Milano Cortina closing day: candid moments and Italy’s bob a 4 finish

On the final day of the milano cortina Games, a mix of emotional routines and decisive outcomes marked the close of competition: candid athlete moments made headlines while medal events and national results delivered final standings that reshaped the podium picture.

Milano Cortina schedule highlights

The Italian delegation was scheduled to compete on 22 February, with the women’s 50 km mass start classic cross-country event and the men’s four-man bobsleigh heats listed on the day’s program. Event times shown in official schedules were 10: 00 ET for the cross-country start and two bob heats at 10: 00 ET and 12: 15 ET for the third and fourth runs.

• Key Sunday events: women’s 50 km mass start (10: 00 ET); men's four-man bob heats 3 and 4 (10: 00 ET and 12: 15 ET).

Candid moments from the Games

Across the final sessions, several unscripted and emotional images stood out. A U. S. figure skater broke down in tears after a missed jump in the women’s short program; another top men’s skater, known for his quad jumps, took an uncharacteristic fall and finished in eighth place. A skier celebrated a historic gold for his country and collapsed to thunderous applause after completing a race, while the first cross-country skier representing his nation also visibly collapsed at the finish amid cheers.

Lighthearted and human scenes punctuated competition: one skater dressed a short program as a pop-culture character, a dog wandered onto a cross-country track during qualifiers, and a biathlete posed playfully with plush mascots received after a podium finish. Teammates and competitors shared quiet moments — from hugging after runs to holding personal photos near the ice — giving the closing day a personal, intimate tone.

Bob a 4: Italy’s results and Baumgartner

The four-man bob concluded with a German team taking gold; an Italian crew finished fifth overall. The Italian quartet named in event rosters included Patrick Baumgartner, Lorenzo Bilotti, Eric Fantazzini and Robert Gino Mircea. Earlier schedule listings showed those athletes slated for heats at 10: 00 ET and 12: 15 ET on 22 February, when reports indicated Baumgartner was seeking a comeback in the event.

Live coverage of the closing competition also featured the men’s hockey final between the United States and Canada in progress, with the two teams contesting a closely watched gold-medal match. Additional outcomes across the program included a standout freeski performance by a Chinese athlete in halfpipe competition and a strong slopestyle result in women’s freestyle events.

Key takeaways

• Final-day schedule included a 50 km women’s mass start (10: 00 ET) and decisive four-man bob heats (10: 00 ET, 12: 15 ET).
• Germany won the four-man bob; Italy finished fifth with the listed crew.
• Emotional and candid moments — from tears after missed elements to playful mascot interactions — defined the closing scenes.

With medal ceremonies completed and the men’s hockey final underway, the closing hours of the Games combined competitive resolution with the informal, human moments that framed the event’s narrative.