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United States Sets New Gold Medal Record at Winter Olympics; Mixed Doubles Curling and Ice Hockey Teams Secure Historic Medals

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United States Achieves Record Gold Medal Tally at 2026 Winter Olympics

The United States concluded the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy, by achieving its highest-ever gold medal tally, securing 12 gold and 33 overall medals. This stellar performance placed the U.S. second in the overall medal count, behind Norway. The Games were marked by a historic silver medal for the mixed doubles curling team and gold medals for both the men's and women's ice hockey teams. Individual excellence also shone through, with multiple gold medals in speedskating, figure skating, and freestyle skiing.

Overall U.S. Performance and Medal Records

The United States secured a total of 33 medals, including 12 gold, 13 silver, and 8 bronze, establishing a new record for gold medals at a single Winter Olympics. This achievement surpassed the previous U.S. record of 10 gold medals, set at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Medals were earned across 11 disciplines, showcasing a broad distribution of success. Norway led the overall medal count with 18 gold and 40 total medals.

The U.S. performance at Milan Cortina 2026 established a new benchmark, with 12 gold medals representing the nation's best-ever haul at a Winter Games.

Key contributors to the U.S. gold medal count included Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, figure skating, and speedskating, each contributing 18% of the golds. Regional talent concentration was notable, with Colorado contributing five medals (three golds) and states like Vermont and Wyoming collectively earning one gold and six silver medals.

Key U.S. Medalists

Gold Medals

  • Jordan Stolz (Speedskating): A standout performer, Stolz won two gold medals. He set an Olympic record in the Men's 500 meters with a time of 33.77 seconds and clinched victory in the Men's 1,000 meters in 1 minute, 6.28 seconds.
  • Elizabeth Lemley (Freestyle Skiing - Women's Moguls): Earned gold with an impressive score of 82.30 points.
  • Team Figure Skating: The U.S. team successfully defended its gold medal in the team event, with Ilia Malinin's performance being a significant factor in the victory.
  • Breezy Johnson (Alpine Skiing - Women's Downhill): Won the highly competitive Olympic downhill event.
  • Alex Ferreira (Freeski Halfpipe): Secured a gold medal, completing his collection of Olympic medals.
  • Mikaela Shiffrin (Alpine Skiing): Added another gold medal to her illustrious career.
  • Elana Meyers-Taylor (Bobsled): Secured a gold medal, marking another triumph in her career.
  • Alysa Liu (Figure Skating - Women's Singles): Won gold, becoming the first American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in women's figure skating since 2006, and the first to win gold since 2002.
  • Christopher Lillis, Connor Curran, and Kaila Kuhn (Mixed Team Aerials): Secured gold, marking the American team's second consecutive title in the event.
  • U.S. Men's Ice Hockey Team: Defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime for gold, marking the team's first gold medal in 46 years.
  • U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Team: Also defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime for gold, showcasing American dominance on the ice.

Silver Medals

  • Jaelin Kauf (Freestyle Skiing - Women's Dual Moguls): Secured her third Olympic silver medal and second of these Games.
  • Chloe Kim (Snowboarding - Women's Halfpipe): Won silver, placing behind Choi Gaon of South Korea.
  • Madison Chock and Evan Bates (Figure Skating - Mixed Ice Dance): Received a silver medal with 224.39 points.
  • Jaelin Kauf (Freestyle Skiing - Women's Moguls): Defended her silver medal from Beijing, scoring 80.77 points.
  • Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Alpine Skiing - Men's Super-G): Earned his second consecutive Olympic super-G silver medal, finishing 0.13 seconds behind the winner.
  • Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin (Curling - Mixed Doubles): Won silver, marking the first U.S. medal in Olympic mixed doubles.
  • Ben Ogden (Cross-Country Skiing - Men's Sprint Classic): Earned silver, finishing 0.8 seconds behind the gold medalist.
  • Alex Hall (Freestyle Skiing - Men's Freeski Slopestyle): Won a silver medal.

Bronze Medals

  • Elizabeth Lemley (Freestyle Skiing - Women's Dual Moguls): Added a bronze medal to her gold.
  • Jessie Diggins (Cross-Country Skiing - Women's 10-km Freestyle): Claimed bronze, her third career Olympic medal.
  • Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan (Alpine Skiing - Women's Team Combined): Secured bronze.
  • Ashley Farquharson (Luge - Women's Singles): Won the bronze medal, contributing to USA Luge's seventh Olympic medal.
  • Mia Manganello (Speedskating): Earned a bronze medal.

Mixed Doubles Curling Highlights

The U.S. mixed doubles curling team, composed of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, achieved a significant milestone by securing the silver medal. This was a historic moment for American curling.

Road to the Final

The team concluded round-robin play with a strong 6-3 record, including victories against Norway, Switzerland, Canada, Czechia, Sweden, and Estonia. Their only losses included a 7-6 defeat to host nation Italy in their final round-robin match.

In the semifinals, Thiesse and Dropkin faced Italy's Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner. Italy took an early 2-0 lead, but the U.S. responded to tie it 2-2. Italy then led 4-2 after the third end. Team USA staged a crucial comeback, scoring three points in the fourth end to take a 5-4 lead at the halfway point. Italy tied the score at 5-5 in the fifth end. Team USA led 7-5 after the sixth end. Italy utilized its power play in the seventh end, scoring three points to take an 8-7 lead. In a dramatic finish, Team USA, with the power play in the eighth and final end, scored two points with a final stone from Thiesse, securing a thrilling 9-8 victory.

Gold Medal Match

The U.S. team advanced to the gold medal match to face Swedish siblings Rasmus and Isabella Wranå. Sweden ultimately defeated the U.S. pair 6-5, with Isabella Wranå delivering the winning stone in the final end.

This silver medal marked the first time an American mixed doubles team has medaled since the discipline's Olympic debut in 2018. Cory Thiesse became the first American woman to achieve an Olympic curling medal.

In the bronze medal match, Italy's Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner defeated Britain's Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat 5-3.

Ice Hockey Gold Medals and Post-Olympics Events

Both the U.S. men's and women's ice hockey teams secured gold medals at the Games, marking a historic double triumph for American hockey.

U.S. Men's Ice Hockey

The team demonstrated strength throughout the tournament, defeating Denmark 6-3 in pool play to achieve a 2-0 record, with six players contributing goals. The U.S. men’s team earned its third Olympic gold medal by defeating rival Canada 2-1 in overtime, with Jack Hughes scoring the winning goal. This momentous victory marked the team's first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.

U.S. Women's Ice Hockey

The U.S. women’s ice hockey team displayed dominant form, achieving a combined score of 15-1 against its first three preliminary opponents. They ultimately secured a gold medal by beating Canada 2-1 in overtime, with Megan Keller scoring the decisive goal.

Post-Olympics Recognition

On February 23, 2026, members of the men's hockey team, including Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, and J.T. Miller, celebrated their victory in Miami.

The following day, President Donald Trump invited the men's team to his State of the Union address. Twenty of the 25 players traveled to Washington D.C., and 17 attended the address, where they received a standing ovation. They also attended an event in the Oval Office. President Trump announced his intention to award goaltender Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The U.S. women's hockey team, also gold medalists, declined an invitation to the State of the Union or a White House visit, citing "timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments." USA Hockey clarified that players were competing with their professional and collegiate teams, and any future White House visit would be scheduled based on availability.

Other Notable Team USA Performances

Women's Curling

The U.S. women’s curling team achieved a strong 3-1 record in the round-robin session, placing them second behind undefeated Sweden. They secured a 7-4 victory over Japan, following a win against Canada. The team was scheduled to play in the bronze medal match against Canada, which had been defeated by Sweden in the semifinals.

Ilia Malinin (Figure Skating)

In his short program on Tuesday, Malinin achieved a score of 108.16, which included a remarkable backflip. He had earlier contributed significantly to the U.S. team figure skating gold medal, further cementing his status as a key figure in American skating.