At most gender-balanced Winter Games yet, hosts Italy's women outperform men

MILAN, Feb 16 : At the most gender‑balanced Winter Olympics in history, hosts Italy are enjoying their best‑ever medal haul, powered by women in a sign that long‑running efforts to level the playing field are delivering results.

At the Milano Cortina Games, women account for 47 per cent of all athletes, up from 44.7 per cent at Beijing 2022. 

For Italy, that push toward parity has translated into women dominating the medal tally.

With few days left to the Games' close on February 22, six of Italy's eight gold medals have been won by women, with another coming in a mixed short‑track relay.

Of Italy's 22 medals – above its previous record at Lillehammer in 1994 – 10 have been won by women, seven by men and five by mixed teams.

"Olympic medals do not have a sex. Gold medals belong to Italy," Luigi Busa, Italy's Tokyo 2020 karate champion, told a conference in Milan. "But I always say that men have power and women have superpowers."

The victories span Italy’s flagship winter sports.

Alpine skier Federica Brignone delivered one of the most emotional moments of the Games with a two‑gold comeback less than 10 months after a heavy crash. 

Speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida won the 3,000 metres before entering the mixed zone carrying her two‑year‑old son, prompting international media to crown her “Italy’s Super Mom.” She repeated her success five days later with gold in the 5,000m.

Biathlete Lisa Vittozzi became the first Italian to win Olympic gold in her discipline, while short‑track veteran Arianna Fontana matched the all‑time Italian Olympic medal total of Edoardo Mangiarotti, extending her status as one of the country’s most decorated winter athletes.

Italy also secured its first women’s double luge title through Andrea Voetter and