The 2026 Winter Olympic Games were held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, this past month. The Games hosted many exciting events that captured the eyes and ears of audiences across the world. Over two weeks, nations competed in various winter sports, including alpine and freestyle skiing, snowboarding, figure and speed skating, and ice hockey. Many athletes train for years to reach this pinnacle of sports, making the competition intense.
The United States performed strongly across the Games. Team USA earned 33 total medals, including 12 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze. This achievement was especially impressive as it marked the highest number of gold medals the U.S. has ever won at a Winter Olympics.
In the overall medal rankings, the United States finished second, just behind Norway, which also had a massively dominant performance. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who is widely considered the greatest Nordic skier of all time, won six gold medals and every event he competed in. The Norwegian team won a total of 41 medals across all events, once again cementing itself as the statistically greatest country to ever compete in the Winter Olympics.
However, on the American side of the field, several athletes stood out. One of the biggest stars was Jordan Stolz, who won two gold medals in speed skating and had one of the most breakout performances of the Games. In alpine skiing, Mikaela Shiffrin added another Olympic gold to her impressive career by winning the women’s slalom event, even after a 12-year medal drought. Figure skater Alysa Liu also earned a gold medal with a dominating performance in the singles event.
One of the most thrilling moments for American fans came in men’s and women’s hockey. Both United States national ice hockey teams defeated Canada in the gold medal game. This victory was special because it was the first Olympic gold for the U.S. men’s hockey team in 46 years, the first since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980. The game was very competitive, and an overtime goal from Jack Huges provided an unforgettable ending.
Overall, the 2026 Winter Olympics were a great success for Team USA. American athletes displayed determination, skill and hard work across various events. Fans across the globe will once again look forward to the four-year wait until the next Winter Games, set to be hosted in the French Alps in 2030. Although it might seem like the action is over, it is never too late to tune into the Paralympics, which are starting to wrap up! Go cheer on your nation as they continue to compete for historic medals.
