Learning resilience, discipline, courage

For International Women’s Day 2026 (March 8), the International Olympic Committee highlighted the women of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics that not only delivered extraordinary performances, but also showed how sport can open paths that transform lives.

“Milano Cortina 2026 will be remembered for extraordinary achievements by athletes who delivered their best performances in iconic venues,” noted IOC President Kirsty Coventry, herself a double Olympic champion in swimming.

“This year, more than at any previous Olympic Winter Games, those feats were by women, as we achieved the most gender-balanced Olympic Winter Games in history, with women accounting for 47 per cent of the athletes.

“What I learned through sport is resilience, discipline, and courage — qualities that guided me far beyond competition. My journey is proof that sport opens doors we may not even imagine when we first step onto the field of play. And every girl deserves that same opportunity.”

Among the standout performers in Italy was China’s Eileen Gu, who dazzled across three freestyle skiing disciplines, winning gold in halfpipe and silver in both big air and slopestyle to become the most decorated freeskier in Olympic history.

“The power of sport is unparalleled, because it is evidence over affirmation,” she offered. “That’s a big reason why I encourage more young girls to get into sport, because I think the power it has to build and instill that confidence in people is really special and unique.”

On the ice, Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida delighted the home crowd inside the Milan Speed Skating Stadium when she triumphed in the 3,000m and 5,000m, setting a new Olympic record over the shorter distance.

The 35-year-old took time away from speed skating after Beijing 2022 to give birth to her son, but she was determined to return to the sport that had shaped her not only as an athlete, but also as a person.

“Whatever you want, even if it’s something they say is impossible – you are the only one who can choose what’s possible,” shared Lollobrigida. “That’s my biggest message.”

For many of the female athletes at Milano Cortina 2026, sport did not just equip them with the confidence to perform at the highest level. It also empowered them to drive change and become visible role models for girls and women around the world.

Austria’s Claudia Riegler is one such example. At 52, she became the oldest female Winter Olympian in history when she competed in the snowboard parallel giant slalom, defying her age to qualify for the finals, where she was beaten by reigning champion Ester Ledecka.

At 30, Riegler was told she was too old to compete, but she went on to win her first world title at 41. Her journey has been defined by defying expectations, and she hopes to inspire other women to do the same.

“Others think, if she can do it, maybe I also can do it,” said Riegler. “They try, they go out of their comfort zone, they push boundaries. I think that’s the point – to show what is possible. We are all a huge community, and we are all helping each other. I tell myself that’s exactly why I’m doing this – to help others.”

Another trailblazer at Milano Cortina 2026 was Lara Markthaler, who made history as South Africa’s first female Alpine skier at the Olympic Winter Games. For her, participation was not just a personal achievement, but also about opening a door for others.

“For me, being the first female Alpine skier at the Olympics for South Africa is a very big honor,” she said. “I hope I can maybe even inspire just one young girl to start skiing. That would be a great accomplishment for me.”