2026 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing Schedule Explained: From Downhill to Slalom

There was a rhythm to the 2026 Winter Olympics alpine skiing program that was both historic and surprisingly contemporary as it played out throughout Northern Italy. Between February 7 and 18, athletes competed on two famous courses: the Olimpia delle Tofane in Cortina for ladies and the strenuous Stelvio in Bormio for men.

Men and women competed in equal numbers in ten medal events over the course of those twelve days. In a particularly creative change, the organizers switched from an individual alpine combined format to a team combined format, teaming skiers and placing equal emphasis on teamwork and speed.

The competition’s message, which was extremely evident from the first downhill, was that accuracy would be crucial. With a victory run of 1:51.61 in the men’s downhill, Franjo von Allmen was incredibly successful, slicing down Stelvio with a confidence that felt eerily reminiscent of traditional Olympic domination. Dominik Paris and Giovanni Franzoni of Italy trailed closely behind, demonstrating how hotly contested even a split second can be.

In the women’s downhill the next day in Cortina, Breezy Johnson gave a remarkably dependable performance. Her gold medal time of 1:36.10 was very creative since she attacked the course with restrained ferocity, while Sofia Goggia and Emma Aicher chased her within hundredths.

The Games significantly enhanced the cooperative dynamic of alpine skiing by introducing the team combined. With a very effective effort, von Allmen and Tanguy Nef of Switzerland won gold with a time of 2:44.04. Seeing two skiers combine their slalom skills and downhill strength felt immensely adaptable, turning what had been a solo sport into something with multiple layers of strategy.

With only a few hundredths separating them, Austria and Germany combined provided strong responses in the women’s team. When the margins drastically reduced, Austria’s Rädler and Huber remained composed and showed remarkable resilience.

Additionally, Super-G events injected drama halfway through the schedule. Given the technical demands, von Allmen again rushed to gold in 1:25.32, much faster than most anticipated. When compared to prior Olympic campaigns, Federica Brignone’s Super-G victory for Italy was noticeably better due to her seamless transitions, which reduced risk while streamlining speed.

Giant slalom, a sport that consistently honors rhythm and poise, followed. Many will remember the pivotal moment that was Brazil’s gold win by Lucas Pinheiro Braathen for decades to come. He won 2:25.00 by keeping his balance fluidly throughout both runs, surpassing Marco Odermatt and Loïc Meillard in a performance that felt remarkably mature for such a significant milestone.

When the clock struck the end of Braathen’s last run, I paused and silently realized that Olympic moments can still feel authentically new.

A multi-layered narrative was presented by the women’s enormous slalom. Brignone won another gold, demonstrating Italy’s dominance on home snow with a time of 2:13.50. The result of Sara Hector and Thea Louise Stjernesund sharing the silver felt remarkably comparable to the unpredictable nature of alpine skiing.

By the time of the last slalom races on February 16 and 18, the excitement was quite evident. Since slalom is the most technical discipline, it requires unwavering concentration and quick thinking. When they stepped out of the start gate, they had months of mental preparation in addition to their physical readiness, which turned nervousness into energy.

The locations themselves took center stage throughout the itinerary. Athletes who trusted their edges and timing were rewarded by Cortina’s course, which required especially creative line selection, while Stelvio’s steep climbs tested endurance and dedication.

In alpine skiing, Switzerland finished with the most medals throughout the Games, with three golds and seven total. With the help of Brignone’s double victory, Italy came in second. Both the United States and Austria maintained their competitiveness throughout the competition, showcasing depth that has significantly increased in recent Olympic cycles.

Beyond the numbers, the schedule’s effectiveness in striking a balance between tradition and innovation is noteworthy. Ten events with equal gender distribution offered competitiveness that was very successful in maintaining focus without going overboard.

The timeline’s clarity is especially helpful for those who are making plans. Broadcasters and viewers may confidently follow each event because dates, times, and locations are arranged properly.