Day 15 at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics: Gasol Elected IOC Chairman, Hockey Bronze Medal Match Set

The 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo continue with competition day number 15. Here’s an overview of the key events from Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Pau Gasol Named Chairman of IOC Athletes’ Commission

Two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol has been elected chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Commission. Olympics.com reports that the 45-year-old Spaniard will automatically become one of the 15 members of the IOC executive committee.

“This is an important moment for me to take responsibility and lead our commission,” Gasol said in an IOC statement. He has been working in the Athletes’ Commission since 2021 and will now oversee preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Gasol competed in five Olympic Games, winning two silver and one bronze medal with Spain. He is the first man in 14 years to head the athletes’ commission, replacing Emma Terho. Kirsty Coventry previously led the commission before becoming the first woman elected president of the IOC last year.

Notably, gymnastics competitions and boxing matches are being held in the hall where Gasol played for the Los Angeles Lakers, winning two titles. His number 16 jersey is retired by the club and hangs in the arena.

Peter Hinds to Compete in Final Race

Slovak cross-country skier Peter Hinds will compete in the 50 km mass start race today, marking his last discipline at the 2026 Milan and Cortina Olympics.

Slovakia and Finland to Clash for Hockey Bronze

The Slovakian national hockey team will face Finland in the bronze medal match on Saturday at 8:40 p.m. Local time. This rematch carries historical weight, as Slovakia lost to Finland 3-5 in the bronze medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Former Slovak forward Michal Handzuš described the loss as a “stain on our generation.”

Slovakia defeated Finland 4-1 and Italy 3-2 in Group B, securing first place and direct promotion to the top eight. They then triumphed over Germany 6-2 before losing to the USA 6-2 in the semi-finals.

Slovak Hockey Team Performance Review

Following their 6-2 loss to the USA in the semi-final, Slovak hockey players will compete for the bronze medal. Readers were able to rate the players’ performances after the match.

Polish Short Track Skater Involved in Incident

Polish short track representative Kamila Sellier did not finish the quarterfinals of the 1500m race. She was hit in the face by a falling skate during the race, but thankfully, the incident did not result in serious injuries. The American skater, Kristen Santos-Griswold, was disqualified for the incident.

Slovak Coach Országh Reflects on Semi-Final Loss

Slovak hockey coach Vladimír Országh expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance after the 2-6 loss to the USA. He emphasized the need to return to the form that characterized their previous matches in the bronze medal game.

Today’s Slovak Program

Today’s schedule for Slovak athletes includes:

• Peter Hinds in the 50 km mass start cross-country skiing race
• Marianna Jagerčíková and Jakub Šiarnik in the ski mountaineering mixed relay
• Viktória Čerňanská and Lucia Mokrášová in the double bobsled
• The Slovak hockey team’s bronze medal match against Finland

Full Olympic Schedule

The fifteenth competition day at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will feature medal events in biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, acrobatic skiing, ice hockey, ski mountaineering, and speed skating.