Feature: Milan-Cortina 2026 ends in feats, farewells and fire

by sportswriter He Leijing MILAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics concluded on Sunday, ending more than two weeks of spectacle played out across frozen tracks and Alpine slopes. Athletes chased dreams with grit and grace, etching fresh chapters into Olympic history. IOC president Kirsty Coventry hailed the Games as "truly successful," saying the event had "surpassed everyone's expectations." Norway topped the medal table with 18 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals, powered by its supremacy in cross-country skiing, biathlon and Nordic combined. The United States ranked second with 12 golds, 12 silvers and nine bronzes, while host nation Italy rode surging crowds to...