Mikaela Shiffrin's pursuit of Olympic glory continues to be elusive, as she finds herself without a medal for the seventh consecutive event at the Winter Olympics. The American skiing sensation was primed for success in the newly introduced team combined event, especially after her teammate Breezy Johnson made a strong start by leading the initial downhill leg on Tuesday.
However, Shiffrin faced a disappointing outcome, finishing with the 15th fastest time in the slalom portion, which ultimately dropped the U.S. team to fourth place. This continuing streak of setbacks stretches back to the 2022 Beijing Games, where she also failed to secure any medals across six races.
In a striking turn of events, the gold medal in this competition went to the Austrian duo of Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber, while American skiers Paula Moltzan and Jacqueline Wiles managed to earn the bronze ahead of their more celebrated teammates.
As the most accomplished World Cup racer in history with an astonishing record of 108 wins, Shiffrin is now looking ahead to her core events of slalom and giant slalom later in the Milan Cortina Games, hoping to expand her medal tally beyond the two golds and one silver she earned in her first two Olympic appearances.
Meanwhile, Breezy Johnson, who had already captured gold in the downhill event earlier in the week, was unable to add another medal to her collection.
In an exciting development, Norwegian cross-country star Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is on the brink of breaking the all-time record for gold medals at the Winter Games. Klæbo secured his second consecutive Olympic gold and seventh overall by triumphing in the men’s sprint event, finishing 0.8 seconds ahead of U.S. competitor Ben Ogden.
With this victory, Klæbo is now just one gold away from tying three fellow Norwegians—Marit Bjørgen, Bjørn Dæhlie, and Ole Einar Bjørndalen—who each hold a record eight gold medals before their retirement. Both Bjørgen and Dæhlie were distinguished cross-country skiers, while Bjørndalen earned his accolades in biathlon, a discipline that marries cross-country skiing with shooting. Klæbo could tie this historic mark if he wins the upcoming 10-kilometer freestyle event, having already claimed gold in the skiathlon earlier in the week.
In a remarkable display, the Swedish men's team swept the podium in the women’s final, watched closely by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, as Linn Svahn narrowly outpaced defending champion Jonna Sundling, with Maja Dahlqvist completing the trio in third place.
The day was especially poignant for Norway’s biathlon medalists as Johan-Olav Botn, who won the men’s 20-kilometer individual race, paid heartfelt tribute to his late teammate, Sivert Guttorm Bakken, who tragically passed away shortly before the games. As he crossed the finish line, Botn pointed skyward in remembrance of Bakken, whose untimely death occurred in December.
Sturla Holm Laegreid achieved a bronze medal and delivered an emotional post-race interview, revealing his infidelity to his girlfriend, visibly moved during the live broadcast. The gold medals earned by Botn and Klæbo contributed to Norway’s impressive total of six medals, surpassing any other nation in the competition thus far.
In women’s hockey, the fierce rivalry between the United States and Canada has taken a noticeable turn, with the Americans dominating their neighbors to the north. The U.S. achieved a decisive 5-0 victory, marking their seventh consecutive win against Canada, which many are considering a preview of the potential championship match. Hannah Bilka played a notable role in this victory, scoring twice, while the Canadian team notably missed the presence of captain Marie-Philip Poulin. With this win, the U.S. clinched the top spot in Group A, finishing the preliminary rounds with an impressive cumulative score of 20-1.
In the quarterfinals, the U.S. is set to face off against the host nation, Italy.
In an impressive feat, Isabella and Rasmus Wranå made history as Sweden’s first sibling pair to compete in mixed doubles curling at the Winter Olympics, securing gold by defeating the American duo of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin. A critical two-point play by Isabella on the final stone sealed the tightly contested match with a score of 6-5, showcasing their journey from rivals to Olympic champions.
The American team celebrated its first-ever medal in Olympic mixed doubles, with Thiesse making history as the first American woman to claim a medal in curling.
Germany continued its dominance in luge, with Julia Taubitz winning gold in the women’s singles event, marking the 13th victory for German athletes in this category across 17 editions of the Olympics. She finished nearly a full second ahead of Latvia's Elina Bota, while Ashley Farquharson captured the bronze, marking a significant achievement for USA Luge with their third singles medal in Olympic history.
Taubitz’s victory adds a prestigious gold to her resume, following in the footsteps of the legendary Natalie Geisenberger, who won three consecutive gold medals before retiring.
Arianna Fontana, the Italian short track speedskater, continues to leave a remarkable legacy, securing her latest medal in the mixed team relay. This victory marks her twelfth overall in Olympic competition, boosting her total to three golds in a career that began at the tender age of 15 during the 2006 Turin Games. With this achievement, Fontana stands as the most decorated athlete in short track speed skating history, and fans can expect even more from her in the upcoming 500 and 3,000 relay events at the 2026 Olympics.
