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Norway leads the 2026 Winter Olympics medal count on February 12 with eight gold medals, closely followed by host nation Italy in total medals as competition heats up in Milano Cortina.

Norway Dominates Early Lead in Gold Medal Race

On February 12, as the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics entered its seventh day, Norway solidified its position at the top of the medal standings with an impressive eight gold medals, alongside three silvers and seven bronzes for a total of 18. This gold-heavy performance underscores Norway's traditional strength in winter sports, particularly in cross-country skiing and biathlon, where they've historically excelled. Host nation Italy matched Norway's total medal count at 18 but trailed with six golds, three silvers, and nine bronzes, buoyed by strong showings in alpine skiing and snowboard events on home snow. The United States held third place with four golds, seven silvers, and three bronzes, totaling 14 medals, reflecting a solid but not yet dominant campaign.

The Olympic medal table prioritizes gold medals first, then silvers and bronzes as tiebreakers, which keeps Norway firmly in the lead despite Italy's volume of podium finishes. Updates throughout the day captured the shifting dynamics, with Norway extending its advantage after key victories in endurance events. This early dominance sets the stage for intense rivalries as the games progress toward their February 22 conclusion, featuring 116 medal events across eight sports and 16 disciplines, including the debut of ski mountaineering.

Team USA's Steady Climb and Standout Performances

The United States has shown resilience, securing 14 medals by February 12, with women athletes playing a pivotal role by contributing seven of those, including two golds. Freestyle skiing led the way with three medals, while alpine skiing added two more. On the previous day, Chloe Kim grabbed silver in women's snowboarding halfpipe, and Jessie Diggins earned bronze in the women's 10km cross-country ski event, boosting the tally. Ice dancing duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates also added a silver, pouring their hearts into a compelling performance that resonated with fans. These results position Team USA competitively, tied in total medals with Norway in some counts but lagging in golds.

"It's been an incredible week watching our athletes pour their hearts out on the ice and snow – from Chock and Bates' emotional silver to the freestyle skiers going 1-2 in moguls, Team USA is climbing and ready for more," said a U.S. Olympic Committee spokesperson.

Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo further cemented his legend by tying the Winter Olympic record with his eighth career gold in the men's 10km interval-start cross-country race, a thrilling win on what became a lucky Friday the 13th for the Norwegian star. Such individual heroics highlight how star power drives national tallies.

Hosts Italy Shine in Total Medals Amid Tight Competition

Italy, as the host, has leveraged familiar terrain to amass 18 total medals, leading in sheer volume according to some trackers, with six golds coming from disciplines like snowboard cross where Michela Moioli secured bronze. The Dolomites in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milan's urban venues have provided a boost, fostering passionate crowd support that energizes competitors. Germany and Sweden lurk close behind with four golds each, while nations like the Netherlands (three golds, six total) and Japan (two golds, 10 total) round out the top 10, showcasing global depth. Canada trails with seven total medals but no golds yet, a surprise for the perennial powerhouse.

Discrepancies in counts arise from timing—some sources noted Italy at 17 totals or Norway at seven golds earlier in the day—but by late February 12 updates, the consensus placed Norway atop with eight golds. Lower-ranked nations like South Korea, China, and Slovenia each have a handful of medals, proving the games' inclusivity with 93 nations competing. As Day 7 finals wrapped, anticipation builds for upcoming battles in figure skating, speed skating, and more cross-country races that could reshape the table.

The 2026 Games mark a return to Italy after 56 years, with 2,885 athletes vying for glory in innovative events. Medal updates refresh after major finals, ensuring fans stay current amid the fast-paced action.

In summary, on February 12 at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Norway led with eight golds and 18 total medals, Italy matched in totals with six golds, and the U.S. stood strong at 14 medals, setting up an exhilarating continuation of the Milano Cortina competition.

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