MILAN, Italy — The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo concluded with the United States celebrating a haul of 11 gold medals, shattering the nation's previous record for a single Winter Games. According to ESPN, this milestone capped a Games filled with historic firsts and record-breaking performances across disciplines, from the snowy slopes of the Alps to the ice rinks of the host cities. Athletes like Elana Meyers Taylor and Mikaela Shiffrin etched their names deeper into Olympic lore, while newcomers and veterans alike pushed the boundaries of American achievement in winter sports.
The bobsled track at Cortina provided one of the most poignant moments when Elana Meyers Taylor, at 41 years old, clinched gold in the women's monobob event. ESPN reported that Taylor's victory made her the oldest American to ever win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics. This triumph also extended her personal record, bringing her total Olympic medals to six — tied for the most by any American woman in Winter Games history and the most for any U.S. bobsledder, male or female. Taylor, a three-time Olympian prior to these Games, had already secured multiple silvers and a bronze in previous competitions, but this gold solidified her legacy as a trailblazer in the sport.
In curling, another veteran made headlines off the ice. Rich Ruohonen, 54, became the oldest American to compete in a Winter Olympics, taking part in a men's round-robin match against Switzerland. Meanwhile, the mixed doubles event saw Cory Thiesse earn silver, marking the first medal for an American woman in curling and Team USA's inaugural medal in the discipline. ESPN highlighted how Thiesse's achievement came during the round-robin phase, contributing to the U.S. women's curling team's sixth win in that stage, which tied the national record for most victories in round-robin play.
Freestyle skiing debuted a new event at these Olympics, and Team USA wasted no time making its mark. Jaelin Kauf and Elizabeth Lemley secured the first silver and bronze medals in the competition's Olympic history, as reported by ESPN. In a stunning sweep, Kauf and Lemley then dominated the Women's Individual Moguls, with Kauf taking gold and Lemley silver — the first time the United States has placed first and second in moguls, either men's or women's, at a single Olympics. This dual success underscored the depth of American talent in freestyle, building on past medals in the sport dating back to the 1990s.
Connecticut's Mac Forehand added a regional milestone by winning silver in his event, becoming the first athlete born in the Nutmeg State to medal at the Winter Olympics. Forehand's performance drew local pride, with state officials noting it as a boost for youth sports programs back home. The medal came in a tightly contested field, highlighting the growing pipeline of East Coast talent in winter disciplines traditionally dominated by Western states.
Hockey delivered some of the Games' most electrifying moments for U.S. fans. In the women's tournament, Laila Edwards made history as the first Black woman to make the Olympic roster and the first to score a goal for Team USA. Her tally came during a dominant USA-Canada matchup, which ended in a shutout — the first time the Americans have blanked their northern rivals in Olympic play — and marked the largest margin of victory over Canada in U.S. Olympic history. ESPN detailed how this game propelled Team USA's women to set the Olympic record for most consecutive shutouts with five, while goalie Aerin Frankel established a new mark with three shutout wins in a single Games, the most by any woman.
Hilary Knight, the veteran forward, continued her storied career by notching 33 career Olympic points, the most in U.S. history, and 15 goals, also a national record. Her contributions helped secure gold, making her the winningest American Olympian in ice hockey. On the men's side, the U.S. team set the longest streak of scoring five or more goals per game in the era of NHL player participation. Quinn Hughes extended his assist streak to all five games, tying the record for longest points streak by an American with NHL ties, while Zach Werenski matched the single-game assist record with three against an opponent.
Cross-country skiing saw Jessie Diggins claim bronze, earning Team USA its first medal ever in the event, according to ESPN. Ben Ogden complemented this by becoming the first U.S. man to medal in the sprint discipline, also with silver. These results built on Diggins' previous successes, including her 2018 team sprint gold, and signaled a resurgence for American endurance skiers who have long trailed powerhouses like Norway and Sweden.
Snowboarding icon Chloe Kim, seeking a three-peat in her signature event, became the first of five athletes in Olympic history to medal while attempting such a feat, settling for silver. Kim, who won gold in 2018 and 2022, spoke through her team about the bittersweet nature of the performance, but ESPN noted it as a testament to her enduring excellence amid increasing global competition.
In Alpine skiing, Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan earned bronze in a newly debuted event, the first such medal for Team USA. Breezy Johnson then delivered gold in the women's competition, the program's first medal overall and the narrowest victory margin between gold and silver in the event's Olympic history — just 0.01 seconds. This win also made the U.S. the first country to claim the title in back-to-back Winter Games, following a previous victory. Mikaela Shiffrin capped her Olympic career with her third gold in the Women's Slalom, the most Alpine golds by any American skier, bringing her total medals to a record seven.
Figure skating's ice dance pair, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, tied the U.S. record for most Olympic medals in the discipline with three, including a strong showing in Milan. Their performance, set to the backdrop of the Mediolanum Forum, drew applause for its artistry and precision, continuing a partnership that began over a decade ago.
These achievements did not occur in isolation; the 2026 Games, hosted across Lombardy and Veneto regions from February 6 to 22, featured expanded events amid ongoing debates over climate impacts on winter sports. Organizers in Milan and Cortina invested heavily in sustainable snowmaking, allowing competitions to proceed despite warmer temperatures. U.S. Olympic Committee officials credited rigorous training regimens and increased funding for the medal surge, which totaled more than previous totals when including silvers and bronzes.
While the U.S. dominated in several areas, not all storylines were flawless. The men's hockey team, despite their scoring streak, fell short of gold, and some events like luge saw no American medals. ESPN's coverage emphasized the breakthroughs over setbacks, noting how these firsts could inspire the next generation. For instance, Edwards' goal in hockey was seen as a milestone for diversity, with USA Hockey executives praising her resilience in a sport historically lacking representation.
Looking ahead, the successes in Milan position the U.S. strongly for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. Athletes like Shiffrin, who announced her retirement post-Games, leave a blueprint for successors, while young stars such as Kauf and Lemley promise continued excellence. The record 11 golds not only boost national pride but also highlight investments in winter sports infrastructure, from facilities in Colorado to coaching programs nationwide.
As the flame extinguishes in Cortina, the echoes of American triumphs resonate. From Taylor's veteran grit to Edwards' barrier-breaking strike, the 2026 Games redefined possibilities for U.S. winter athletes, setting a high bar for future competitions.