Olympic medal count 2026: Norway and Switzerland share early lead as hosts add gold

The Winter Games in Italy have opened with a tight race at the top of the standings, with several traditional powers trading podiums across alpine skiing, skating, and early indoor events. As of 7:39 AM ET on Tuesday, Feb. 10, the gold medal count is knotted at three apiece for Norway and Switzerland, while Italy has piled up the most total medals so far.

Olympic medal count leaders so far

Through the first stretch of finals, the top of the table is being driven by a mix of efficient gold conversions (Norway and Switzerland) and depth across events (Italy). Japan, Sweden, and Germany have also put themselves in striking distance with two golds each, keeping the overall medal count fluid with many marquee finals still ahead.

Gold medal count tight at the top

The gold race is shaping up as a day-to-day battle rather than an early runaway. Norway and Switzerland sit level on three gold medals, but the next group is close enough that one strong session can flip the standings. Italy is two golds back, yet leading on total medals—often a sign of broad competitiveness that can translate into a surge once a few silvers and bronzes turn into wins.

With many medal-rich sports still in early phases, the ordering matters less than the trend: nations collecting frequent podiums are positioning themselves for a second-week push as the schedule expands.

US medal count starts with two golds

The US medal count stands at two gold medals and no other medals as of Tuesday morning (7:39 AM ET). That profile—perfect conversion so far, but limited volume—reflects a start built on a small number of breakthrough wins rather than wide podium coverage.

The next step for the United States is depth: adding silvers and bronzes across multiple disciplines to stay in the overall medal count race even on days when gold doesn’t arrive. If the team begins stacking top-three finishes across a broader slate, it can climb quickly in total medals while remaining competitive in the gold chase.

Italy’s fast start brings home-crowd energy

Italy’s early story is momentum and volume: 10 total medals already, the most of any nation at the moment, alongside two golds. That mix suggests a team consistently contending across events, which can be especially valuable in a home Games setting where multiple sports can deliver medals in quick succession.

One headline moment came in short track, where Italy captured a gold in the mixed relay, a result that also added to the country’s expanding winter-sport legacy. With alpine and sliding events continuing to unfold and more finals ahead, Italy’s total-medal lead gives it a sturdy platform to challenge for the top spots overall if more of those podiums turn gold.

What to watch as the table shifts

The medal count Olympics storyline is likely to stay volatile for two reasons: first, many high-frequency medal sports still have numerous finals ahead; second, the early standings show a compressed top group. A few themes to watch over the coming days:

• Whether Norway and Switzerland can keep converting at a high rate as the program broadens.

• If Italy’s depth continues to translate into golds, not just podium volume.

• Whether the United States adds breadth—more medals across more sports—to complement its early golds.

• The emergence of a “second wave” contender (Japan, Sweden, Germany) that strings together multiple golds in a short span.

With competition continuing through Feb. 22, the current leaders have advantages, but not insulation. In a Winter Games setting—where conditions, small margins, and deep fields can swing results—the standings may look very different by the time the second week begins.

Sources consulted: International Olympic Committee, Olympics.com, Reuters, CBS News