A deeply emotional ceremony took place at the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, as 14 Olympians from the Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 Games received reallocated Olympic medals in front of more than 20,000 fans.
The ceremony recognized achievements in biathlon, specifically the men’s 15km mass start at Vancouver 2010 and the men’s 4×7.5km relay at Sochi 2014, following medal reallocations approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
IOC President Kirsty Coventry, Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, and IOC Members Danka Hrbeková, Michael Mronz, Karl Stoss, and Kristin Kloster presented the medals to the athletes.
Medal Reallocation Recipients:
Vancouver 2010 – Biathlon, Men’s 15km Mass Start
- Gold: Martin Fourcade (FRA)
- Silver: Pavol Hurajt (SVK)
- Bronze: Christoph Sumann (AUT)
Sochi 2014 – Biathlon, Men’s 4×7.5km Relay
- Gold: Germany – Erik Lesser, Daniel Böhm, Arnd Peiffer, Simon Schempp
- Silver: Austria – Christoph Sumann, Daniel Mesotitsch, Simon Eder, Dominik Landertinger
- Bronze: Norway – Tarjei Bø, Johannes Bø, Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Emil Hegle Svendsen
Speaking after the ceremony, President Coventry said:
“This is a really special moment for these athletes. To be able to celebrate them here, in front of thousands of fans and alongside their families, is what the Olympic Games are all about. These athletes earned this recognition, and it’s wonderful to see them receive it on an Olympic stage.”
Olympic Medal Reallocation Principles
The IOC allows athletes who are awarded reallocated medals to choose from several ceremony options, including receiving the medal at a live event or at a similar celebration location during the next relevant Olympic Games. This ensures that athletes are recognized appropriately for their achievements, even years after the original competitions.
The Milano Cortina 2026 ceremony offered a moving and memorable platform to honour these athletes, celebrating their perseverance, dedication, and rightful place in Olympic history.
