Milan, Italy — In one of the standout performances of Day 13, China’s Ning Zhongyan lit up the Milano Speed Skating Stadium by winning the men’s 1,500 metres speed skating gold in a new Olympic record time of 1:41.98.
Ning, 26, edged out Jordan Stolz (USA) by 0.77 seconds, denying Stolz a third gold of these Games. Two-time defending Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis (NED) clinched bronze.
This was Ning’s first Olympic gold medal, adding to his earlier bronze medals in the 1,000 m and team pursuit, lifting China’s gold count at these Games.
Historic First Olympic Golds in Ski Mountaineering
Marianne Fatton Makes History
At the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, Marianne Fatton of Switzerland won the women’s ski mountaineering sprint, becoming the first Olympic champion in the sport, which made its debut at the 2026 Winter Games.
She edged out France’s Emily Harrop (silver) and Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez (bronze).
The win marked a defining moment for ski mountaineering — combining uphill climbs, tricky transitions and downhill sprints — and put Fatton’s name into Olympic history.
Spain’s Long-Awaited Gold in Men’s Sprint
Earlier in the day, Oriol Cardona Coll of Spain captured the men’s ski mountaineering sprint gold, Spain’s first Winter Olympic gold in 54 years since Francisco Fernández Ochoa’s 1972 victory.
Nikita Filippov (AIN) took silver and Thibault Anselmet (FRA) clinched bronze.
Cardona Coll dedicated his emotional win to family and country, ending a long medal drought for Spain in Winter Games.
Curling Drama & Semifinal Spots in Sight
Day 13’s curling saw ties and intense battles in both men’s and women’s pools as teams fought to reach the knockout phase.
Great Britain’s men’s team successfully advanced to the semifinals, with Canada and Switzerland confirming their own spots following pivotal round-robin wins.
Heavy snow in Cortina delayed some matches and logistics, but the tension remained high as semifinal matchups shaped up for later rounds.
Other Highlights and Notable Moments
Women’s Ice Hockey Bronze: Switzerland secured the bronze medal over Sweden after a hard-fought contest earlier in the day.
Weather Interruptions: Snowstorms forced delays for several events, including freeski halfpipe qualifiers and curling sessions.
Nordic Combined Team Success: Norway continued its dominance in Nordic combined with a commanding team sprint win.
Day 13 also featured heats in figure skating, freestyle skiing qualifying, and more medal pursuits scheduled throughout the remainder of the evening. Coverage across BBC Two HD continues with live updates and medal decisions as the Milano Cortina 2026 Games move toward their final days.
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