The XXVI Winter Olympic Games concluded Sunday night with a historic double-header: a “Miracle on Ice” revival on the rink in Milan and a soul-stirring operatic farewell in the 2,000-year-old Arena di Verona.
The “Golden” Goal: USA 2, Canada 1 (OT)
Hours before the closing festivities began, the sports world was transfixed by the hockey final at the Milano Hockey Arena. In a game defined by “guts and goaltending,” the United States defeated Canada 2–1 in a heart-stopping overtime thriller.
The victory was steeped in destiny, occurring on February 22—the 46th anniversary of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union. This time, the hero was Jack Hughes, who snapped a shot past Jordan Binnington 1:41 into the three-on-three overtime period to ignite a wild American celebration.
“I can’t even believe this,” said a gap-toothed Hughes, who lost a tooth after taking a high stick earlier in the game. “To beat Canada in a game like this… the USA Hockey brotherhood is so strong.”
The win was anchored by a “superhuman” performance from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 of 42 shots. Canada’s Cale Makar had tied the game late in the second period after an early opener by Matt Boldy, but Hellebuyck turned away a barrage of Canadian stars, including Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, to keep the dream alive. In an emotional post-game moment, American players Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk skated with a No. 13 jersey to honor the late Johnny Gaudreau.
Verona: “Beauty in Action”
As night fell, the focus shifted to the Arena di Verona, where the Closing Ceremony, titled “Beauty in Action,” transformed the Roman amphitheater into a boundless stage.
The ceremony leaned heavily into Italy’s operatic soul. Performers costumed as figures from Aida and La Traviata moved through the ancient stones, blending classical culture with modern technology. The show featured 2,000 performers and a groundbreaking “flying system” installed specifically for the event.
Highlights of the Night:
- The Final Medals: In a traditional protocol, the final medals of the Games—the 50km cross-country mass starts—were awarded. Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo stood atop the podium for a record-breaking sixth time this Games, securing Norway’s place at the top of the overall medal table with 18 golds.
- A Techno-Opera Party: International dance star Roberto Bolle brought elegance to the stage, followed by high-energy sets from Italian pop icon Achille Lauro and electronic trio Major Lazer, who turned the arena into a global dance floor for the parading athletes.
- The Historic Handover: Mayors Giuseppe Sala (Milan) and Gianluca Lorenzi (Cortina) handed the Olympic flag to IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who then passed it to representatives of the French Alps 2030. A stunning video montage of the French Savoie and Nice regions offered a glimpse of the “Snow and Sun” Games to come.
A Split-Screen Farewell
In a symbolic first for the Winter Games, the Olympic cauldrons were extinguished simultaneously in two different cities. On giant screens within the Verona Arena, the flames in Milan’s Arco della Pace and Cortina’s Piazza Dibona flickered out together, echoing the unique multi-hub model of these Games.
“You have showed the world that passion and respect can live side by side,” President Coventry told the athletes. “Italy, you have given us a masterpiece.”
As the fireworks faded over the Adige River, the 2026 Games were officially closed, leaving the United States as the kings of the ice and Norway as the titans of the snow.
