We are moving through mid-century with rapidity now on Olympic Wednesday, as we cruise into Cortina for the 1956 Winter Olympiad. Over 820 athletes from 32 countries came to participate in 24 events across 8 disciplines. This included the Soviet Union for the first time in the Winter Games, and it also included a “unified” German team, featuring athletes from both East and West German nations (IOC requested, too).

The Soviets won the medal count (16), followed by Austria (11) and Sweden (10). The host nation turned in a disappointing effort, winning just 3 medals total. Of the nations that competed, only 13 of them won at least a single medal; that left 19 countries going home empty, which seems like a high percentage (59%). Only 8 athletes total won multiple medals as well, signifying a tough level of competition for everyone.

Most Outstanding Male Athlete: Toni Sailer, Austria

Only 2 athletes won multiple golds at these Games, and the best of them was Austrian alpine skier Toni Sailer—who took home top honors in the downhill, slalom, and giant slalom events. He won each of his events by at least 3.5 seconds each, which is a lifetime in alpine skiing. In fact, he won the giant slalom by over 6 seconds! Those margins make it plausible he turned in the best alpine performance of all time.

Most Outstanding Female Athlete: Lyubov Kozyreva, USSR

The only woman in this Olympiad to win multiple medals, Lyubov Kozyreva took gold in 10km cross-country skiing event, and she also helped the Soviet Union win a silver in the 3x5km relay event in cross country as well. She would win 2 more silvers, in the same events, at Squaw Valley in 1960, too. Based on the timing of her event, Kozyreva was the first-ever Soviet champion in the Winter Olympics; quite the honor!

Most Outstanding Male Team: American Figure Skating

The United States swept all 3 medals in men’s singles of the figure skating competition: Hayes Jenkins (gold), Ronnie Robertson (silver), and David Jenkins (bronze) dominated the discipline in a way that just isn’t possible anymore, with the current limitations on entrants from a single nation now. Interestingly enough, the American women won both the gold and silver medals, as well, albeit not the bronze. Oh well!

Most Outstanding Female Team: American Figure Skating

Well, we didn’t mean to spoil it, but with only a handful of women’s event at these Winter Games, the gold (Tenley Albright) and silver (Carol Heiss) were enough for the U.S. women to claim this hardware, too. Heiss and Hayes Jenkins would later get married, too, creating a fine synergy among American skaters. Makes you wonder if they had any kids—and if so, did they become figure skaters?? Research time!