14 LGBTQ moments that defined the Milan Winter Olympics

The 2026 Milan Winter Olympics provided the world with many memories. Some were incredibly beautiful and positive. Others were heartbreak or downright upsetting.

For Team LGBTQ, there were some ups and downs, ultimately winning more medals — and more gold medals — than ever before. Over a third of the team won a medal, which is great to see.

And then there was Radko Gudas, the NHL player playing for the Czech Republic who tried to ruin everything.

Here are some of Outsports’ picks for the most memorable LGBTQ moments of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.

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Record 49 out LGBTQ athletes competing in 2026 Milan Winter Olympics
Team LGBTQ will be the biggest ever for a Winter Olympics, and the number of out athletes competing for gold in Milan continues to grow.

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Record 49 out LGBTQ athletes compete

Let’s not forget the biggest storyline of all for these Winter Olympics. There were at least 49 out athletes competing, an increase of over 40% from four years ago. That bodes well for breaking the 200 mark for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

Team LGBTQ wins its most Winter Olympics medals

When the final medal count was tallied, Team LGBTQ had won its most medals ever at a Winter Olympics, as well as its most gold medals. Team LGBTQ finished 13th in total medal count and the traditional medal standings.

Breezy Johnson gets engaged

In the Super-G event after her gold-medal run, Breezy Johnson finished off the podium. Yet waiting at the bottom of the slopes was her boyfriend, Connor Watkins, ready to surprise her with an engagement ring and a proposal. She said, “Yes.”

Hilary Knight proposes to Brittany Bowe

Shortly before winning a gold medal in the thrilling overtime victory after scoring a key game-tying point, Hilary Knight got on one knee and proposed marriage to her girlfriend, speed skating legend Brittany Bowe.

Gus Kenworthy nearly wins a medal in men’s halfpipe

For about 30 minutes, Gus Kenworthy was in a medal-winning position in the men’s skiing halfpipe. Ultimately, Kenworthy finished in sixth place, and incredible achievement given his retirement and recent comeback for Team GB.

NHL player Radko Gudas mars Olympic hockey with gay slur

Shortly after injuring Canada’s Sidney Crosby and ending his Milan Olympics competition, Czech player Radko Gudas, who plays in the NHL for the Anaheim Ducks where he is captain, yelled a gay slur for all to hear.

Amber Glenn stumbles, then delivers a redemption free skate

When Amber Glenn missed an element in her short program, she was devastated. Skating to Madonna’s “Like A Prayer,” she turned a triple into a double, losing seven points. Two days later she gave a top-3 free skate performance.

Kevin Aymoz skated to a gay love story and Lady Gaga

In announcing his short program prior to the season, of which he was the choreographer, Aymoz wrote: “A piano for my emotions, Lady Gaga to my rage. A program that talks about me, in fire, in fragility, in truth. I can’t wait to show you this program that I choreographed with love.” “Judas” by Lady Gaga from 2011 is well-known, but the other selection by Aymoz is more obscure.

Conor McDermott-Mostowy makes history as first out gay man to compete in speedskating

During his 1,000-meter race, McDemott-Mostowy wore a necklace with a silver pendant that spelled out colors that appear on the Pride flag. The jewelry spoke to McDermott-Mostowy’s personal pride in representing the LGBTQ community on international sports’ largest stage.

The captains of Team USA and Team Canada women’s hockey team are both LGBTQ

Canada was led by Marie-Philip Poulin and the U.S. by Hilary Knight, so it was only fitting that their teams played for the gold medal in a game that went to overtime. Poulin is married to teammate Laura Stacey, while Knight proposed to her girlfriend, speedskater Brittany Bowe, in Milan.

Commentators repeatedly misgendered trans Olympic skier Elis Lundholm

Milan Winter Olympics commentators repeatedly misgendered Elis Lundholm during their women’s moguls coverage shared by NBC on Peacock. NBC later apologized: “Today we streamed an international feed with non-NBCUniversal commentators who misgendered Olympian Elis Lundholm. We apologize to Elis and our viewers, and we have removed the replay of that feed.”

Opening Ceremony was oh-so gay

From Mariah to The White Lotus, the Milan Games Opening Ceremony was one of the gayest ever. There were several instances during which the Opening Ceremony turned Milan’s San Siro Stadium into a 75,000-seat Hamburger Mary’s.

Rousseau’s rainbow grip makes a statement

Canada’s Shilo Rousseau had already competed in biathlon events with a Pride rainbow flag before these Olympics, and she was determined to do so again in Italy. There was some uncertainty over whether this would be allowed under IOC rules, but Rousseau retained her rainbow grip for the 15km individual. It was a moment that clearly mattered to her, and judging by the response, to many others from the LGBTQ community, too.

Skeleton wives remind us that love always wins

In a twist of Olympic fate, Valentine’s Day was also the final day of the women’s skeleton event, which meant Belgium’s Kim Meylemans and Brazil’s Nicole Silveira — married to each other — were up against each other for medals. Silveira made history for her country with its best-ever Olympic finish on ice, and Meylemans ended up sixth, but it was their loving embrace on the ice that filled our hearts with queer joy.

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