The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has barely begun and already it is causing an internet storm – and I can see why. From the horrific ski-slope fall of Lindsey Vonn, to a Norwegian biathlete’s Love Island-worthy TV interview and the internet-dubbed “Crotchgate,” the drama and controversy have been relentless.
With the event continuing until 22 February, it seems likely more surprises lie in store. But until then, content yourself with joining me as I relive the five biggest controversies from the first week…
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Skating on thin ice
© VCG via Getty ImagesWhile French ice dancers Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron mesmerised the crowd with their harmonious gold-medal performances, their off-ice lives are less in-sync. The announcement of their skating partnership on Instagram in March 2025 caused a stir as it left them with less than a year to prepare for the Olympics. However, it’s the controversy surrounding the pair’s previous skating partners which has really dominated discussions.
© Getty ImagesLaurence was originally paired with her boyfriend, Nikolaj Sørensen, who was suspended in 2024 following allegations of a 2012 sexual assault involving a former coach and skater. While his six-year suspension was later lifted, it heavily damaged his career. Many have questioned why Laurence continues to stand by her partner after such serious allegations. In the 2026 Netflix series Glitter and Gold, she said: “This was extremely difficult because it was not only about skating, it was about my integrity, it was about his integrity. I know my boyfriend 100%. I know him. And we stood strong together.”
© Getty ImagesLaurence’s new partner, Guiilaume, is no stranger to serious accusations either. His former skating partner, Gabriella Papadakis, with whom he won gold in Beijing 2022, accused him of being “controlling” and “demanding” in her 2026 memoir, So as Not to Disappear. In response, Guillaume said it was a “smear campaign” and that he was pursuing legal action. If you ask me, both seem to be skating on thin ice.
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All downhill from here
© Getty ImagesShe may not have secured gold, but American skier Lindsey Vonn suffered the most dramatic crash of the season. Already racing with ruptured ligaments in her left knee, the 2010 downhill champion shocked fans when she tore her ACL after colliding with a gate just 13 seconds into her run. The 41-year-old was quickly airlifted to hospital after the fall, which was captured in a dramatic video.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Lindsey wrote: “Yesterday my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would. It wasn’t a storybook ending or a fairytale, it was just life. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it. I have no regrets. Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself.”
Since the accident, Lindsey has undergone three surgeries and wrote in a recent post that she is “making progress.” I wish her a speedy recovery.
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Ice-cold heart
© Getty ImagesWhile some Olympians are breaking bones, others are breaking hearts. In a bizarre TV confession, Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid was open about his past mistakes. After finishing in third place, Sturla broke down in tears to broadcaster NRK. He claimed he lost the “love of his life” by cheating on his partner six months ago.
His ex-girlfriend responded to the Norwegian outlet VG, saying she “did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurt to have to be in it.” She added that his infidelity was “hard to forgive, even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world.” Whether this public display of contrition leads to a reconciliation remains to be seen. Maybe if Sturla had won gold instead of bronze, his chances of success would have been greater…
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Crotchgate
© Anadolu via Getty ImagesOne of the most (ahem) ‘intimate’ controversies of the games surrounds claims athletes have been injecting serum into their genitalia to increase appendage size. Dubbed “Crotchgate” by the internet, reports from Germany’s Bild claim this is done to give ski jumpers greater “lift” to glide further. I’m no aerodynamicist but surely the enlargement would have to be so vast to render any meaningful performance gains, it would look like the injected skiers were sporting a third ski?!
In any case, no one has been officially accused and ski jumpers must undergo 3D body scans which theoretically should make the tactic easy to detect.
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