The 2026 Winter Olympics will begin this week when competitors walk under the wave of their nation's flags at Friday's Opening Ceremony. The ceremony not only offers Olympians a chance to represent their country on the international stage,

Americans who top the podium at the Milan Cortina Games will be in line for a $37,500 bonus. Their competitors could collect as much as $800,000.

With the 2026 Winter Olympics just a few days away, here's the official medal count for each country heading into the Games.

Here is a guide to the history of Olympic medals, the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics medal design and what Olympians do with their hardware.