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USA Wins Men’s Hockey Gold as Closing Ceremony Passes Olympic Flag to France

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  • Figure skating medalists from left, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, Alysa Liu of the U.S., and Ami Nakai of Japan. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
    Figure skating medalists from left, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, Alysa Liu of the U.S., and Ami Nakai of Japan. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Figure skating medalists from left, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, Alysa Liu of the U.S., and Ami Nakai of Japan. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) (Credit: AP) Source Full size
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  • Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women’s Single Skating – Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
    Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women’s Single Skating – Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women’s Single Skating – Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • United States' Elana Meyers Taylor, front, slides down the track during a two women bobsled training session, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
    United States' Elana Meyers Taylor, front, slides down the track during a two women bobsled training session, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    United States' Elana Meyers Taylor, front, slides down the track during a two women bobsled training session, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • United States' Jack Hughes (86) celebrates after scoring in the semifinal game against Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
    United States' Jack Hughes (86) celebrates after scoring in the semifinal game against Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    United States' Jack Hughes (86) celebrates after scoring in the semifinal game against Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • Tage Thompson, right, celebrates with Dylan Larkin after Larkin scored in the quarterfinal game at the 2026 Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
    Tage Thompson, right, celebrates with Dylan Larkin after Larkin scored in the quarterfinal game at the 2026 Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Tage Thompson, right, celebrates with Dylan Larkin after Larkin scored in the quarterfinal game at the 2026 Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) (Credit: AP) Source Full size
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  • Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women’s Single Skating – Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
    Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women’s Single Skating – Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women’s Single Skating – Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Source Full size
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  • Figure skating medalists from left, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, Alysa Liu of the U.S., and Ami Nakai of Japan. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
    Figure skating medalists from left, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, Alysa Liu of the U.S., and Ami Nakai of Japan. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Figure skating medalists from left, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, Alysa Liu of the U.S., and Ami Nakai of Japan. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • United States' Jack Hughes (86) celebrates after scoring in the semifinal game against Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
    United States' Jack Hughes (86) celebrates after scoring in the semifinal game against Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    United States' Jack Hughes (86) celebrates after scoring in the semifinal game against Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • United States' Elana Meyers Taylor, front, slides down the track during a two women bobsled training session, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
    United States' Elana Meyers Taylor, front, slides down the track during a two women bobsled training session, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    United States' Elana Meyers Taylor, front, slides down the track during a two women bobsled training session, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • Tage Thompson, right, celebrates with Dylan Larkin after Larkin scored in the quarterfinal game at the 2026 Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
    Tage Thompson, right, celebrates with Dylan Larkin after Larkin scored in the quarterfinal game at the 2026 Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Tage Thompson, right, celebrates with Dylan Larkin after Larkin scored in the quarterfinal game at the 2026 Olympics. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) (Credit: AP) Source Full size
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  • Les Allemands Johannes Lochner, Thorsten Margis, Jorn Wenzel et Georg Fleischhauer lors de l’épreuve de bobsleigh à quatre aux Jeux olympiques d’hiver, à Cortina d’Ampezzo, le samedi 21 février 2026.AIJAZ RAHI / AP
    Les Allemands Johannes Lochner, Thorsten Margis, Jorn Wenzel et Georg Fleischhauer lors de l’épreuve de bobsleigh à quatre aux Jeux olympiques d’hiver, à Cortina d’Ampezzo, le samedi 21 février 2026.AIJAZ RAHI / AP
    Image: Le Monde
    Les Allemands Johannes Lochner, Thorsten Margis, Jorn Wenzel et Georg Fleischhauer lors de l’épreuve de bobsleigh à quatre aux Jeux olympiques d’hiver, à Cortina d’Ampezzo, le samedi 21 février 2026.AIJAZ RAHI / AP (AIJAZ RAHI / AP) Source Full size

Closing ceremony extinguishes flame, ending Milan‑Cortina Games The Olympic flame was doused in Verona’s arena after speeches by IOC member Kirsty Coventry and Organizing Committee president Giovanni Malagò, officially concluding the 2026 Winter Olympics [1]. The ceremony featured fireworks, cultural performances and the symbolic handover of the Olympic flag to French representatives, confirming France as the 2030 Winter Games host [1][4]. The event also honored 89‑year‑old volunteer Mario Gargiulo, who recalled his service at the 1956 Cortina Games [1].

USA secures first men’s hockey gold since 1980 Jack Hughes scored the overtime winner for a 2‑1 victory over Canada, delivering the United States its first men’s ice‑hockey gold in 46 years [1][2][3]. The win sparked celebrations among teammates such as Tage Thompson and highlighted the dramatic overtime finish captured in multiple photo galleries [2][3]. The gold‑medal game concluded the tournament’s final day of competition [6][7].

Eileen Gu repeats as halfpipe champion for China Chinese freestyle skier Eileen Gu captured gold in the women’s freeski halfpipe, adding a second gold to her two silvers from earlier events [1][3][4]. Her victory marked a successful defense of the title she first won in 2022 [1]. The halfpipe final, delayed by weather, featured a strong field including Britain’s Zoe Atkin [4].

Sweden and Germany dominate final medal events Sweden earned gold in women’s curling and Ebba Andersson won the women’s 50 km cross‑country mass‑start classic [1][3]. Germany swept the men’s four‑man bobsled, taking both gold and silver, extending its recent bobsled supremacy [1][3]. These performances contributed to the nations’ strong medal tallies on the Games’ closing day [1].

Volunteer Mario Gargiulo embodies Games’ multigenerational legacy At 89, Gargiulo became the oldest volunteer on‑site, having first assisted at the 1956 Cortina Olympics and returning to share memories during the closing ceremony [1]. His story underscored the continuity between past and present Winter Games [1].

Sources

Timeline

Jan 12, 2026 – U.S. Olympic Committee names the Milano Cortina figure‑skating roster, featuring Alysa Liu, Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn in women’s singles; Ilia Malinin, Maxim Naumov and Andrew Torgashev in men’s singles; pairs Ellie Kam/Danny O’Shea and Emily Chan/Spencer Howe; and three ice‑dance teams led by Madison Chock/Evan Bates (sources [24], [28]).

Jan 26, 2026 – Team USA releases a record‑size Winter Olympic roster of 232 athletes, surpassing the 2018 PyeongChang high of 228 and including 98 returning Olympians and 18 past champions (sources [23], [26]).

Feb 2, 2026 – Norway tops the all‑time Winter Olympic medal table with 405 medals and 148 golds, cementing its historic dominance as the Games begin in Milan and Cortina (source [22]).

Feb 2, 2026 – The United States delegation arrives under Vice President JD Vance’s leadership, while hundreds protest ICE presence in Milan, highlighting security‑related tensions surrounding the Games (source [22]).

Feb 4, 2026 – Mixed‑doubles curling kicks off the competition schedule, running before the opening ceremony and marking the only sport featured daily throughout the Games (source [5]).

Feb 6, 2026 – The opening ceremony launches simultaneously in Milan’s San Siro and Cortina’s Piazza Dibona, showcasing the “Harmony” theme, performances by Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli and others, and the lighting of twin Leonardo‑da‑Vinci‑inspired cauldrons (sources [5], [15]).

Feb 6, 2026 – The figure‑skating team event opens at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, with Team USA fielding five skaters in the rhythm‑dance, pairs short and women’s short programs, aiming for back‑to‑back gold after the 2022 victory (sources [15], [17]).

Feb 6 – 22, 2026 – Ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut, and eight new events—including mixed‑team skeleton and women’s doubles luge—expand the program, while women comprise the highest percentage of athletes ever in a Winter Games (sources [5], [27]).

Feb 7, 2026 – The first Olympic medals are awarded, with early successes in figure skating and mixed doubles curling setting the competitive tone for the fortnight (source [5]).

Feb 17, 2026 – Day 11 sees the men’s 4×7.5 km biathlon relay in Anterselva, Nordic combined battles in Tesero, and Germany’s bobsled team claim gold, illustrating the breadth of winter disciplines (source [14]).

Feb 18, 2026 – Day 12 highlights Sweden’s women’s team‑sprint gold in Tesero, Canada’s Steven Dubois winning men’s 500 m short‑track, and dramatic ice‑hockey quarter‑finals featuring helmet loss and water‑spraying antics (source [13]).

Feb 19, 2026 – Day 13 features the United States women’s ice‑hockey team winning gold in overtime on Megan Keller’s winner, China’s Ning Zhongyan taking men’s 1500 m speedskating gold, and Great Britain advancing to the men’s curling semifinal (source [11]).

Feb 20, 2026 – Day 14 captures women’s ski‑cross finals in Livigno, curling semifinals with USA‑Switzerland and Sweden‑Canada matchups, and China’s Qi Guangpu winning men’s aerials, underscoring intense competition across venues (source [10]).

Feb 21, 2026 – Day 15 includes Great Britain’s men’s curling gold‑medal game against Canada, Zoe Atkin leading the women’s half‑pipe final, and German legend Francesco Friedrich chasing a historic fifth bobsleigh gold, while the Closing Ceremony is slated for Verona’s Arena with the Olympic flag set to pass to France for 2030 (sources [2], [30]).

Feb 21, 2026 – The figure‑skating exhibition gala takes place in Milan, with U.S. skaters Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Madison Chock/Evan Bates and Ilia Malinin performing alongside international medalists, emphasizing “pure artistic freedom” and culminating in a group selfie (sources [7], [9]).

Feb 22, 2026 – Day 16 sees the United States defeat Canada 2‑1 in overtime men’s hockey, delivering its first men’s gold since 1980; China’s Eileen Gu repeats as half‑pipe champion; Sweden’s women’s curling team wins gold; Germany sweeps the four‑man bobsleigh; and Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo secures a record sixth gold in the 50 km cross‑country mass‑start (sources [6], [3]).

Feb 22, 2026 – The closing ceremony in Verona’s Arena extinguishes the Olympic flame, features speeches by IOC member Kirsty Coventry and Organizing Committee head Giovanni Malagò, and officially hands the Olympic flag to French representatives, confirming France as the 2030 Winter Games host (sources [3], [2]).

Feb 22, 2026 – France exceeds its medal target, finishing with 23 podiums, while the final day’s schedule includes the women’s 50 km cross‑country race, the delayed women’s ski half‑pipe final, the women’s curling gold‑medal bout, and the men’s ice‑hockey USA vs Canada showdown (source [30]).

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