Quick Facts:

• Elana Meyers Taylor won gold in women's monobob at age 41, becoming the oldest Winter Olympic medalist and completing her historic collection (previously had 3 silver, 2 bronze)
• Women's hockey gold medal game was the most-watched women's hockey game on record, peaking at 7.7 million viewers – only Canada or the US has ever won gold in women's hockey
• Team USA women dominated Milano Cortina: won 67% of all gold medals and 60%+ of Team USA's total medals, marking the 6th consecutive Games (summer and winter) where US women out-medaled US men

Feb 16, 2026; Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy; Elana Meyers Taylor of the United States celebrates with the gold medal after winning the women's bobsleigh monobob competition during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre. Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images

If you’re sitting here wondering what you’ll watch now that the Olympics is over, don’t worry. The Paralympics kick off soon! But until then we can’t stop reliving the best moments of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games in our heads. Everyone knows that winning is for the girls, and this Olympics was no different. There were so many moments to choose from, but here are our top 5 favorite moments of the 2026 Winter Games:

1. Elana Meyers Taylor is Golden

In our Olympic Preview Piece we wrote that the only thing missing from Elana’s historic resume was a gold medal. Well, it is missing no more. Elana won gold in the women’s monobob, proving that it is never too late to chase any kind of crazy dream. There was so much to love about this moment. At 41, Elana became the oldest Winter Olympic medallist. The first person she hugged after winning her gold medal? Her nanny, showing that it really is about the village who lifts us up to the podium. Or maybe the best moment was watching Elana’s husband signing “there’s mommy!” while holding their son Noah. Came into the games a legend, signing off a champion.

2. Alysa Liu is Joy

If you haven’t watched Alysa’s gold medal performance, please stop whatever you’re doing and do that right now. We’ll wait. In Alysa’s story of retirement and unretirement, and then her visible joy on the ice, we all got to fall in love with an athlete who loves her sport. While waiting for her score, holding hands with her coaches, she said, “That performance was way better than any score I could ever get.” Alysa is living, breathing proof that we don’t need to suffer to succeed, and that achieving our true potential is more valuable than any external validation. Literally millions worldwide have been drawn to her message and her attitude, sending her Instagram followers from 211,000 to over 5 million since the beginning of the Games. It’s clear sports fans want joy, not pressure, for and from their favorite stars.

Feb 19, 2026; Milan, Italy; Gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States and silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan and bronze medalist Ami Nakai of Japan look on during the medal ceremony in the women's free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

3. Eileen Gu is Confidence

A lot of things have been said about Eileen Gu, but there’s only one thing that is undisputed: she now is the most decorated freeskier of all time (male or female) with six Olympic medals. On the snow she is perfection, and off the slopes she is the person I am when I come up with a good comeback in the shower. But like, she can do it in front of a crowded press room. She helped shut down the (exhausting) narrative that only gold is worthwhile, despite us telling reporters year after year that a medal of any color is a huge accomplishment, and “settling for silver” is a phrase that reaaallllyyy needs to be retired! Eileen is also proof that women never have to choose, as during her downtime she studies quantum physics at Stanford. Get it all, girl.

Feb 22, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Gold medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of the People's Republic of China poses for a photo with her three medals after the medal ceremony for the women's skiing halfpipe during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

4. The Rivalry is Heated

It’s not a coincidence that hockey viewership numbers were up this year. 😏The women’s gold medal game was the most watched women’s hockey game on record, peaking at 7.7 million viewers. And while other sports feature superstars from all over, in women’s hockey only Canada or the US has ever won the gold medal. So. The rivalry was on. But while the hockey was epic, we can’t help loving what’s happening behind the glass. Team Canada featured married couple Marie Phillip-Poulin and Laura Stacey (of hockey wedding fame and this timeless tweet but also of a beautiful and authentic love story). Caroline Harvey (US) and Daryl Watts (Canada) allegedly ended their relationship during the Games, but had to meet on the ice for the gold medal game. There really is nothing like running into your ex at work. And maybe it doesn’t technically count for the rivalry, but team USA captain Hilary Knight got engaged to her girlfriend speedskater Brittany Bowe during the Games, and we’re not sure but we’re pretty sure that that’s why the USA won gold.

Feb 19, 2026; Milan, Italy; Megan Keller (5) of the United States celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against Canada in the women's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Credit: David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images

5. Women are Winners

Our pre-Games research showed that fans were eager to follow female athletes at the Olympics, both generally and specifically. According to our survey with SurveyMonkey, women’s figure skating is the sport that most people looked forward to watching, and female athletes were named more frequently when surveyed audiences shared who they were excited to follow. So. Going into the Games it was all eyes on the women, and boy girl, did they deliver. The moments above are just the tip of the iceberg of the way that women shone on the frosty stage. Women won 67% of all gold medals and more than 60% of team USA’s total medals, helping lead Team USA to their highest Winter Olympic medal count in history. Furthermore, Milano-Cortina marks the 6th consecutive Games (summer and winter) in which the US women have out-medaled the US men.

In a world where sometimes people still need reminders that women are worthy and perfect and just everything, female Olympians step up and remind them. And the best part? These athletes don’t just compete once every four years. Loved watching hockey? Check out the PWHL! Fell in love with an athlete? Give her a follow and engage with her content! The more we continue to support these female athletes, the more brands listen to us and support those athletes in turn. Every time we watch women’s sports, we remind the world that female athletes are not the sideshow: they are the main event.

About Parity, a Group 1001 Company

Parity is the leading platform for professional women athlete partnerships. With a mission to close the gender income gap in sports and beyond, Parity connects brands with a diverse network of more than 1,400 women athletes from 85 sports. Through sponsorship activations, content collaborations, and strategic advisory, Parity helps brands authentically engage the most trusted voices in sports today. For more information, visit www.paritynow.co, or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.