Culture 5 moments that prove women won the Winter Olympics The Games’ most powerful triumphs happened off the podium. By Jesse Kitzler Published 28 February, 2026 Culture 5 moments that prove women won the Winter Olympics The Games’ most powerful triumphs happened off the podium. By Jesse Kitzler Published 28 February, 2026 Previous article She didn’t pivot. She survived. Then she built an empire. Whether it was shutting down reporters or returning after years away from the ice, we’ve witnessed female comebacks in all forms at the 2026 Winter Olympics. And while temperatures dropped to -6°C across the Italian Alps, there were a stack of moments that left us feeling warm and fuzzy. With sports(wo)manship at an all time high, here are five highlights that defined the 2026 Winter Olympics. 1 Eileen Gu’s comeback to this “ridiculous” question Arguably our favourite moment from the Games, Chinese-American freestyle skier Eileen Gu had an incredible response to a reporter who asked whether she saw her medals as “two silvers gained or two golds lost”. “I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history, I think that’s an answer in and of itself,” said Gu. “The two medals lost situation, to be quite frank with you, I think, is kind of a ridiculous perspective to take. “I’m showcasing my best skiing. I’m doing things that quite literally have never been done before, so I think that is more than good enough.” 2 Alysa Liu winning gold, her way After competing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, American figure skater Alysa Liu retired at just 16, seeking a reprieve from the demands of the sport which had taken over her “whole life”. “There were many, many times when I didn’t enjoy it,” Liu said. 18 months later, she returned to competitive skating on the condition that she was in control of her routine on and off the ice. At this year’s Winter Olympics, a beaming Liu put on a near-flawless performance that saw her take home gold and end the US women’s 24-year figure skating drought. Prioritising her happiness in her sport truly paid off. Not only did Liu win, but she did so on her terms. 3 Girlhood at its finest As the reality of winning bronze in her Olympic debut set in, 17-year-old figure skater Ami Nakai found gold medallist Alysa Liu right there and shared the joy with her. The pair shared an emotional embrace that had the FW team, and the internet, crying with them. 4 For Bruna Moura, it was never about winning After qualifying for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Brazilian cross country skier Bruna Moura was in a car accident that left her with numerous broken bones and forced her out of competing. Moura spent a year in intensive recovery and returned to cross country skiing with the one goal in mind: to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics. She did just that, with pure joy written all over her face from start to end. She also made a point of congratulating everyone who finished behind her, saying celebrating with her peers “was the gold medal of the competition for me”. 5 An Olympic Engagement Captain of the US women’s hockey team Hillary Knight and American speed skater Brittany Bowe are celebrating their engagement! At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the pair went on a walk together through the Olympic Village and have been inseparable ever since. So, it only made sense that four years later, Hillary would get down on one knee in an Olympic village where it all started. Image credit: Getty Images Not an FW member? Don’t career alone. Join the network that’s in your corner here. fresh content More from FW Culture 5 moments that prove women won the Winter Olympics By Jesse Kitzler Career She didn’t pivot. She survived. Then she built an empire. By Melanie Dimmitt The Latest 3 Australian Women On Marriage Equality By FW Leadership Unlock the potential of your lived experience By Anja Christoffersen Your inbox just got smarter If you’re not a member, sign up to our newsletter to get the best of Future Women in your inbox.
