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Winter Olympics 2026: The lasting impressions

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Who were the big winners and losers?

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway is the undisputed king of the Milan Cortina Olympic Games. With six gold medals, the 29-year-old cross-country skier equaled the record of US speed skater Eric Heiden at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid. With a total of 11 gold medals in his career, Klaebo is the most successful Winter Olympian in history.

His fellow Norwegian, Jens Luraas Oftebro, celebrated three Olympic victories in the Nordic combined. With three gold medals, Franjo van Allmen of Switzerland was the outstanding alpine skier. Among the women, Federica Brignone sparked euphoria among the Italian hosts with her victories in the super G and giant slalom – as did two-time gold medalist Federica Lollobrigida in speed skating.

Federica Brignone celebrates with one of her gold medals
Federica Brignone’s two gold medals gave the home fans something to cheer aboutImage: Michael Memmler/Eibner-Pressefoto/picture alliance

Some gold medal dreams were spectacularly shattered. Figure skating superstar Ilia Malinin of the United States, who took a lead into the free skate, fell twice and plummeted to eighth place.

A similar fate befell skier Atle Lie McGrath in the slalom. The Norwegian started the decisive second run in first place but crashed out due to an error. Devastated, he fled the slope for the adjacent woods.

How was the atmosphere?

Many athletes complained that while the Games in northern Italy were well-organized, they lacked the true Olympic spirit. They said the large distances between the competition venues made it impossible for a lot of them to follow other disciplines.

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They also complained that in some sports, like alpine skiing, the spectators were too far away from the action.

“If this is what enjoying the Olympics is supposed to be like, I’m glad this was my last time,” lamented German skier Linus Strasser.

What were the biggest controversies?

Lindsey Vonn’s crash dominated the headlines on the first weekend of the Olympics. The 41-year-old had hoped to crown her illustrious career with a second Olympic gold medal in the downhill after 2010 – despite having a torn ACL, which she had suffered in her last race before the Games.

Six frames showing Lindsey Vonn's crash
Lindsey Vonn sustained a complex tibia fracture in her attempted Olympic comebackImage: Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance

A few seconds into the race, she crashed, suffering a complex tibia fracture and was forced to undergo multiple surgeries.

The disqualification of Ukrainian Vladislav Heraskevych sparked discussion beyond the world of sports. The skeleton racer was excluded from the event because he insisted on wearing a helmet bearing images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia’s full-scale war on his country.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarded this as a violation of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political statements at competition venues. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the IOC’s ban on Heraskevych’s participation.

How did Germany fare?

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) sent a record contingent of 185 athletes to Milan Cortina with the stated goal of finishing in the top three in the medals table – which it failed to achieve.

While Germany  dominated in luge and bobsleigh, there were some bitter disappointments, including in biathlon, Nordic combined, and men’s alpine skiing, where Germany failed to win a medal.

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Germany's luge relay team celebrate their gold medal
Germany’s luge relay team took home the gold medalImage: Matic Klansek/GEPA pictures/IMAGO

The results in ski jumping were also meager overall; apart from Philipp Raimund’s sensational gold, the team went home empty-handed. Germany’s men’s ice hockey team, featuring superstar Leon Draisaitl, fell to Slovakia in the quarterfinals.  

What can the IOC learn for the next Winter Games?

The problem of long distances between venues is also bound to come up at the 2030 Games in the French Alps; the events are to be spread across the city of Nice and several ski resorts in the Alps, some of which are more than a six-hour drive away from the Riviera.

To improve the atmosphere on the ski slopes, the IOC should at least ensure closer proximity between the athletes and spectators. The Olympic rule-makers would also be well advised to agree on a clear policy beforehand to prevent a repeat of the communications disaster that occurred in the Heraskevych case.

This article was translated from German.

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Eagles acquire veteran Andy Dalton as backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts

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The Philadelphia Eagles made an interesting trade to bring in a backup for starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. 

The Eagles acquired veteran quarterback Andy Dalton from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick, according to multiple reports. 

The 38-year-old signal-caller spent the past three seasons with the Panthers, where he mostly served as a backup to Bryce Young, the first overall selection of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

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Andy Dalton throws pass

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton throws against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

But he did take over in 2024 as the team’s starter after first-year head coach Dave Canales didn’t like what he saw out of Young to start the year. Dalton started five games for the Panthers, going 1-4 in that stretch before Young’s return. 

Dalton was a starter for nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, going 70-61-2 over that span with four straight playoff berths from 2011-14. Unfortunately for Dalton and the Bengals, they were never able to pick up a postseason victory. 

BROADCASTER TIM BRANDO SUGGESTS SPORTS FANS GET CONFUSED WHERE TO WATCH GAMES AS STREAMING TAKES OVER

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After the 2019 season, the Bengals shifted away from Dalton after they drafted Joe Burrow first overall during the 2020 NFL Draft. Dalton was in and out of a starting role in Dallas and with the Chicago Bears in the 2021 season. 

He assumed the role full-time with the New Orleans Saints in 2022, going 6-8 over 14 starts before ultimately joining Carolina. 

Andy Dalton throws

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton throws a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images)

It’s an interesting move for the Eagles considering Tanner McKee, who has played well during the preseason, was Hurts’ backup all last season. While this could be competition for McKee entering training camp, Dalton continues to play with the idea of being on a roster full-time, even if he’s not the starter. 

The Panthers signed Kenny Pickett, a former Eagles quarterback, this offseason. As a result, Dalton was expendable. 

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The Eagles head into the 2026 season with the obvious hope that Hurts is healthy enough for a full 17-game slate and then some. However, he didn’t have the best season under offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who caught flak from the rabid fan base as the team struggled. 

Andy Dalton looks on

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton before a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.  (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

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Philadelphia finished 11-6 before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round at home. Patullo was fired days later, and the Eagles hired ex-Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion to take over the role. 

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What is Movsar Evloev’s ethnicity? A look at the featherweight star’s cultural heritage

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While a UFC title shot has eluded him so far, Movsar Evloev is widely regarded as one of the best talents at featherweight. He is 9-0 in the promotion with wins over the likes of Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen, and Diego Lopes, among others.

The 32-year-old will next be seen against Lerone Murphy this weekend, in what many believe to be a title eliminator, with the victor likely earning a shot at the reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Evloev is primarily a grappler and has outwrestled every opponent he has faced inside the octagon. Fueling that domination is an exceptional gas tank, and while his work ethic is undeniable, many believe his heritage also plays a significant role.


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What is Movsar Evloev’s ethnicity?

Movsar Evloev comes from the Caucasus region of Ingushetia, Russia. The UFC fighter belongs to the Ingush ethnic group.

The Caucasus regions of Russia, particularly Dagestan and Chechnya, are renowned for producing world-class combat sports athletes and wrestlers, including UFC greats like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Khamzat Chimaev.

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Evloev holds a takedown accuracy of 48%, a takedown defense of 61%, and averages 4.67 takedowns per 15 minutes. He trains out of the American Top Team, home to MMA elites including Dustin Poirier, Kayla Harrison, and Arman Tsarukyan, among others.

His nationality appears to have posed a major hurdle for him in the lead-up to his fight against Lerone Murphy in Manchester, England. Evloev was reportedly facing visa issues. However, those hurdles appear to have been sorted out, and the undefeated fighter is now in the U.K. ahead of the event.

During an interview with MMA Junkie in the lead-up to the event, he detailed the ordeal:

“I was very quiet for the past couple of weeks. I was busy with all of those different distractions. What was important for me was that I sleep well, I eat well, I prepare well, and with all of those things, trying to stay focused and maintaining all of this composure. I literally had time for nothing else than just to figure out the bureaucracy, figure out the documents, and stay in shape and work, so I can come out here and show my best at the best level.” [7:58 mark of the interview]

Check out Movsar Evloev’s comments below:

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