Herrmann praises performances of Bavarian athletes at the Olympics - Germany's 26 Winter Olympic medals fall just short of podium target
Germany secured 26 medals at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, finishing fifth in the overall standings. The team fell short of its third-place target, earning one fewer medal than at the 2022 Beijing Games. Bavarian athletes played a key role in the country's performance, with notable contributions from the region's elite sports programme.
A total of 185 German athletes competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics, held across Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Among them, 82 came from Bavaria, including nine from the Bavarian police elite sports programme. Their efforts helped Germany collect 8 gold, 10 silver, and 8 bronze medals.
Luge proved the most successful discipline, with multiple podium finishes. Julia Taubitz and Max Langenhan won gold in their events, while the team relay also took first place. Additional medals came in alpine skiing, biathlon, and skeleton.
Bavaria's sports minister highlighted the region's achievements, singling out Philipp Nawrath and Magdalena Matschina. Nawrath, part of the police elite sports programme, claimed bronze in the mixed relay. Matschina, also from the same programme, secured silver in the doubles luge.
Despite strong performances, Germany missed its goal of ranking third in the medal table. The final tally of 26 medals marked a slight decline from the 27 won in Beijing four years earlier.
The Milan-Cortina Games saw Germany rely heavily on Bavarian talent, particularly in luge and other winter sports. With 26 medals, the team finished just outside the top three, reflecting both successes and areas for improvement. Bavarian officials have since recognised the contributions of their athletes, especially those from the police elite sports programme.
