The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics was held from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22, 2026, across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The Winter Games featured 116 events and showcased Team USA’s most dominant performance in history.

The United States (U.S.) finished second overall behind Norway with a record-breaking 12 gold medals. 

Speed skater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca proudly served as Team USA’s flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony in Milan’s San Siro Stadium, chosen by a vote of fellow athletes. Jackson became the first black woman to carry the U.S. flag at a Winter Olympics.

“It’s a really big honor and I’m super grateful, especially being chosen by my teammates,” Jackson said in an interview. 

Alpine Skiing

In the Women’s Downhill, Breezy Johnson (US) powered through to claim gold. Johnson’s victory was not only a testament to her speed and precision but also became one of the Games’ emotional moments when her boyfriend proposed to her at the finish line. 

“Now I can’t be like, ‘Was my favorite week of my life when I got engaged or when I won the Olympics?’” Johnson said in an interview with Vogue.

Mikaela Shiffrin made history as both the youngest, winning at 18 in 2014, and oldest U.S. woman, winning at 30 this year, to secure Olympic gold in alpine skiing. In an emotional post-race interview Shiffrinn talked about overcoming past injuries and navigating with the loss of her father.

“This was a moment I have dreamed about. I’ve also been very scared of this moment. Everything in life that you do after you lose someone you love is like a new experience,”  Shiffrin said in her post race press conference. “It’s like being born again. I still have so many moments where I resist this. I don’t want to be in life without my dad.” 

Team USA added a bronze medal in the Women’s Team Combined, with the team navigating slalom and downhill segments in a display of synchronized strategy and speed.

Ryan Cochran-Siegle brought home silver for the U.S. in the Men’s Super G. His performance underscored the growing skill of American men in high-speed alpine events, building on his comeback from a previous neck injury. 

“This skiing stuff is in his blood because his silver medal came 54 years to the day after his mother, Barbra Cochran, won her own Olympic medal,” Cochran said in an interview with TODAY.

Bobsleigh

The 2-Woman Bobsleigh event delivered a bronze medal for the U.S.

Elana Meyers Taylor etched her name further into Olympic history with gold in the Women’s Monobob, outpacing her U.S. teammate Kaillie Humphries for bronze. Meyers Taylor’s victory showcased her veteran expertise in this solo event adding to her fourth Olympic medal. 

“It goes to show if you stick with something long enough, if you have enough stubbornness that maybe good things will work out,” Meyers Taylor said in an interview with CBS News.

Cross-Country Skiing

Jessee Diggins secured bronze in the Women’s 10km Interval Start Free Ski, continuing her legacy as one of America’s top cross-country skiers.

In the Men’s Sprint Classic, Ben Ogden claimed silver for the U.S. Ogden’s speed in the short, intense sprints highlighted a breakthrough for U.S. men, as Scandinavians had previously dominated.

“I have dreamed about being the one to bring home an Olympic medal for the Vermont cross country ski community and here we are,” Ogden said in an interview with U.S. Ski and Snowboard. 

The U.S. team earned silver in the Men’s Team Sprint Free.

Curling

The Mixed Doubles Curling event saw the U.S. team take silver after Cory Thiesse made history as the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in curling. 

Figure Skating

Alysa Liu won gold in the Women’s Single Skating. Liu’s triumph marked the first U.S. women’s figure skating Olympic title since 2002, her jumps and artistic expression becoming a comeback story for American singles skating; the 20-year-old’s poise under pressure, especially after early-season struggles.

“I’m really glad with how it all turned out and I’m glad I could show three incredible programs I was really proud of on the Olympic stage. That’s all I could ask for,” Liu said in an interview with TODAY.

In the Ice Dance competition, the U.S. took silver. Madison Chock not only competed but also designed costumes for national teams, including her own U.S. pair’s elegant flamenco-inspired outfits, as well as designs for ice-dancing pairs from Spain, Australia and Georgia.

Team USA dominated the Figure Skating Team Event for gold.

Ilia Malinin’s individual men’s single performance, where he entered as the heavy favorite for gold, shocked the skating world as he finished eighth after two falls in the free skate. 

Malinin, also known as “Quad God,” failed to land his quadruple axel in competition but redeemed himself in the exhibition gala with a powerful routine to “Fear” by NF, addressing mental health struggles and social media pressures. 

“This message and this program or song really spoke to me and really represented how I’ve been feeling the last year heading up to these Olympics,” Malinin said in a post-performance interview. “There’s been so much pressure, so much doubt and everything around me— the noise, the media, the people, the environment— it’s been so overwhelming.”

Freestyle Skiing 

Elizabeth Lemley won gold in Women’s Moguls, followed by her teammate Jaelin Kauf in silver. 

In Women’s Dual Moguls, Jaelin Kauf earned silver and Elizabeth Lemley took bronze while the Mixed Team Aerials saw the U.S. win gold. 

Alex Ferreira claimed gold in Men’s Freeski Halfpipe. Ferreira solidified his status as a top innovator in the sport, especially with his comeback from injury and in Men’s Freeski Slopestyle, Alex Hall secured silver. 

Mac Forehand earned silver in Men’s Freeski Big Air. Forehand became just the second American to medal in this event.

“It was the best Big Air competition that’s ever happened. The level of skiing was off the charts, and you had two world’s first tricks,” Forehand said.

Luge

Ashley Farquharson took bronze in Women’s Singles Luge. Farquharson’s precise steering through the icy chute at speeds over 80 miles per hour represented a significant achievement for U.S. luge.

Short Track Speed Skating

Corinne Stoddard won bronze in the Women’s 1500m. Stoddard’s tactical positioning in the chaotic pack racing of short track showcased her agility.

Snowboard

Chloe Kim won silver in Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe. Kim navigated the pressure of being a multi-time champion; entering as the favorite for a historic three-peat (three consecutive wins), after golds in 2018 and 2022. 

“This is so special to me. A month ago it wasn’t looking too good for me to even come out and I got no reps on snow, so the fact that I was able to come out here makes me so proud and I’m so happy to walk away with a medal,” Kim told Olympics.com. 

Kim overcame a dislocated shoulder just a month prior, wearing a brace as she competed and facing surgery post-Games. 

Jake Canter took bronze in Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle. 

Speed Skating

Mia Manganello earned bronze in the Women’s Mass Start. 

Jordan Stolz received gold in the Men’s 500m and another gold in the Men’s 1000m. 

In the Men’s 1500m, Stolz won silver. This medal was the first for a U.S. man in the 1500m since 2010. The U.S. team claimed silver in the Men’s Team Pursuit.

Ice Hockey

The U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey team powered through an undefeated group stage to capture gold, defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime in the final. 

The team was led by Hilary Knight, who holds the record for most career points in the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey history. 

Laila Edwards made history as the first black woman to score a goal for Team USA in the Olympics.

In Men’s Ice Hockey, the U.S. achieved a monumental gold, besting Canada 2-1 in an overtime final and earning their first title in 46 years. 

The victory unfolded on the exact anniversary of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” when Team USA beat the Soviet Union. 

The team honored the late Johnny Gaudreau throughout the tournament, wearing patches in his memory, hanging his No. 13 jersey in the locker room and dedicating their performance to the beloved player. Gaudreau tragically passed away in 2024 along with his brother Matthew in a drunk-driving accident. 

After the win, players like Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin brought Gaudreau’s children, Noa and Johnny Jr., onto the ice for the team photo, parading his jersey in tribute. 

This triumph not only revitalized U.S. men’s hockey on the world stage but also sparked nationwide celebrations, reminding fans of the sport’s endurance and the unbreakable bonds formed on the ice. 

In a nod to tradition, President Donald Trump invited the team to the White House during a celebratory locker-room call and the players accepted. 

The team attended a special event on Feb. 25 alongside the State of the Union address, continuing the long-standing custom of honoring Olympic champions at the executive residence.

On Feb. 28 Team USA’s men’s and women’s hockey teams appeared during Connor Storrie’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) hosting debut. In Storrie’s monologue, Jack and Quinn Hughes joined first in Team USA jerseys and medals, followed by women’s captain Hilary Knight and Megan Keller.