The first medals of the 2026 Winter Olympics were awarded Saturday in men's downhill skiing and women's cross-country Skiathlon.

The American medal count sits at zero after the end of five events in Day 1. No country has more than one gold, with Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland all winning a single event. The first three countries are all tied in the total medal race, with one gold, one silver and one bronze each.

MILAN -- Italian police fired tear gas and a water cannon at dozens of protesters who threw firecrackers and tried to access a highway near a Winter Olympics venue on Saturday. The brief confrontation came at the end of a peaceful march by thousands against the environmental impact of the Games and the presence of U.S. agents in Italy.

Here's a look back at the history of the Winter Olympics, including when the first games were held and where they've been hosted.

Don't miss a moment of the Winter Olympics. Here's how to watch live, for free and stream the action without cable.

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, have arrived as the top bobsleigh teams in the world are set to compete for their respective nations on the global stage.

Will the U.S. walk away with the most gold medals from the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics? Will Team USA challenge for the most medals overall? We’ll know in a little more than two short weeks. The first gold medals were awarded on Saturday,

Skier Chris Lillis said he was "heartbroken about what's happened in the United States," while skater Amber Glenn said she "will not just be quiet."

It’s hard to explain, but it’s like man on the moon-type stuff. I never thought I’d see a skater do what he does physically on the ice in my lifetime.” – Figure Skating Analyst Tara Lipinski on Ilia M

Police clashed with protestors near an Olympic hockey venue in Milan, the Associated Press and security company Global Guardian reported.

The final of the 2026 Winter Olympics' big air snowboarding event saw defending gold medalist Su Yiming of China try the most daring trick of the competition in an attempt to leapfrog Japan's Kira Kimura and Kimata Ryoma, only for him to fall and create a scoring controversy for the bronze medal.