Milano Winter Olympics Wrap-up | Looking Back at Results and Drama
The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics became a tournament of major success for Team Japan, highlighted by a record medal haul (Gold: 5 / Silver: 7 / Bronze: 12, Total: 24).
Here, we review the medal breakdown and the memorable stories that cannot be captured by numbers alone.
Japan Wins Its Most Medals Ever
Drama That Moved Hearts Beyond the Medals
Kaori Sakamoto: Tearful Silver in Her Final Olympics
Kaori Sakamoto, who won the silver medal in the women’s singles event, announced that she will retire after this Olympics.
She showed tears of frustration after her performance, and the figure of the ace who has supported Japan’s women’s figure skating for years left a deep impression on many fans.
Sara Takanashi: A Long-Awaited Medal in the Team Event
In the women’s ski jumping team event, Japan successfully won a medal.
For Sara Takanashi—who had endured a series of disappointing results in individual events—the Olympic podium had been a long-held dream.
Her joyful embrace with teammates became one of the defining emotional scenes of this Games.
A Tournament Also Marked by the Rise of the Next Generation
With 17-year-old Ami Nakai reaching the podium on her Olympic debut, Japan’s younger athletes also shone brightly.
Veterans’ pride and the emergence of a new generation—this Games carried the clear feeling of a changing of the guard.
Wrap-up | A Successful Games with Both Results and Drama
Alongside the record medal count, Milano produced countless storylines and unforgettable moments.
Japan’s winter sports now stand as a truly world-class force, capable of competing at the very top.
How this momentum will carry into the next Olympics—and how the next generation will grow—will be a major focus moving forward.
*Records and results are based on official announcements. Please check the official website for the latest information.
