Every four years, skiers, skaters and snowboarders from all around the world put their training to the test on the world’s biggest winter sporting platform: Olympic ice.
From February 6 to Feb. 22, the 25th Winter Olympics took place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, bringing together over 2,900 athletes from 92 different nations to compete in 116 events. Although it may seem paradoxical, most athletes came to the Olympics without seeking to win a gold medal. While some solely wanted to share their art with the world and launch their careers, many others looked to make a comeback after the last Olympics held in Beijing, China in 2022.
Across all events–from figure skating to ice hockey–the American Olympic team demonstrated pure tenacity, resilience and competitive spirit as they took home 33 medals, only finishing second overall to Norway, with 41 medals.
The Games began with captivating performances by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and American pop icon Mariah Carey, setting the tone for one of the greatest sporting feats in American history.
In 2022, Breezy Johnson injured her knee just weeks before the Games, crushing her dreams of becoming an Olympian. However, at the start of this year’s Games, Johnson not only fulfilled that same dream, but also took home a gold medal in the Alpine downhill skiing event. Johnson’s strength symbolizes the determination behind the 12 total gold medals American athletes secured in freestyle skiing, speed skating, alpine skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, and bobsleigh.
However, with any sporting event, injuries and disappointments are inevitable. On Sunday, February 8, Alpine ski legend Lindsey Vonn fell within 13 seconds of her downhill run, fracturing her left tibia and preventing her from competing any further. She has since gotten surgery and is now undergoing recovery and medical treatment back in the United States. Furthermore, 21 year old Ilia Malinin, also known as “Quad God” for his quadruple jumps, was the favored male figure skater to win gold. Before the Olympic Games, Malinin went undefeated for two years and was arguably deemed the best current male figure skater in the world. However, when it mattered the most–during his free skate–his built-up overwhelming mental pressure led to his collapse from 1st to 8th place. Along with many other falls and flaws, the pressure of ending victorious made Malinin feel out of control, and his signature quadruple Axel that once felt like second nature turned into only a single that cost him a podium spot.
Despite these setbacks, the American team overcame these challenges to achieve major success. In figure skating, the USA won the team event, and soon after, Alysa Liu secured gold–marking the first time an American woman has won gold in figure skating since 2002. After her two-year retirement in 2022 at 16 years old, Liu came back in 2024–but this time, with a newfound calmness, confidence, and pure happiness she exudes while skating. Although Chloe Kim did not achieve the three-peat in women’s halfpipe she sought after, she still smiled ear-to-ear for Choi Ga-on, the 17-year-old South Korean gold medalist with whom she used to train. Kim’s sheer joy in watching another person achieve their Olympic dreams is a true testament to her sportsmanship and humility.
To close out the Games, Jack Hughes led the US Hockey team to win Olympic gold for the first time since 1980 with a 2-1 overtime victory against Canada.
“We’re so proud to be American and to win for our country, to win for the USA Hockey brotherhood,” said Hughes.
Overall, the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics was filled with frustration, euphoria, and perseverance–but nonetheless, it was ultimately another iconic Olympic Games in the books.