USA Advances to Hockey Semifinals, Shiffrin Wins Slalom Gold, Medal Count Nears 21
Updated (2 articles)
USA Hockey Upset Sends Team to Semifinals Team USA broke a 1‑1 deadlock against Sweden in overtime, scoring the winning goal to claim a 2‑1 victory and move into the men’s ice‑hockey semifinals[1]. It was the third quarter‑final of the tournament to require overtime, joining Canada and Finland in similar extra‑time triumphs[1]. The win positions the United States for a potential medal match later in the Games[1].
American Medal Count Reaches Twenty‑One, Third Overall As of the final week, the United States has accumulated 21 medals: six gold, ten silver and five bronze, placing third behind Norway’s 31 medals and Italy’s 24[2]. The tally reflects strong performances across speed skating, freestyle skiing, bobsleigh and cross‑country events[2]. The U.S. remains within striking distance of the leaders as the Games approach their closing days[2].
Mikaela Shiffrin Ends Eight‑Year Slalom Drought Shiffrin captured the women’s slalom gold, delivering the largest victory margin in an alpine event since 1998 and earning her third Olympic gold[1]. Her win marks the United States’ first Olympic medal in women’s slalom in eight years[1]. The performance underscores Shiffrin’s continued dominance on the World Cup circuit heading into Milan[1].
Speed Skating Stars Set Records and Add Golds Twenty‑one‑year‑old Jordan Stolz secured a second gold in the men’s 500 m, setting a new Olympic record of 33.77 seconds[2]. Elana Meyers Taylor won the monobob by 0.04 seconds, becoming the most decorated Black Winter Olympian and the oldest American woman to win gold[2]. Their achievements contributed to the United States’ expanding medal haul and highlighted the depth of the U.S. speed‑skating program[2].
U.S. Breaks Long‑Standing Cross‑Country Drought Ben Ogden earned a silver in the men’s sprint classic, ending a 50‑year U.S. medal drought in Olympic cross‑country skiing since 1976[2]. His result makes him only the second American man ever to stand on the Olympic podium in the discipline[2]. The medal adds to the United States’ growing presence in traditionally Nordic‑dominated events[2].
Sources
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1.
CNN: USA clinches hockey OT win, Shiffrin ends drought, and records shift at Milan Winter Olympics – Highlights the overtime hockey victory over Sweden, Shiffrin’s slalom gold ending an eight‑year U.S. drought, Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo fifth gold, Canada’s Steven Dubois short‑track gold, and Ukraine’s Paralympic boycott.
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2.
King5: United States Medal Tally and Highlights at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Details the U.S. medal count of 21, Jordan Stolz’s record‑breaking 500 m speed‑skating gold, Elana Meyers Taylor’s monobob win, dominance in women’s dual moguls, and Ben Ogden’s cross‑country silver ending a five‑decade drought.
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Timeline
Feb 5, 2026 – Jordan Stolz wins his second gold in the men’s 500 m speed skating, posting an Olympic record of 33.77 seconds and cementing his status as a breakout star for the United States [2].
Feb 8, 2026 – Elana Meyers Taylor captures gold in the women’s monobob by a razor‑thin 0.04 seconds, becoming the most decorated Black Winter Olympian and the oldest American woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal [2].
Feb 9, 2026 – At the debut of women’s dual moguls, Elizabeth Lemley takes gold in the individual moguls and adds a bronze in the dual event, while teammate Jaelin Kauf earns silver, showcasing U.S. depth in the new discipline [2].
Feb 10, 2026 – The U.S. speed‑skating squad secures silver in the men’s team pursuit after Italy’s late surge, and freestyle skier Mac Forehand grabs silver in men’s big‑air despite heavy snow in Livigno [2].
Feb 12, 2026 – Ben Ogden ends a 50‑year U.S. drought in Olympic cross‑country skiing by winning silver in the men’s sprint classic, the first American men’s medal in the sport since 1976 [2].
Feb 16, 2026 – Mikaela Shiffrin wins the women’s slalom gold, ending an eight‑year U.S. medal drought in the event and posting the largest margin of victory in any alpine race since 1998 [1].
Feb 18, 2026 – Team USA defeats Sweden 2‑1 in overtime to reach the men’s hockey semifinals, delivering the third quarter‑final OT victory of the Games and keeping the U.S. alive for a medal [1].
Feb 18, 2026 – Steven Dubois claims the men’s 500 m short‑track gold for Canada, posting a time of 40.835 seconds and adding a second medal to his Games tally [1].
Feb 18, 2026 – Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo earns his fifth gold of Milan and his 10th career Olympic gold, becoming the most successful Winter Olympian in history [1].
Feb 18, 2026 – A two‑year‑old Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul finishes the women’s team sprint free final, sparking worldwide social‑media buzz and becoming a viral Olympic anecdote [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – Ukrainian officials announce a boycott of the March Winter Paralympics after the International Paralympic Committee permits Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags, signaling a major political protest [1].
External resources (4 links)
- https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-2026-freestyle-skiing-jakara-anthony-first-dual-moguls-olympic-champion (cited 1 times)
- https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/athlete-details/24147 (cited 1 times)
- https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/athlete-details/24155 (cited 1 times)
- https://www.wnep.com/article/sports/olympics/team-usa-women-freestyle-ski-moguls-gold-silver-medal/507-e4e319e9-f8cd-4e6d-b77f-ae872d5125d2 (cited 1 times)