8. The helmet memorial

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from competition on Feb. 12 after insisting on competing with a custom “helmet of remembrance” adorned with images of Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed during Russia’s invasion. Olympic officials ruled the helmet violated the IOC’s prohibition on political statements and demonstrations on the field of play, citing the Olympic Charter’s neutrality rules. Despite negotiations, Heraskevych refused alternatives and was removed from the start list on the morning of his event. His appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was also denied and he was not reinstated to compete. The incident drew international attention and criticism, including from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who later honored Heraskevych with the Order of Freedom.

9. Canadian curling scandal

Canada may have earned an unwanted reputation at the 2026 Olympics. In a game against Sweden on Feb. 13, Canadian curler Marc Kennedy was accused by Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson of touching the stone after release — a violation. Kennedy denied wrongdoing and responded with profanity. Officials made no call during the match, but video later circulated appearing to show contact. During a round-robin match with Switzerland shortly afterward, the Canadian women’s team faced the same accusation. They denied touching the rock and requested video review, which is not standard practice in curling. The incidents sparked debate about officiating, rules enforcement, and sportsmanship and a wider conversation on whether video review should be included as part of refereeing the sport.

10. Canada’s slow grind to the podium

It took Canada nine days to secure its first gold medal. Former Olympians said they were not entirely surprised, pointing to what they described as years of inconsistent domestic investment in high-performance sport and arguing that Canada’s gold-medal ceiling has been lowered by a thinning development pipeline. Many athletes on this year’s Canadian Olympic roster were also veterans nearing the end of their careers, with fewer younger competitors emerging to replace them. The first week included several close losses and some fourth-place finishes. Canada’s chef de mission, Jennifer Heil, noted this sets the stage for Canada’s potential performance in future Olympics, if it doesn’t change its strategy.

11. The story of Deanna Stellato-Dudek

Deanna Stellato-Dudek’s story captivated figure skating fans. She would compete, at age 42, becoming the oldest female Olympian in the sport. But a week before the team event, she hit her head during practice and delayed her flight to Milan, leaving her Olympic participation uncertain for nearly two weeks. On Feb. 10, it was confirmed she would compete individually, arriving in Milan two days later. She stayed secretive about her injury but insisted she was ready. In the pairs short program with Maxime Deschamps, a fall marred their routine, though they skated better in the free skate.

12. Did male ski jumpers inject acid into their genitals?

Media reports, largely from German outlets and social media, circulated during the weekend of the Opening Ceremony, alleging that some male ski jumpers had injected hyaluronic acid into their penises just before suit measurements. The theory suggested that temporarily enlarging the genital area could allow athletes to wear looser ski suits with slightly more surface area, potentially providing a minor aerodynamic advantage during jumps. The claims quickly drew international attention and sparked heated discussions among fans and commentators about the lengths competitors might go to gain an edge. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) stated it would monitor the situation and investigate any credible reports, though hyaluronic acid is not currently a banned substance. No specific athlete was publicly identified, and no sanctions were issued during the Olympics.