2010 for multiple shop thefts, was arrested in Milan on February 12 after checking into a suburban hotel to attend Slovakia’s men’s ice hockey match against Finland.

Police recognized him from international alerts and took him into custody to serve an 11-month-and-7-day sentence. Slovakia won the game 4-1.

Norwegian biathlete wins bronze then admits cheating on partner

Norway’s Sturla Holm Lægreid took bronze in the men’s biathlon event but used the post-race interview to confess he had been unfaithful to his girlfriend three weeks earlier.

The 28-year-old described the betrayal as the biggest mistake of his life, said he confessed to her a week before the Games, and publicly asked for her forgiveness, calling her the most beautiful and kind person he has ever known.

He added that the relationship mattered far more than his medal, shifting his perspective on sport during the competition.