The 2026 Winter Olympics were hosted by Milan Cortina, Italy. Throughout the month of February, the best of the best athletes were representing their countries, competing for gold. Opening ceremonies were held on Feb. 6 and officially closed the world event on Feb. 22. A total of 16 sports were competed: Figure skating, ice hockey, short track speed skating, speed skating, curling, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, snowboard, bobsleigh, skeleton, luge, biathlon, and the newly added ski mountaineering.
The United States came in second place of the 24 countries that competed. The American athletes took home a total of 33 medals, 12 gold, 12 silver, and 9 bronzes. Norway took first place with 41 overall medals.
These Olympic games were the shiniest of the previous Winter games for the United States. Bringing home more gold medals and total medals than any other winter Olympics for the United States. Of the U.S. medals, the female athletes won 12 medals, six of them being gold and the male athletes received 12, four gold medals.
With many record-breaking moments, these games made their place in history books. The USA’s top two earning sports being freestyle skiing, earning eight total medals and speed skating with five medals. USA’s speed skater, Jordan Stolz, earned three of the five medals. Setting the record in the 500m and 1,000m where he earned two gold medals.
Women’s individual figure skating earned a gold medal after a 24-year drought. Sarah Hughes, the gold medalist in 2002, held the record until 20-year-old Alyssa Liu took first place this year. Overall, the US figure-skating team brought home three medals.
Both Hockey teams earned gold medals for the first time. The Women’s team set the Olympic record for most consecutive shutouts, making five games when the opposing team is unable to earn points. Hilary Knight made history for most career Olympic points, 33 goals, and 15 in U.S. women’s ice hockey history. The men’s hockey team, also ending a longstanding drought, won gold for the first time since the 1980 Olympic games.
Elana Meyers Taylor, an American bobsledder, who came into the Olympics with five medals, finally earned her first gold medal. Adding to the record she holds for the most Olympic medals by an American bobsledder. Becoming one of four U.S. Winter Olympians with six or more medals, joining Bonnie Blair, as the most decorated U.S. women in Winter Olympic history.
While many of the USA teams made history for outstanding performance, others were highlighted for traumatic reasons. Like Alpine Ski Racer, Linday Vonn, who had injured her ACL before the competition, but decided to still compete with the guidance of doctors and coaches. During her run, Vonn clipped a gate and went into a high-speed crash resulting in an airlift from the track, and required multiple surgeries after a complex tibia fracture according to the New York Times article, “Watching sports stars play through pain: Risks, rewards, and what our reporters thought.”
These Olympic games were unlike any other. With many records set and standards being redefined by Americans. It poses a highlight in the country’s current state.