As the best winter sports athletes in the world gather in Milano to compete for Olympic gold, we can’t help but take in all of the festivities through a design lens. What can I say, we are who we are! The intense competition and extreme athleticism is impressive and all, but here at PRINT you already know we’ve been fixating on the uniform fashion design, Opening Ceremonies costumes and set, and everything eye-catching in between.

Here’s a non-exhaustive round-up of the biggest design wins from Milano Cortina 2026 so far, with a few losses we couldn’t help but mention.

Image courtesy of Federigo Federighi via Wiki Commons

Wins

Even before any athletes took the ice or slopes, there were some major design wins that set the tone for the level of visual artistry on display at Milano Cortina 2026. At the Opening Ceremonies, we saw some stellar fashion design sported by each country’s participating athletes, with Team Haiti and Team Brazil’s uniforms taking the cake.

Team Haiti Uniforms by Stella Jean

Team Brazil Uniforms

Opening Ceremonies Set and Costumes

The Opening Ceremonies for the Games were a reverent visual feast of colors and beloved Italian icons dancing, parading, and spiraling around the stage. We were especially taken by the figures dressed up as color-blocked espresso makers, and the giant paint tubes suspended in the sky from which cloth cascaded down and pooled on the stage like flowing paint.

Check out the full Opening Ceremonies here!

Alysa Liu’s Hair

Whenever an athlete is competing on the world stage, they have the opportunity to make a statement with how they present themselves to a global audience. Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu has taken full advantage of her moment with her hair style, having it dyed in a unique halo style that’s been three years in the making. Liu dyed the first ring into her hair in 2023, and has added a new ring every winter since.

Federica Brignone’s Helmet

Athletes competing in sports where they’re mostly covered up by their equipment can still find ways to individualize their look. Italian skier Federica Brignone did just that with her captivating tiger helmet and matching tiger ski gloves.

Vladyslav Heraskevych’s Helmet

Team Ukraine’s flag bearer and Skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych similarly used his helmet as a canvas, making a poignant homage to Ukrainian athletes who’ve been killed in the ongoing war with Russia. He wore the helmet at the Games during a training session, but the International Olympic Committee has since banned him from wearing it when he competes.

Losses

The Olympic Medals

One would think that the medals designed for the Olympics would be the best of the best, just like the athletes winning them. Alas, this doesn’t seem to be the case, as there have been multiple athletes stating that their medals are breaking. Specifically, the medallions are coming off of their ribbons. This seems like an easy fix, but it simply shouldn’t be happening to begin with! These are the goddamn Olympics, for crying out loud! These medals should be built with the utmost craftsmanship and highest quality to be fit for those accomplishing the feat of becoming Olympic medalists.

Ilia Malinin’s Skating Costume

Team USA’s gravity-defying figure skater Ilia Malinin—affectionately dubbed the “Quad God”—is one of the faces of these Olympics Games thanks to his back flips on the ice. Generational talent aside, I must question his costume choices. On two separate days he’s worn an elfin get-up that would have looked more at-home at a Renaissance Fair than at the Olympics. The outfit was complete with a leather harness around his chest and blue gauze tied around his waist and arms. I know figure skating costumes can skew whimsical, but I found this choice to cheapen and distract from his incredible skill.

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