The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.

As Ilia Malinin’s voiceover to his free skate song began, you could see the tension in his face, and the tightness in his performance.

If you are a sports parent, you have probably been there, and the feeling is excruciating.

When you watch your son or daughter perform during a tense game – maybe a district championship or sectional final – you exhale at the end, not so much because of how they did, but because it’s over.

But there was no escape this time for Malinin, or his parents. This was the Olympics, and his routine was just beginning. He stopped short of executing his quads and fell not once, but twice.

We expressed shock and awe at what we were seeing, in the media and elsewhere. The broadcasters and crowd in Milan slipped into stunned, uncomfortable silence.

Malinin, 21, the U.S. and world champion and overwhelming favorite to win the men’s singles free skate, would finish eighth.

But was it really that shocking?

Malinin admitted to Christine Brennan and Brian Boitano, in our Milan Magic podcast leading up to the Olympics, that he starts to feel his nerves around the six-minute warmup before an event. But he had usually been able to get lost in the process, not thinking about medals but getting lost in normalcy of his routine and what he needs to do within it.

Not this time.

‘The pressure of the Olympics really gets you,” Malinin said afterward. “The pressure is unreal. It’s almost like I wasn’t aware of where I was in the program. Usually I have more time and more feeling of how it is, but this time, it all went by so fast, and I really didn’t have time to make those changes or make that process different.”

Think of our own kids. We don’t need to put the weight of expectations on them. Often, they do enough of it themselves, even if they are a picture of confidence leading up to events.

Malinin’s failure was a teaching moment for all of us — young athletes, parents, and otherwise — but it’s not a disaster unless we allow it to be.

“I was a Duke undergrad way back when. And so I still had that mindset of everything has to be perfect,” Aaron Dinin, now a professor at the university who teaches a course called “Learning to Fail,” told USA TODAY Sports late last year.

“You wind up with these kind of weird phrases like, ‘Fail fast’ and ‘embrace failure.’ And I’m like, ‘No, failure stinks. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.’ It’s not good to fail. It’s just also not bad to fail. It’s just natural.”

Dinin said he intentionally gives students poor mid-semester grades to see how they react.

Here are three steps to consider after our young athletes fail, whether they are Malinin or youth recreational players:

Should we really expect any athlete, even Ilia Malinin, to be successful all the time?

As adolescents, our brains are not fully formed until we are about 25. It just takes a small moment to knock them off course.

‘I blew it,’ Malinin said after his Feb. 13 performance. ‘That’s honestly the first thing that came to my mind, there’s no way that just happened. I was preparing the whole season, I felt so confident with my programs, so confident with everything. That happened, I have no words, honestly.’

Facing up to heavy competition, and expectations, whether from our parents or others, is difficult. Malinin now has the experience of his first Olympics, where he won gold as part of the figure skating team event, under his belt. 

After his heart-wrenching singles performance, he was caught on a hot mic talking about how things would have unfolded differently had he gone to the 2022 Beijing Games.

‘Beijing, I would not have skated like that,’ he was heard saying. NBC commentator Johnny Weir told viewers he said he would not have skated so terribly had he already had Olympic experience under his belt. 

Now he has it, and he can get better from it if he allows the experience to soak in. The first step is giving ourselves grace to accept what has happened and we’ll get better from it.

We can learn to embrace the hype, but not the negativity

It’s OK to be confident in ourselves, especially when we have put in as much work to get where we are as Malinin or any Olympic athlete.

We can give ourselves, or our teammates, playful nicknames like “Quad God” to help keep things light during our grueling work to get there.

“People should keep in mind that we’re also human beings and we’re not robots,” Malinin told NBC Sports last year. “A couple of my friends who’ve been thrown off by just a few comments, don’t want to skate anymore because they don’t want to deal with that. The strongest ones can go through it, and either suppress it or push it away. But also addressing it is a way to show your power, because you’re owning your own spot in this.”

Malinin said that in responding to critical comments about him at the ISU Challenger Series Lombardia Trophy in Italy.

But why even look at them? Larissa Mills, who directs the London, Ontario-based Mental Game Academy and has worked with thousands of athletes from the youth through professional levels, says we can ‘tank’ our performance if we look at our phones before competing.

‘The brain takes 22 minutes to go back to refocusing,’ Mills told USA TODAY Sports last year. ‘We’ve wasted an inning, a period, a half on poor decision-making skills. So why did you bother? Don’t even go on the ice, as far as I’m concerned.”

Social media can be a crucial tool for young athletes to promote themselves for coaches as they try to reach the next level. But stop there. Instead of scrolling to see what people are saying about you, Mills suggests you come up with a personal mantra that you have in your head when you compete that validates what you have been doing:  I am powerful, I am fast, I am strong.

Remember, our kids need our support, even if they’re Ilia Malinin

Malinin’s father, Roman Skorniakov, and mother, Tatiana Malinina, are former Olympians who represented Uzbekistan at two Olympics. Malinin told Brennan and Brian Boitano his parents didn’t want him to go into figure skating because of what it took out of them.

His father’s reaction was gut-wrenching, and it was human. But Ilia will likely see a replay of it, if he already hasn’t.

Now dad’s job is to tell his son that what happened is OK. Our heroes, and our kids, are vulnerable, especially when they’re in their early 20s. Sometimes we just need to tell them what they have already accomplished is extraordinary.

As for what happened Feb. 13, we can follow the words Malinin later says in his free skate song: ‘Embrace the storm. You are something but not nothing. Past is not a chain but a thread; pull it, and it may lead you home.’ 

A large photo of Malinin hangs on the wall of a skating complex where my nephew plays hockey. He is from our area, Northern Virginia, and has likely inspired thousands of kids.  

It’ll be inspiring for them to know he failed, and they can, too

Borelli, aka Coach Steve, has been an editor and writer with USA TODAY since 1999. He spent 10 years coaching his two sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He and his wife, Colleen, are now sports parents for two high schoolers. His Coach Steve column is posted weekly. For his past columns, click here.

• U.S. skiers Lindsey Vonn and Rell Harwood both competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics with a torn ACL.
• Harwood, making her Olympic debut, tore her ACL in December but still competed in the big air qualifying event.
• Despite not advancing to the final, Harwood was proud to have landed some of her most difficult tricks.
• Harwood plans to have surgery on her knee after attending the closing ceremony and supporting her teammates.

LIVIGNO, Italy – Nobody would confuse the resumes of United States skiers Lindsey Vonn and Rell Harwood.

Vonn, 41, has three Olympic medals and was one of Team USA’s most recognizable faces. Harwood, 24, was making her Olympic debut. But they did have one thing in common at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

They both competed with a torn ACL.

Vonn suffered her injury about a week before attempting to race at the Olympics, which ended in disaster – although not related to her ruptured ACL – when she crashed in the women’s downhill event Feb. 8.

Harwood tore her ACL in December and, despite qualifying for the Games in both slopestyle and big air, decided to save herself for Saturday night’s big air qualifying at Livigno Snow Park. She, along with three of her teammates, did not advance to the 12-person final.

The result didn’t diminish the positive feelings she held toward this past week.

“It’s been a lot of ups and downs,” Harwood said. “Like, ‘Will I even make it here?’ So to just go in and put down some of my hardest tricks feels really amazing.”

The Park City, Utah, native had plenty of family in town for the Games. Some friends, too. Her boyfriend Konnor Ralph is a member of the men’s free ski team on the slopestyle/big air team. She plans on watching him and his teammates during their qualifier Sunday and will eventually make her way down to Milan to participate in the closing ceremony.

Then it’s off to the operating table.

But not without first making more life-changing memories, like when she and her teammates fashioned a Ralph Lauren swag-bag piece – that was likely meant to be a blanket – into a skirt and wore it to dinner. She grew up with teammate Marin Hamill; they’ve known each other for 15 years. Making it to the Olympics together was special – same deal with being here alongside Ralph.

“Having so much family and friends around is amazing,” said Harwood, who added: “Maybe no more skirt, unless I’m feeling crazy.”

Hamill agreed that it was “super special” for both of them to make the Olympics together. She was happy Harwood could ski and land two of her jumps.

“Which is insane,” Hamill said. “I couldn’t do that.”

Even if Harwood had to wipe away tears after falling on her first jump, she still impressed herself over the past two months.

“It’s really hard. I think that as women, our bodies hold us back from doing the things we want to do,” Harwood said. “I didn’t make it to the last Olympics because of a knee injury. I wanted to prove that no matter what’s going on with me I’m still going to try and give it my all. I think that’s what Lindsey was doing too. All you can do is try and see what happens. That’s all I did.”

Muscle strength that Harwood has naturally built around the injured knee helps, she said, especially since she recently went through another knee rehab. Other people she knows have been able to ski with similar injuries.

“I think we’re just pushing it and discovering what humans can do,” Harwood said, “and maybe you don’t need an ACL.”

That doesn’t mean Harwood considers herself one of those people who can live without one.

“That’s why I’m going to get it fixed,” she said.

Another day of competition is in the books at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Athletes from more than 90 countries are battling in 116 events over 16 days, and USA TODAY is keeping a tally of every nation finishing on the podium. Here’s a look at the latest medal standings after all the action wrapped up on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Find the upcoming medal event schedule below.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of more than a dozen journalists on the ground in Italy to bring you behind the scenes with Team USA and keep you up to date with every medal win, big moment and triumphant finish. Get our Chasing Gold newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.

Broadcast coverage of the 2026 Milano Cortino Winter Olympics is airing exclusively airing across NBC’s suite of networks with many competitions airing live on its streaming service, Peacock, which you can sign up for here .

What is the medal count at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics?

All data accurate as of Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at 6:39 p.m.

Meet Team USA 2026: Get to know the athletes behind the games

• 1. Norway: 20 Total (10 Gold, 3 Silver, 7 Bronze)
• 2. Italy: 18 Total (6 Gold, 3 Silver, 9 Bronze)
• 3. United States: 17 Total (5 Gold, 8 Silver, 4 Bronze)
• 4. Japan: 15 Total (3 Gold, 4 Silver, 8 Bronze)
• 5. Austria: 13 Total (4 Gold, 6 Silver, 3 Bronze)
• 6. Germany: 13 Total (4 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze)
• 7. France: 12 Total (4 Gold, 6 Silver, 2 Bronze)
• 8. Sweden: 9 Total (4 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 9. Switzerland: 9 Total (4 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze)
• 10. Netherlands: 8 Total (3 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 11. Canada: 8 Total (0 Gold, 3 Silver, 5 Bronze)
• 12. Australia: 4 Total (3 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 13. Czech Republic: 4 Total (2 Gold, 2 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 14. South Korea: 4 Total (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze)
• 15. China: 4 Total (0 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze)
• 16. Slovenia: 3 Total (2 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 17. Poland: 3 Total (0 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 18. New Zealand: 2 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 19. Bulgaria: 2 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Bronze)
• 20. Finland: 2 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Bronze)
• 21. Brazil: 1 Total (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 22. Great Britain: 1 Total (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 23. Kazakhstan: 1 Total (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 24. Latvia: 1 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 25. Belgium: 1 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 26. Albania: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 27. Andorra: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 28. Argentina: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 29. Armenia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 30. Azerbaijan: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 31. Benin: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 32. Bolivia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 33. Bosnia Herzegovina: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 34. Chile: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 35. Chinese Taipei: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 36. Colombia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 37. Croatia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 38. Cyprus: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 39. Denmark: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 40. Ecuador: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 41. Eritrea: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 42. Estonia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 43. Georgia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 44. Greece: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 45. Guinea-Bissau: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 46. Haiti: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 47. Hong Kong, China: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 48. Hungary: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 49. Iceland: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 50. India: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 51. Individual Neutral Athletes: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 52. Ireland: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 53. Islamic Rep. of Iran: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 54. Israel: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 55. Jamaica: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 56. Kenya: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 57. Kosovo: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 58. Kyrgyzstan: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 59. Lebanon: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 60. Liechtenstein: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 61. Lithuania: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 62. Luxembourg: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 63. Madagascar: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 64. Malaysia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 65. Malta: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 66. Mexico: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 67. Monaco: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 68. Mongolia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 69. Montenegro: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 70. Morocco: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 71. Nigeria: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 72. North Macedonia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 73. Pakistan: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 74. Philippines: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 75. Portugal: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 76. Republic of Moldova: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 77. Romania: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 78. San Marino: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 79. Saudi Arabia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 80. Serbia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 81. Singapore: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 82. Slovakia: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 83. South Africa: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 84. Spain: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 85. Thailand: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 86. Trinidad & Tobago: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 87. Turkiye: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 88. Ukraine: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 89. United Arab Emirates: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 90. Uruguay: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 91. Uzbekistan: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 92. Venezuela: 0 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)

2026 Winter Olympics medal events upcoming schedule

Feb. 15

• BIATHLON: Men’s 12.5km Pursuit
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Men’s Dual Moguls Final
• CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Men’s 4×7.5km Relay
• ALPINE SKIING: Women’s Giant Slalom
• SNOWBOARDING: Mixed Team Cross Final
• BIATHLON: Women’s 10km Pursuit
• SPEED SKATING: Women’s 500m
• SKELETON: Mixed Team
• SKI JUMPING: Women’s Large Hill

Feb. 16

• SHORT TRACK: Women’s 1000m
• ALPINE SKIING: Men’s Slalom
• FIGURE SKATING: Pair Skating Free Skate
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Women’s Big Air Final
• SKI JUMPING: Men’s Super Team Final Round
• BOBSLED: Women’s Singles

Feb. 17

• NORDIC COMBINED: Large Hill/10km: 10km
• SNOWBOARDING: Women’s Slopestyle Final
• BIATHLON: Men’s 4×7.5km Relay
• SPEED SKATING: Men’s, Women’s Team Pursuit Finals
• BOBSLED: Men’s Doubles

Feb. 18

• CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Women’s, Men’s Team Sprint Free Final
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Women’s Aerials Final
• SNOWBOARDING: Men’s Slopestyle Final
• ALPINE SKIING: Women’s Slalom
• BIATHLON: Women’s 4x6km Relay
• SHORT TRACK: Women’s 3000m Relay
• SHORT TRACK: Men’s 500m

Feb. 19

• FREESTYLE SKIING: Men’s Aerials Final
• SKI MOUNTAINEERING: Women’s, Men’s Sprint
• NORDIC COMBINED: Team Sprint/Large Hill 2×7.5km
• ICE HOCKEY: Women’s Final
• SPEED SKATING: Men’s 1500m
• FIGURE SKATING: Women’s Free Skate

Feb. 20

• FREESTYLE SKIING: Women’s Cross Final
• BIATHLON: Men’s 15km Mass Start
• SPEED SKATING: Women’s 1500m
• CURLING: Men’s Bronze Medal Game
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Men’s Halfpipe Final
• SHORT TRACK: Men’s 5000m Relay Final
• SHORT TRACK: Women’s 1500m Final

Feb. 21

• CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Mixed Team Aerials Final
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Men’s Cross Final
• SKI MOUNTAINEERING: Mixed Relay
• CURLING: Men’s Gold Medal Game, Women’s Bronze Medal Game
• BIATHLON: Women’s 12.5km Mass Start
• SPEED SKATING: Men’s, Women’s Mass Start
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Women’s Halfpipe Final
• ICE HOCKEY: Men’s Bronze Medal Game
• BOBSLED: Women’s Doubles: Heat 4

Feb. 22

• CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Women’s 50km Mass Start Classic
• CURLING: Women’s Gold Medal Game
• BOBSLED: Men’s Quads Final
• ICE HOCKEY: Men’s Gold Medal Game

MILAN — For the second game in a row, the USA faced adversity in the first period.

For the second time, a big second period led to a victory as the U.S. men’s hockey team rallied to win 6-3 on Saturday, Feb. 14, and improve to 2-0 at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

In the Latvia game, the USA had two goals disallowed. Against Denmark on Saturday, Feb. 14, the USA trailed 2-1 after two bad-luck goals.

Denmark’s Nick Olesen scored early after the puck went in off Zach Werenski’s skate. Then Nicholas B. Jensen gave Denmark a 2-1 lead with a shot from center ice that got past USA goalie Jeremy Swayman.

But just like in the Latvia game, the USA’s superior firepower won out. Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel scored 57 seconds apart in the second period, both goals coming after faceoffs. Noah Hanifin gave the USA a 4-2 lead.

Though Phillip Bruggisser cut the USA lead to 4-3 with 2.6 seconds left in the second period, Jake Guentzel and Jack Hughes scored in the third period for the 6-3 win.

The USA will face Germany on Sunday at 3:10 p.m. ET and can clinch a bye to the quarterfinals with a Group C victory.

What’s next for the USA?

The 2-0 Americans will face Germany on Sunday (3:10 p.m., USA Network, Peacock) in the final preliminary round game. Germany, which features Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stutzle, lost to Latvia on Saturday to fall to 1-1. The USA will win Group C and gain a bye to the quarterfinals if it wins. Germany would win the group if it beats the USA in regulation because the first tiebreaker is head-to-head competition. With Connor Hellebuyck rested on Saturday, he likely would be the USA’s starting goalie on Sunday.

Final score: USA 6, Denmark 3

The USA improves to 2-0. If it beats Germany on Sunday, it will gain a bye to the quarterfinals.

Denmark power play

Matt Boldy is called for delay of game after putting the puck over the glass.

USA power play

Christian Weise is called for hooking. Denmark kills penalty. Less than three minutes left.

USA goal: Jack Hughes scores

He banks the puck off goalie Frederik Dichow for a three-goal lead. USA 6, Denmark 3

Denmark goalie change

Frederik Dichow comes in Mads Sogaard, who appears to have been hurt doing the splits on a save.

Denmark power play

Auston Matthews is called for cross-checking. He was retaliating for stickwork by a Denmark player. Denmark gets two shots, but the USA kills the penalty. Less than 10 minutes left.

USA goal: Jake Guentzel restores two-goal lead

The USA pressures and Auston Matthews feeds Jake Guentzel in the slot. His goal restores the USA’s two-goal lead. Zach Werenski gets the second assist. USA 5, Denmark 3

Matthew Tkachuk chance

Matthew Tkachuk is alone in the slot, but his shot is stopped by Mads Sogaard.

Third period underway

4-3 USA.

Jeremy Swayman statistics

He has given up three goals on 11 shots through two periods.

End of second period: USA 4, Denmark 3

Denmark goalie Mads Sogaard did his best to keep the Americans at bay as they piled up the shots. The Americans scored an equalizer midway through the second period, off a face-off, with Brady Tkachuk netting his second goal of the Olympics. The U.S. scored again off a draw at 10:23, with Jack Eichel ripping a shot from the right circle to make it 3-2.

The U.S. moved ahead, 4-2 with 2:37 to go when Noah Hanifin scored on a rebound, the puck clipping the post on its way into Denmark’s net. That was part of a 15-4 advantage in shots for the Americans just in the second period. The Danes scored with 2.6 seconds on the clock to make it 4-3, with Phillip Bruggisser firing a shot from the blue line.

Denmark goal: Denmark scores in final seconds of period

Phillip Bruggisser’s point shot beats Jeremy Swayman with 2.6 seconds left in the second period to cut the USA’s lead to one. USA 4, Denmark 3

USA goal: Noah Hanifin adds to USA lead

Noah Hanifin’s shot squeezes through Mads Sogaard for a two-goal lead. USA 4, Denmark 2.

USA goal: Jack Eichel gives USA lead

Another USA goal off a faceoff. Jack Eichel picks up a loose puck and beats Mads Sogaard. That’s two USA goals in 57 seconds for the lead. USA 3, Denmark 2

USA goal: Brady Tkachuk ties game

Jack Eichel win a faceoff and the puck goes to Brady Tkachuk, who rips a shot past Mads Sogaard, his Senators teammate, at 9:26. USA 2, Denmark 2

USA power play

Patrick Russell slashes the stick out of Brady Tkachuk’s hand after a USA scoring chance. USA had two power-play goals in the opener against Latvia. Denmark kills the penalty, allowing one U.S. shot.

Second period underway

Denmark leads 2-1.

End of first period: Denmark 2, USA 1

The Danes grabbed momentum early on a goal from Nick Olesen just 1:40 into the game. Matt Boldy answered for the Americans two minutes later, scoring on Mads Sogaard. The Danes moved ahead again at 11:16 on a goal from Nicholas B. Jensen, firing a shot from right in front of the U.S. bench that slipped by Jeremy Swayman. Malte Setkov had an assist on that goal. The Danes kept their game simple, focusing on keeping the puck out of their zone and making sure Sogaard could see the puck. Sogaard made 11 saves in the first period to five by Swayman.

Brady Tkachuk mixes it up

The USA has a little flurry at the end, but Mads Sogaard keeps it 2-1 Denmark. Brady Tkachuk gets involved with a Danish player as the period ends. No penalties.

Denmark goal: Jeremy Swayman lets in long shot

Nicholas B. Jensen scores on a shot from just inside the red line. The puck went past a USA player and goalie Jeremy Swayman wasn’t able to pick it up for a Denmark goal at 11:16. Denmark 2, USA 1

Denmark power play

Dylan Larkin is called for holding. USA kills it off.

USA goal: Matt Boldy ties game

Matt Boldy picks up a rebound of his shot on goalie Mads Sogaard, goes behind the net and scores on a wraparound at 3:35. Quinn Hughes and Jaccob Slavin get the assists. USA 1, Denmark 1

Denmark goal: Denmark scores early

Nick Oleson scores at 1:40 for Denmark after a Zach Werenski turnover. The puck goes in off the skate of Werenski after Jeremy Swayman makes a save on Oleson. Denmark 1, USA 0

Game underway

USA’s Jeremy Swayman vs. Denmark’s Mads Sogaard in net. The Tkachuk line starts for the USA.

Olympic men’s hockey schedule and scores today

All times Eastern

• Group B – Sweden 5, Slovakia 3
• Group C – Latvia 4, Germany 3
• Group B – Finland 11, Italy 0
• Group C – USA 6, Denmark 3

Watch Olympic men’s hockey

Watch Olympic men’s hockey on Peacock

Team USA lines vs Denmark

USA vs Denmark predictions

• Mike Brehm: USA 4, Denmark 2.
• Jace Evans: USA 5, Denmark 2.

Full predictions

Jeremy Swayman helped USA win world championships

Swayman, who’s facing Denmark, didn’t play in the 4 Nations Face-Off. But he did help the USA get a rare gold medal at the 2025 world championships. He went 7-0 with a 1.69 goals-against average and .921 save percentage at the tournament, including a shutout in the championship game against Switzerland.

USA, Denmark, Greenland politics just ‘outside noise’

The political aspect of Denmark and the U.S. meeting in the Olympics stems from U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated demands that Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, should belong to the U.S.

‘We’re not used to being in the news that much,’ said Lars Eller, a forward with the Ottawa Senators who has played 1,116 games in the NHL. ‘But I feel like every week there’s something new, and whatever was in the news last week is forgotten quickly and we move on.

‘I don’t think it’s on any of our minds what’s going on politically in the world. It’s outside noise and in the profession we’re in, you have to be good at tuning out the outside noise.’

Why are there no fights in Olympic hockey?

International Ice Hockey Federation prohibits fighting, and it could lead to an ejection and a suspension.

‘Fighting is not part of international ice hockey’s DNA,’ the organization states in Rule 46 of the IIHF rulebook.

‘Players who willingly, participate in a ‘brawl/fight’ so-called ‘willing combatants,’ shall be penalized accordingly by the referee(s) and may be ejected from the game,’ the rulebook says. ‘Further supplementary discipline may be imposed.’

How long is NHL Olympic break?

The NHL will take a break from Feb. 6-24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics. No trades can take place during the Olympic break.

How the Olympics men’s hockey tournament works

The 12 teams are divided into three groups. They are:

• Group A: Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France
• Group B: Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy
• Group C: USA, Germany, Latvia, Denmark

Teams play one game each against the other three teams in their group. Countries get three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime/shootout loss and zero for a regulation loss.

After the preliminary round is complete, teams are seeded 1 through 12 under the following criteria:

• Higher position in the group
• Higher number of points
• Better goal difference
• Higher number of goals scored for
• Better IIHF world ranking

The top four teams (group winners and best second-place team) get a bye to the quarterfinals. Teams 5-12 play in a qualifying round, with the winners going to the quarterfinals.

When is the Olympic men’s hockey tournament?

The tournament started Feb. 11 with two games. The USA opened play Feb. 12 against Latvia. All teams will play three games during the round robin, which runs through Feb. 15. The top four teams get byes to the quarterfinals.

Playoff qualification games are on Feb. 17 for teams ranked fifth through 12th, quarterfinals are Feb. 18 and semifinals are Feb. 20.

The bronze medal game is Feb. 21 and the gold medal game is Sunday, Feb. 22.

St. John’s vs. Providence turned chippy early in the second half of their men’s basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 14,.

The two teams got into a scuffle after St. John’s forward Bryce Hopkins — a former Providence standout — received a pass during a fast-break opportunity with 14:26 remaining in the second half. When he went to the rim, he was met with a hard foul by Providence’s Duncan Powell, who rammed into Hopkins while attempting the transition block.

Hopkins quickly hopped off the floor and got in Powell’s face before multiple players started a scuffle, delaying play.

Six players were ejected, including Powell, who was called for a Flagrant 2 foul and later threw a punch at Dillon Mitchell. Two Providence players — Powell and Jaylin Sellers — and four St. John’s players — Mitchell, Kelvin Odih, Ruben Prey and Lefteris Liotopoulos — were removed from the game.

The game marked Hopkins’ first game against the Friars since transferring away from the program after last season. Hopkins is averaging 13.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season and was the subject of multiple chants from Providence’s student section.

Powell is in his first season with Providence after transferring from Georgia Tech. He started his career at North Carolina A&T and also spent a season at Sacramento State.

St. John’s (19-5, 12-1 Big East) hasn’t lost in over a month, last losing a game to Providence on Jan. 3. The Red Storm have won 10 straight games and are looking for their 11th in a row — and revenge against the Friars.

Providence (11-14, 4-10) is essentially eliminated from NCAA Tournament contention, barring an unlikely bid-stealing run with a Big East Conference Championship. Losing Sellers certainly won’t help the cause, though, as he’s averaging a team-high 17.4 points per game this season.

MILAN — It’s Saturday, Feb. 14, at the 2026 Winter Olympics and we’re underway on Valentine’s Day at the Milano Cortina Games.

Friday’s action was defined by one of the most stunning moments of these Games: Ilia Malinin’s meltdown in the free skate of the men’s singles competition. Will Saturday bring that level of drama?

Getting things started, American women won a pair of medals in freestyle skiing as Jaelin Kauf and Elizabeth Lemley scored silver and bronze in the dual moguls competition. Then, the U.S. men’s hockey team defeated Denmark 6-3, with six different players scoring goals in the win.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of more than a dozen journalists on the ground in Italy to bring you behind the scenes with Team USA and keep you up to date with every medal win, big moment and triumphant finish. Get our Chasing Gold newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.

USA TODAY Sports provided highlights of Day 8 at the 2026 Winter Olympics:

U.S. hockey defeats Denmark 6-3

After trailing 2-1 early in the first period, the United States’ offense comes together and overwhelms Denmark, ending in a 6-3 win to move the U.S. to 2-0 at the Olympics so far. Six different players scored for Team USA.

Team USA hockey leads Denmark 4-3 after 2nd period

It’s raining goals in United States vs. Denmark men’s hockey, as Team USA leads 4-3 after the first two periods. The Americans trailed 2-1 after the first period, but scored three goals in the second period and allowed two others to lead 4-3.

Matt Boldy, Brady Tkachuk, Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifan have all scored for the U.S. so far. – Austin Curtright

Team USA misses women’s freeski big air final

LIVIGNO – Grace Henderson was the best chance for the U.S. women’s free ski big air qualifiers with a first jump that resulted in an 86.75. But a mediocre second hit and a fall on her third jump meant no American would be moving on.Avery Krumme, the lone American who qualified for the slopestyle final, had a nice first jump but couldn’t capitalize and did not make finals.

Rell Harwood, who saved herself for big air as she comes back from an ACL injury, could not put down her first run and the last two simply weren’t enough to be in the top 12 that made it to finals.Marin Hamill also did not make the top 12.

Eileen Gu was the first of 27 athletes to jump and landed her first one before crashing on her second. The American-born Chinese competitor popped right back up needing a successful third jump to have the chance to defend her gold medal from four years ago. She nailed it and finished as the No. 2. qualifier.

Canada’s Megan Oldham won bronze in the slopestyle event earlier this week, with Gu (silver) and Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud (gold) placing above her. Oldham was the top qualifier with Gu and Gremaud, respectively, behind her. – Chris Bumbaca

Austria’s Janine Flock wins gold in skeleton

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Team USA skeleton athletes Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro finish 12th (3:52.13) and 15th (3:52.48), respectively, out of 25 sleds. Curtis’ Olympic best performance (she finished 21st in Beijing) comes just over two years after giving birth to her daughter Maeve in Nov. 2023. 

Austrian Janine Flock, in her fourth Olympic Games and first medal winning slide, topped the podium with a golden time of 3:49.02. Germany’s Susanne Kreher won silver (3:49.32), and her teammate Jacqueline Pfeifer won bronze (3:49.46) – Payton Titus

Mikaela Shiffrin lines up third for Olympic giant slalom run

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Mikaela Shiffrin will get one of the first cracks at the giant slalom course.

Shiffrin will start third in the GS race at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 15. Paula Moltzan, who won bronze with Jackie Wiles in the team combined, is just behind her at No. 5, and Nina O’Brien will start 11th. A.J. Hurt is the last American in the race, starting 23rd.

The start order for the second run will be reverse order of the results from the first.

The GS is the first of the tech races, though Shiffrin, Moltzan, and Hurt all did slalom runs in the team combined. Shiffrin will be looking for a better result in the GS after notably struggling in the team combined, finishing 15th out of 18.- Nancy Armour

Marie-Philip Poulin ties hockey record, Canadian women advance to semis

Canada women’s hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored a goal in her return from a lower-body injury on Saturday. That ties her with Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser for most career Olympic women’s hockey goals (18).

Canada beat Germany 5-1 to advance to the semifinals, where it will face the winner of Finland-Switzerland. The USA will face Sweden. – Mike Brehm

Stolz sets Olympic record in 500, earns second gold medal

MILAN — Jordan Stolz resumed his quest for four gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

And on it goes.

Stolz captured his second gold by winning the men’s 500 meters at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 14, setting an Olympic record while he was at it.

Paired with Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands, Stolz finished with a time of 33.79 seconds, another Olympic record for the 21-year-old from Wisconsin.

To secure four gold medals, Stolz must win his final two races – the 1,500 meters on Thursday, Feb. 19, and the mass start on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Stolz won his first Olympic gold here in the men’s 1,000 meters on Wednesday, Feb. 11, while setting a new Olympic record. — Josh Peter

Pressure can topple even the best, as Ilia Malinin can attest

In December, before the U.S. figure skating championships, USA TODAY Sports’ Christine Brennan asked Ilia Malinin what seemed like an unfathomable question: Do you ever think about not winning the 2026 Winter Olympics gold medal?

It seemed silly. Malinin was figuratively being handed the gold medal before he even crossed the Atlantic Ocean. But to some surprise, it had crossed his mind.

“Sometimes, I have those thoughts a little bit,” Malinin. “It’s like everyone expects you to be so perfect, and really know what you’re doing all the time, but sometimes you’re not always perfect.’

Malinin’s golden moment turned into disaster, with a tough performance resulting in an eighth place finish in the men’s singles, a result the entire figure skating world is still trying to understand. − Jordan Mendoza

Team USA speed skating advances to women’s team pursuit semifinals

Giorgia Birkeland, Brittany Bowe and Mia Manganello advanced to the semifinal round in the women’s team pursuit at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.The trio posted a time of 2:58.32, 3.29 seconds behind the top speed of 2:55.03 by Canada. Japan (2:55.52) and Netherlands (2:55.65) also moved on to the semifinal round, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

Jordan Stolz set to compete for second speed skating gold

Jordan Stolz returns to the Milano Speed Skating Stadium to renew his pursuit of four Olympic gold medals at 2026 Winter Games.

After winning his first gold in the men’s 1,000 meters on Wednesday, Sotlz’s quest continues today with the men’s 500 meters (11 a.m. ET start, Peacock).

The field of 30 skaters is considered to be strong, and Stolz, the 21-year-old from Wisconsin, is not the runaway favorite. Though he’s a two-time world champion at the distance and won the season World Cup title again this year, he ‘only’ won five of the nine 500-meter races.

To secure four golds, Stolz would need to win not only the 500 meters, but also the 1,500 meters on Thursday and the mass start next Saturday. − Josh Peter

Armour: Olympics not the only way to define greatness

 The Olympic podium is not the end-all, be-all. Even the Olympics themselves cannot define an athlete’s career.

It can seem that way, when the eyes of the world are trained on these 16 days and one moment – a medal, an act of sportsmanship, a catastrophe – has the power to change an athlete’s life. But that white-hot spotlight that burns athletes up at the Olympics as often as it elevates them is our failure, the result of our ignorance.

We expect these athletes to deliver like show ponies during the Olympics – ignoring they’ve got an entire body of work outside the Games – and are ruthless when they don’t.

Mikaela Shiffrin could put away her skis today and there would be little question that she’s the greatest skier of all time. Her legacy has long been secured, and nothing that happens at these 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics – good, bad or indifferent – will change that.

And yet, Shiffrin has already come in for criticism at these Olympics after a disastrous slalom run in the team combined.

She’s not the only one, columnist Nancy Armour writes.

Winter Olympics power couples celebrate Valentine’s Day in Italy

Snow isn’t the only thing in the air at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

There will be no shortage of love as power couples gear up for the Games together. The Olympics run through Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) and some competitors won’t have to spend the holiday apart from their significant other. 

‘The skating career is short and finite, but the relationship is much, much longer,’ said Evan Bates, one half of the husband-and-wife ice dancing duo with Madison Chock. ‘The appreciation for everything that we’ve gone through over 15 years has grown as maybe you get closer towards the end.’

We take a look at a few of the most notable partnerships at the 2026 Winter Olympics. − Cydney Henderson

Luger Ashley Farquharson calls for greater access to winter sports

Growing up in Park City, Utah, home of several sports for the 2002 Winter Olympics, Ashley Farquharson was surprised to learn not everyone in America knew what luge was.

As she’s gotten older, Farquharson has realized her experience was the unique one. With access to the same venues used in 2002 and after school programs like the Youth Sports Alliance (YSA), 41 Park City athletes are competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Farquharson, 26, said she’s part of the first generation to benefit from 2002’s legacy.

Looking ahead to 2034, when the Olympics return to Utah, Farquharson is passionate about making winter sports more accessible. − Payton Titus

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins historic gold for Brazil

South America has its first medal ever in the Winter Olympics, and it’s gold.

Alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, a native of Norway who now competes for Brazil (his mother’s country), won the men’s giant slalom at Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio to make history.

Pinheiro Braathen was the first skier on the hill during the morning’s opening run, and he used that leadoff spot to throw down a sizzling 1:13.92. Switzerland’s star Marco Odermatt was the only competitor to get within 1.57 seconds of that time, and even he was nearly a second (0.95) behind Pinheiro Braathen.

It was clearly the Brazilian’s gold medal to lose entering the afternoon’s second run, and he didn’t lose it, finishing ahead of Odermatt, the silver medalist, by 0.58 seconds. Though there were still skiers left to compete following Pinheiro Braathen’s run, the results were all but official. − Gentry Estes

What happened to Ilia Malinin? 

It was set to be a coronation inside Milano Ice Skating Arena. The American prodigy, the “Quad God” Ilia Malinin, was going to take his place in figure skating lore and become the 2026 Winter Olympic champion.

All was well — until it was time to take the ice. 

“Going into that starting post,” Malinin said. “I just felt like all the traumatic moments of my life really just started flooding my head. There’s just so many negative thoughts that just flooded into there.

‘I just did not handle it.’

It was a stunner in the men’s singles free skate. Not only did the 21-year-old U.S. star not win gold, but he didn’t even reach the podium, finishing in eighth place, the worst competition result of his senior career since March 2022.

There are so many questions as to what happened. − Jordan Mendoza

Live 2026 Winter Olympics medal count

USA TODAY Sports is keeping track of all the medals won at the Milano Cortina Games with live updates as they’re awarded.

Here’s the current top 10 in the medal count, as of 8:07 a.m. ET:

1. Norway: 19 Total (9 Gold, 3 Silver, 7 Bronze)
2. Italy: 18 Total (6 Gold, 3 Silver, 9 Bronze)
3. United States: 16 Total (4 Gold, 8 Silver, 4 Bronze)
4. Japan: 14 Total (3 Gold, 3 Silver, 8 Bronze)
5. Austria: 12 Total (3 Gold, 6 Silver, 3 Bronze)
6. Germany: 11 Total (4 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze)
7. France: 10 Total (4 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze)
8. Sweden: 9 Total (4 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze)
9. Switzerland: 7 Total (4 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze)
10. Netherlands: 7 Total (3 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze)

Sweden overcomes disaster to medal in cross-country relay; USA 5th

Team USA finished fifth in the women’s 4 x 7.5km relay amid tough, rainy conditions at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.

The American relay team — made up of Julia Kern, Rosie Brennan, Novie McCabe and Jessie Diggins — finished behind Norway (gold), Sweden (silver) and Finland (bronze).

Sweden’s Ebba Andersson opened the door for Norway in the second leg after suffering two separate crashes. The second crash was brutal and ripped the binding off her right ski. Andersson had to race a portion of the course on one ski before meeting a technician on the course to switch out her gear. But the Swedes were able to recover to claim silver.

‘It’s so wet out there,’ Kern said, according to the NBC broadcast. ‘These are the worst conditions we’ve had here in Tesero.” − Cydney Henderson

USA’s Kauf, Lemley take silver, bronze in women’s dual moguls

The USA claimed a pair of medals in the most exciting addition to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics program, dual moguls.

Jaelin Kauf reached the podium again in freestyle skiing, taking another silver. It’s the third Olympic medal (all silver) of her career, following a silver in the individual competition at these Olympics and in 2022 at the Beijing Games. Australia’s Jakara Anthony overcame a fall in the final of the individual competition to win gold.

Fellow American Liz Lemley won the bronze medal after narrowly edging France’s Perrine Laffont in the ‘small final.’ It’s Lemley’s second medal of these Games after she took the gold in individual moguls.

The United States made up half of the quarterfinalists with Tess Johnson and Olivia Giaccio joining Kauf and Lemley. − Chris Bumbaca

Women’s freestyle skiing: Jaelin Kauf, Elizabeth Lemley into dual moguls semifinals

Jaelin Kauf will face France’s Perrine Laffont, while Elizabeth Lemley will take on Australia’s Jakara Anthony in the semifinals of the women’s dual moguls. Americans Tess Johnson and Olivia Giaccio were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Alpine skiing: Brazil seeking history in men’s giant slalom

As the first of two runs in the men’s giant slalom nears an end, a heck of a story is shaping up at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, a skier who represents Brazil, has opened up a lead of nearly a full second over the rest of the field. That has put him in position to claim the first-ever Winter Olympics medal for a South American nation in this afternoon’s final run.

American medal hopeful River Radamus is in 12th, a total of 2.46 seconds back of the leader – but less than a second away from third place.

‘I’m in the mix,’ Radamus said. ‘I know I’ve got a punchers’ chance at it, and I have nothing to lose. So I’ll give it all I’ve got next run.’

Of the two other USA skiers in the giant slalom: Ryder Sarchett is 4.80 seconds behind and currently in 29th place, Kyle Negomir is out after failing to make it through his first try through the slalom gates.

Pinheiro Braathen was born in Norway and originally competed under that flag before retiring abruptly at age 23. He returned to ski for Brazil, his mother’s native country, and has continued to be one of the world’s top-rated slalom skiers.

Can anyone catch him during the second run?

‘If he has a good run, it’s going to be nearly impossible almost, the way he’s skiing,’ said Team USA’s Sarchett. — Gentry Estes

Women’s freestyle skiing: Four Americans into dual moguls quarterfinals

Jaelin Kauf, Tess Johnson, Olivia Giaccio and Elizabeth Lemley make up half of the final eight in women’s dual moguls. None of the four Americans will face each other in the quarterfinals.

Hockey schedule, scores

Olympic men’s hockey schedule and scores today

All times Eastern and accurate as of Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.Watch it here: Stream your favorite shows, the biggest blockbusters and more.

• 6:10 a.m. – Sweden vs. Slovakia , Group B on CNBC, Peacock
• 6:10 a.m. – Germany vs. Latvia, Group C on CNBC, Peacock
• 10:40 a.m. – Finland vs. Italy, Group B on USA, Peacock
• 3:10 p.m. – USA vs. Denmark, Group C on USA, Peacock

River Radamus struggles out of the gate in giant slalom

Team USA’s River Radamus got off to an inauspicious start at the giant slalom on Day 8, finishing +2.46 on his first run.

Where to watch Olympics today

Watch all 2026 Winter Olympics events on NBC and Peacock.

Watch Olympics on Peacock

Olympics schedule today

All times Eastern and accurate as of Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at 6:34 p.m.

• 3:00 a.m. – Ski Jumping: Women’s Large Hill Official Training 2, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium (Val di Fiemme)
• 3:05 a.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – ITA vs.CHN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 3:05 a.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – GBR vs. CAN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 3:05 a.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – SUI vs. JPN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 4 a.m. – Bobsleigh: Women’s Monobob Official Training Heats 5 & 6, Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 4 a.m. – Alpine Skiing: Men’s Giant Slalom (Runs 1 & 2) – medal event, Stelvio Ski Centre (Bormio, Valtellina)
• 4:30 a.m. – Freestyle Skiing: Women’s Dual Moguls Quarters, Semis, Finals – medal event, Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park (Livigno, Valtellina)
• 6 a.m. – Cross-Country Skiing: Women’s 4 x 7.5km Relay – medal event, Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium (Val di Fiemme)
• 6:10 a.m. – Ice Hockey: Men’s Preliminary (GER vs. LAT), Anterselva Biathlon Arena (Antholz)
• 6:10 a.m. – Ice Hockey: Men’s Preliminary (SWE vs. SVK), Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena
• 6:30 a.m. – Bobsleigh: 2-man Official Training Heats 5 & 6, Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8:05 a.m. – Curling: Men’s Round Robin – GER vs. USA, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8:05 a.m. – Curling: Men’s Round Robin – CZE vs. GBR, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8:05 a.m. – Curling: Men’s Round Robin – SWE vs. CHN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8:05 a.m. – Curling: Men’s Round Robin – SUI vs. CAN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8: 45 a.m. – Biathlon: Women’s 7.5km Sprint – medal event, Anterselva Biathlon Arena (Antholz)
• 10 a.m. – Speed Skating: Women’s Team Pursuit Quarterfinals, Milano Speed Skating Stadium (Rho, Milan)
• 10:40 a.m. – Ice Hockey: Men’s Preliminary (FIN vs. ITA), Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena
• 10:40 a.m. – Ice Hockey: Women’s Quarterfinals, Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena
• 11 a.m. – Speed Skating: Men’s 500m – medal event, Milano Speed Skating Stadium (Rho, Milan)
• 12 p.m. – Skeleton: Women’s Heats 3 & 4 – medal event, Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 12:45 p.m. – Ski Jumping: Men’s Large Hill 1st Round, Final – medal event, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium (Val di Fiemme)
• 1:05 p.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – CAN vs. SUI, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 1:05 p.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – JPN vs. USA, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 1:05 p.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – KOR vs. DEN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 1:05 p.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – ITA vs. SWE, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 1:30 p.m. – Freestyle Skiing: Women’s Freeski Big Air Qualification Runs 1, 2, 3, Livigno Snow Park (Livigno, Valtellina)
• 2:15 p.m. – Short Track: Women’s 1000m, Men’s 15000m Heats, Semifinals, Finals (Medal Events), Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milan)
• 3:10 p.m. – Ice Hockey: Men’s Preliminary (USA vs. DEN), Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena
• 3:10 p.m. – Ice Hockey: Women’s Quarterfinals, Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena

Meet Team USA 2026: Get to know the athletes behind the games

More 2026 Winter Olympics

See the full Milano Cortina Games schedule

See the 2026 Medal Count Here

MILAN — It’s Saturday, Feb. 14, at the 2026 Winter Olympics and we’re underway on Valentine’s Day at the Milano Cortina Games.

Friday’s action was defined by one of the most stunning moments of these Games: Ilia Malinin’s meltdown in the free skate of the men’s singles competition. Will Saturday bring that level of drama?

There’s plenty of action on tap, including the return to the ice of the U.S. men’s hockey team.

Getting things started, American women won a pair of medals in freestyle skiing as Jaelin Kauf and Elizabeth Lemley scored silver and bronze in the dual moguls competition.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of more than a dozen journalists on the ground in Italy to bring you behind the scenes with Team USA and keep you up to date with every medal win, big moment and triumphant finish. Get our Chasing Gold newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.

USA TODAY Sports will also provide live updates and highlights of Day 8 at the 2026 Winter Olympics:

Team USA hockey leads Denmark 4-3 after 2nd period

It’s raining goals in United States vs. Denmark men’s hockey, as Team USA leads 4-3 after the first two periods. The Americans trailed 2-1 after the first period, but scored three goals in the second period and allowed two others to lead 4-3.

Matt Boldy, Brady Tkachuk, Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifan have all scored for the U.S. so far. – Austin Curtright

Team USA misses women’s freeski big air final

LIVIGNO – Grace Henderson was the best chance for the U.S. women’s free ski big air qualifiers with a first jump that resulted in an 86.75. But a mediocre second hit and a fall on her third jump meant no American would be moving on.Avery Krumme, the lone American who qualified for the slopestyle final, had a nice first jump but couldn’t capitalize and did not make finals.

Rell Harwood, who saved herself for big air as she comes back from an ACL injury, could not put down her first run and the last two simply weren’t enough to be in the top 12 that made it to finals.Marin Hamill also did not make the top 12.

Eileen Gu was the first of 27 athletes to jump and landed her first one before crashing on her second. The American-born Chinese competitor popped right back up needing a successful third jump to have the chance to defend her gold medal from four years ago. She nailed it and finished as the No. 2. qualifier.

Canada’s Megan Oldham won bronze in the slopestyle event earlier this week, with Gu (silver) and Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud (gold) placing above her. Oldham was the top qualifier with Gu and Gremaud, respectively, behind her. – Chris Bumbaca

Austria’s Janine Flock wins gold in skeleton

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Team USA skeleton athletes Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro finish 12th (3:52.13) and 15th (3:52.48), respectively, out of 25 sleds. Curtis’ Olympic best performance (she finished 21st in Beijing) comes just over two years after giving birth to her daughter Maeve in Nov. 2023. 

Austrian Janine Flock, in her fourth Olympic Games and first medal winning slide, topped the podium with a golden time of 3:49.02. Germany’s Susanne Kreher won silver (3:49.32), and her teammate Jacqueline Pfeifer won bronze (3:49.46) – Payton Titus

Mikaela Shiffrin lines up third for Olympic giant slalom run

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Mikaela Shiffrin will get one of the first cracks at the giant slalom course.

Shiffrin will start third in the GS race at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 15. Paula Moltzan, who won bronze with Jackie Wiles in the team combined, is just behind her at No. 5, and Nina O’Brien will start 11th. A.J. Hurt is the last American in the race, starting 23rd.

The start order for the second run will be reverse order of the results from the first.

The GS is the first of the tech races, though Shiffrin, Moltzan, and Hurt all did slalom runs in the team combined. Shiffrin will be looking for a better result in the GS after notably struggling in the team combined, finishing 15th out of 18.- Nancy Armour

Marie-Philip Poulin ties hockey record, Canadian women advance to semis

Canada women’s hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored a goal in her return from a lower-body injury on Saturday. That ties her with Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser for most career Olympic women’s hockey goals (18).

Canada beat Germany 5-1 to advance to the semifinals, where it will face the winner of Finland-Switzerland. The USA will face Sweden. – Mike Brehm

Stolz sets Olympic record in 500, earns second gold medal

MILAN — Jordan Stolz resumed his quest for four gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

And on it goes.

Stolz captured his second gold by winning the men’s 500 meters at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 14, setting an Olympic record while he was at it.

Paired with Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands, Stolz finished with a time of 33.79 seconds, another Olympic record for the 21-year-old from Wisconsin.

To secure four gold medals, Stolz must win his final two races – the 1,500 meters on Thursday, Feb. 19, and the mass start on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Stolz won his first Olympic gold here in the men’s 1,000 meters on Wednesday, Feb. 11, while setting a new Olympic record. — Josh Peter

Pressure can topple even the best, as Ilia Malinin can attest

In December, before the U.S. figure skating championships, USA TODAY Sports’ Christine Brennan asked Ilia Malinin what seemed like an unfathomable question: Do you ever think about not winning the 2026 Winter Olympics gold medal?

It seemed silly. Malinin was figuratively being handed the gold medal before he even crossed the Atlantic Ocean. But to some surprise, it had crossed his mind.

“Sometimes, I have those thoughts a little bit,” Malinin. “It’s like everyone expects you to be so perfect, and really know what you’re doing all the time, but sometimes you’re not always perfect.’

Malinin’s golden moment turned into disaster, with a tough performance resulting in an eighth place finish in the men’s singles, a result the entire figure skating world is still trying to understand. − Jordan Mendoza

Team USA speed skating advances to women’s team pursuit semifinals

Giorgia Birkeland, Brittany Bowe and Mia Manganello advanced to the semifinal round in the women’s team pursuit at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.The trio posted a time of 2:58.32, 3.29 seconds behind the top speed of 2:55.03 by Canada. Japan (2:55.52) and Netherlands (2:55.65) also moved on to the semifinal round, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

Jordan Stolz set to compete for second speed skating gold

Jordan Stolz returns to the Milano Speed Skating Stadium to renew his pursuit of four Olympic gold medals at 2026 Winter Games.

After winning his first gold in the men’s 1,000 meters on Wednesday, Sotlz’s quest continues today with the men’s 500 meters (11 a.m. ET start, Peacock).

The field of 30 skaters is considered to be strong, and Stolz, the 21-year-old from Wisconsin, is not the runaway favorite. Though he’s a two-time world champion at the distance and won the season World Cup title again this year, he ‘only’ won five of the nine 500-meter races.

To secure four golds, Stolz would need to win not only the 500 meters, but also the 1,500 meters on Thursday and the mass start next Saturday. − Josh Peter

Armour: Olympics not the only way to define greatness

 The Olympic podium is not the end-all, be-all. Even the Olympics themselves cannot define an athlete’s career.

It can seem that way, when the eyes of the world are trained on these 16 days and one moment – a medal, an act of sportsmanship, a catastrophe – has the power to change an athlete’s life. But that white-hot spotlight that burns athletes up at the Olympics as often as it elevates them is our failure, the result of our ignorance.

We expect these athletes to deliver like show ponies during the Olympics – ignoring they’ve got an entire body of work outside the Games – and are ruthless when they don’t.

Mikaela Shiffrin could put away her skis today and there would be little question that she’s the greatest skier of all time. Her legacy has long been secured, and nothing that happens at these 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics – good, bad or indifferent – will change that.

And yet, Shiffrin has already come in for criticism at these Olympics after a disastrous slalom run in the team combined.

She’s not the only one, columnist Nancy Armour writes.

Winter Olympics power couples celebrate Valentine’s Day in Italy

Snow isn’t the only thing in the air at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

There will be no shortage of love as power couples gear up for the Games together. The Olympics run through Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) and some competitors won’t have to spend the holiday apart from their significant other. 

‘The skating career is short and finite, but the relationship is much, much longer,’ said Evan Bates, one half of the husband-and-wife ice dancing duo with Madison Chock. ‘The appreciation for everything that we’ve gone through over 15 years has grown as maybe you get closer towards the end.’

We take a look at a few of the most notable partnerships at the 2026 Winter Olympics. − Cydney Henderson

Luger Ashley Farquharson calls for greater access to winter sports

Growing up in Park City, Utah, home of several sports for the 2002 Winter Olympics, Ashley Farquharson was surprised to learn not everyone in America knew what luge was.

As she’s gotten older, Farquharson has realized her experience was the unique one. With access to the same venues used in 2002 and after school programs like the Youth Sports Alliance (YSA), 41 Park City athletes are competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Farquharson, 26, said she’s part of the first generation to benefit from 2002’s legacy.

Looking ahead to 2034, when the Olympics return to Utah, Farquharson is passionate about making winter sports more accessible. − Payton Titus

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins historic gold for Brazil

South America has its first medal ever in the Winter Olympics, and it’s gold.

Alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, a native of Norway who now competes for Brazil (his mother’s country), won the men’s giant slalom at Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio to make history.

Pinheiro Braathen was the first skier on the hill during the morning’s opening run, and he used that leadoff spot to throw down a sizzling 1:13.92. Switzerland’s star Marco Odermatt was the only competitor to get within 1.57 seconds of that time, and even he was nearly a second (0.95) behind Pinheiro Braathen.

It was clearly the Brazilian’s gold medal to lose entering the afternoon’s second run, and he didn’t lose it, finishing ahead of Odermatt, the silver medalist, by 0.58 seconds. Though there were still skiers left to compete following Pinheiro Braathen’s run, the results were all but official. − Gentry Estes

What happened to Ilia Malinin? 

It was set to be a coronation inside Milano Ice Skating Arena. The American prodigy, the “Quad God” Ilia Malinin, was going to take his place in figure skating lore and become the 2026 Winter Olympic champion.

All was well — until it was time to take the ice. 

“Going into that starting post,” Malinin said. “I just felt like all the traumatic moments of my life really just started flooding my head. There’s just so many negative thoughts that just flooded into there.

‘I just did not handle it.’

It was a stunner in the men’s singles free skate. Not only did the 21-year-old U.S. star not win gold, but he didn’t even reach the podium, finishing in eighth place, the worst competition result of his senior career since March 2022.

There are so many questions as to what happened. − Jordan Mendoza

Live 2026 Winter Olympics medal count

USA TODAY Sports is keeping track of all the medals won at the Milano Cortina Games with live updates as they’re awarded.

Here’s the current top 10 in the medal count, as of 8:07 a.m. ET:

1. Norway: 19 Total (9 Gold, 3 Silver, 7 Bronze)
2. Italy: 18 Total (6 Gold, 3 Silver, 9 Bronze)
3. United States: 16 Total (4 Gold, 8 Silver, 4 Bronze)
4. Japan: 14 Total (3 Gold, 3 Silver, 8 Bronze)
5. Austria: 12 Total (3 Gold, 6 Silver, 3 Bronze)
6. Germany: 11 Total (4 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze)
7. France: 10 Total (4 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze)
8. Sweden: 9 Total (4 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze)
9. Switzerland: 7 Total (4 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze)
10. Netherlands: 7 Total (3 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze)

Sweden overcomes disaster to medal in cross-country relay; USA 5th

Team USA finished fifth in the women’s 4 x 7.5km relay amid tough, rainy conditions at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.

The American relay team — made up of Julia Kern, Rosie Brennan, Novie McCabe and Jessie Diggins — finished behind Norway (gold), Sweden (silver) and Finland (bronze).

Sweden’s Ebba Andersson opened the door for Norway in the second leg after suffering two separate crashes. The second crash was brutal and ripped the binding off her right ski. Andersson had to race a portion of the course on one ski before meeting a technician on the course to switch out her gear. But the Swedes were able to recover to claim silver.

‘It’s so wet out there,’ Kern said, according to the NBC broadcast. ‘These are the worst conditions we’ve had here in Tesero.” − Cydney Henderson

USA’s Kauf, Lemley take silver, bronze in women’s dual moguls

The USA claimed a pair of medals in the most exciting addition to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics program, dual moguls.

Jaelin Kauf reached the podium again in freestyle skiing, taking another silver. It’s the third Olympic medal (all silver) of her career, following a silver in the individual competition at these Olympics and in 2022 at the Beijing Games. Australia’s Jakara Anthony overcame a fall in the final of the individual competition to win gold.

Fellow American Liz Lemley won the bronze medal after narrowly edging France’s Perrine Laffont in the ‘small final.’ It’s Lemley’s second medal of these Games after she took the gold in individual moguls.

The United States made up half of the quarterfinalists with Tess Johnson and Olivia Giaccio joining Kauf and Lemley. − Chris Bumbaca

Women’s freestyle skiing: Jaelin Kauf, Elizabeth Lemley into dual moguls semifinals

Jaelin Kauf will face France’s Perrine Laffont, while Elizabeth Lemley will take on Australia’s Jakara Anthony in the semifinals of the women’s dual moguls. Americans Tess Johnson and Olivia Giaccio were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Alpine skiing: Brazil seeking history in men’s giant slalom

As the first of two runs in the men’s giant slalom nears an end, a heck of a story is shaping up at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, a skier who represents Brazil, has opened up a lead of nearly a full second over the rest of the field. That has put him in position to claim the first-ever Winter Olympics medal for a South American nation in this afternoon’s final run.

American medal hopeful River Radamus is in 12th, a total of 2.46 seconds back of the leader – but less than a second away from third place.

‘I’m in the mix,’ Radamus said. ‘I know I’ve got a punchers’ chance at it, and I have nothing to lose. So I’ll give it all I’ve got next run.’

Of the two other USA skiers in the giant slalom: Ryder Sarchett is 4.80 seconds behind and currently in 29th place, Kyle Negomir is out after failing to make it through his first try through the slalom gates.

Pinheiro Braathen was born in Norway and originally competed under that flag before retiring abruptly at age 23. He returned to ski for Brazil, his mother’s native country, and has continued to be one of the world’s top-rated slalom skiers.

Can anyone catch him during the second run?

‘If he has a good run, it’s going to be nearly impossible almost, the way he’s skiing,’ said Team USA’s Sarchett. — Gentry Estes

Women’s freestyle skiing: Four Americans into dual moguls quarterfinals

Jaelin Kauf, Tess Johnson, Olivia Giaccio and Elizabeth Lemley make up half of the final eight in women’s dual moguls. None of the four Americans will face each other in the quarterfinals.

Hockey schedule, scores

Olympic men’s hockey schedule and scores today

All times Eastern and accurate as of Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.Watch it here: Stream your favorite shows, the biggest blockbusters and more.

• 6:10 a.m. – Sweden vs. Slovakia , Group B on CNBC, Peacock
• 6:10 a.m. – Germany vs. Latvia, Group C on CNBC, Peacock
• 10:40 a.m. – Finland vs. Italy, Group B on USA, Peacock
• 3:10 p.m. – USA vs. Denmark, Group C on USA, Peacock

River Radamus struggles out of the gate in giant slalom

Team USA’s River Radamus got off to an inauspicious start at the giant slalom on Day 8, finishing +2.46 on his first run.

Where to watch Olympics today

Watch all 2026 Winter Olympics events on NBC and Peacock.

Watch Olympics on Peacock

Olympics schedule today

All times Eastern and accurate as of Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at 6:34 p.m.

• 3:00 a.m. – Ski Jumping: Women’s Large Hill Official Training 2, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium (Val di Fiemme)
• 3:05 a.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – ITA vs.CHN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 3:05 a.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – GBR vs. CAN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 3:05 a.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – SUI vs. JPN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 4 a.m. – Bobsleigh: Women’s Monobob Official Training Heats 5 & 6, Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 4 a.m. – Alpine Skiing: Men’s Giant Slalom (Runs 1 & 2) – medal event, Stelvio Ski Centre (Bormio, Valtellina)
• 4:30 a.m. – Freestyle Skiing: Women’s Dual Moguls Quarters, Semis, Finals – medal event, Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park (Livigno, Valtellina)
• 6 a.m. – Cross-Country Skiing: Women’s 4 x 7.5km Relay – medal event, Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium (Val di Fiemme)
• 6:10 a.m. – Ice Hockey: Men’s Preliminary (GER vs. LAT), Anterselva Biathlon Arena (Antholz)
• 6:10 a.m. – Ice Hockey: Men’s Preliminary (SWE vs. SVK), Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena
• 6:30 a.m. – Bobsleigh: 2-man Official Training Heats 5 & 6, Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8:05 a.m. – Curling: Men’s Round Robin – GER vs. USA, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8:05 a.m. – Curling: Men’s Round Robin – CZE vs. GBR, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8:05 a.m. – Curling: Men’s Round Robin – SWE vs. CHN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8:05 a.m. – Curling: Men’s Round Robin – SUI vs. CAN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 8: 45 a.m. – Biathlon: Women’s 7.5km Sprint – medal event, Anterselva Biathlon Arena (Antholz)
• 10 a.m. – Speed Skating: Women’s Team Pursuit Quarterfinals, Milano Speed Skating Stadium (Rho, Milan)
• 10:40 a.m. – Ice Hockey: Men’s Preliminary (FIN vs. ITA), Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena
• 10:40 a.m. – Ice Hockey: Women’s Quarterfinals, Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena
• 11 a.m. – Speed Skating: Men’s 500m – medal event, Milano Speed Skating Stadium (Rho, Milan)
• 12 p.m. – Skeleton: Women’s Heats 3 & 4 – medal event, Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 12:45 p.m. – Ski Jumping: Men’s Large Hill 1st Round, Final – medal event, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium (Val di Fiemme)
• 1:05 p.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – CAN vs. SUI, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 1:05 p.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – JPN vs. USA, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 1:05 p.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – KOR vs. DEN, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 1:05 p.m. – Curling: Women’s Round Robin – ITA vs. SWE, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
• 1:30 p.m. – Freestyle Skiing: Women’s Freeski Big Air Qualification Runs 1, 2, 3, Livigno Snow Park (Livigno, Valtellina)
• 2:15 p.m. – Short Track: Women’s 1000m, Men’s 15000m Heats, Semifinals, Finals (Medal Events), Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milan)
• 3:10 p.m. – Ice Hockey: Men’s Preliminary (USA vs. DEN), Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena
• 3:10 p.m. – Ice Hockey: Women’s Quarterfinals, Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena

Meet Team USA 2026: Get to know the athletes behind the games

More 2026 Winter Olympics

See the full Milano Cortina Games schedule

See the 2026 Medal Count Here

The university said in a statement that Kingston, who is facing a first-degree felony rape charge, is no longer part of the football program.

‘As of Friday, Parker Kingston is no longer a student at Brigham Young University and is no longer a member of the BYU football team,’ BYU said in a statement to the USA TODAY Network. ‘University administration and athletic administration, including BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake, were only made aware of the investigation and allegations after Kingston’s arrest this past Wednesday, Feb. 11.’

Kingston, 21, was charged on Wednesday, Feb. 11. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, he made his first appearance, remotely, in Washington County Fifth District Court on Friday, Feb. 13, from the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane, Utah.

He was held in Washington County jail without bail following his arrest. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Judge John Walton agreed to terms with Washington County chief deputy attorney Ryan Shaum and Kingston’s defense attorney Cara Tangaro for Kingston to be released on $100,000 bond with $10,000 cash immediately paid to the court.

The charge against Kingston stems from an incident Feb. 23, 2025, in St. George, Utah ― over 250 miles south of BYU’s campus in Provo, Utah. The alleged victim was 20 at the time of the incident, and made her sexual assault report to officers at St. George Regional Hospital.

Kingston, a redshirt junior last season, earned second-team All-Big 12 honors after catching 67 passes for 928 yards with five touchdowns, along with 25 carries for 125 yards with three touchdowns.

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, four other stipulations were set in Kingston’s release:

Among the requirements Walton set for Kingston’s release were:

• GPS ankle monitor for at least the next 60 days
• No contact with alleged victim, her family or case witnesses
• Kingston must delete all social media applications from his phone
• Kingston is not allowed in Washington County except for future in-person court appearances

Kingston is due for a virtual hearing on Feb. 25, and the preliminary in-person hearing is scheduled for April 13, in the Fifth District Court in St. George.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

MILAN — In December, before the U.S. figure skating championships, USA TODAY Sports’ Christine Brennan asked Ilia Malinin what seemed like an unfathomable question: Do you ever think about not winning the 2026 Winter Olympics gold medal?

It seemed silly. Malinin was figuratively being handed the gold medal before he even crossed the Atlantic Ocean. But to some surprise, it had crossed his mind.

“Sometimes, I have those thoughts a little bit,” Malinin. “It’s like everyone expects you to be so perfect, and really know what you’re doing all the time, but sometimes you’re not always perfect. 

Watch Winter Olympics on Peacock

‘You can have a day where nothing works out, and you kind of just have to go through that.”

What seemed like a preposterous thought turned into reality — on the dreaded Friday the 13th. 

Malinin’s golden moment turned into disaster, with a tough performance resulting in an eighth place finish in the men’s singles, a result the entire figure skating world is still trying to understand. 

Since his stunning falls, the entire world wondered what happened. He himself was still trying to figure it out. But one thing he consistently mentioned immediately afterward was feeling the immense pressure and the nerves — and it makes much more sense.

Although so many of us have dealt with sports pressure — of course, at varying levels — there’s nothing like Olympic pressure. It’s a feeling only Olympians can relate to, let alone when you’re a gold medal favorite. 

He tried to treat it like every competition before, but the Olympics simply aren’t like any other outing. It’s a global event with a worldwide audience. 

Almost all of us are not able to relate to Malinin — we can only try to understand.

“The Olympics, the magnitude of it, sometimes it’s overwhelming,” said Evan Bates, an ice dance skater and five-time Olympian.

Malinin started feeling the pressure in late 2025 as the Olympic season was beginning. At that point, he had won nine consecutive events, riding the momentum high. At the time, he felt like he could handle it and would see how he’d manage it.

He continued his tear with another Grand Prix final and U.S. title, seemingly untouchable. But the pressure was mounting, and it couldn’t be ignored.

“A lot of the times, it is a lot to handle when you have all the pressure, all the attention, all the focus on you to become the Olympic gold hopeful,” Malinin said on Feb. 4. “A lot of the time, I’ll have bad days where I think about that and it really shuts me down, and it really puts me in not the best moods.

“That’s something that everyone has to go through, and they have to find their way to motivate themselves or keep them together.”

You could tell there were some nerves in his short program of the team event, but he responded in the free skate to heroically earn the U.S. gold. Then the short program of the men’s singles was so great, there was no inkling of he’d falter.

But then came the hardest lesson of pressure and nerves: They operate on their own accord, and no matter how much you train, there isn’t much that can combat it.

All of it led to right before Malinin took the ice, where he said “all the traumatic moments of my life” flooded his head.

“It was really just something that overwhelmed me, and I just felt like I had no control,” he added.

It’s almost a coincidence 11-time Olympic medalist and seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles was inside Milano Ice Skating Arena to watch the performance. She has dealt with the mental struggles and pressures of this stage, famously when the twisties shortened her run in the 2021 Olympics.

The list of star American athletes struggling in the Olympics doesn’t end there, especially figure skaters, with Michelle Kwan in 2002 and Nathan Chen in 2018. 

If there’s any takeaway from the struggles of Malinin and several other U.S. Olympians, this is far from the end. Biles returned in 2024 and captured three golds. 

A lot can happen in four years, but Malinin will be 25 years old and likely still an elite skater. He wants to compete in three Winter Olympics, capable of making it to 2030. Should he make it to the French Alps at the next Olympics, it this would be an experience that will help him immensely. It could even be the difference in the him getting back to the top of the sport and finally becoming Olympic champion.

In Milano Cortina, we learned “Quad God” isn’t immortal. He’s just a human, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It may just be the lesson that kickstarts the redemption arc for Malinin.

Snow isn’t the only thing in the air at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

There will be no shortage of love as power couples gear up for the Games together. The Olympics run through Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) and some competitors won’t have to spend the holiday apart from their significant other. Olympic medals are always the goal, but some athletes already have their prize.

‘The skating career is short and finite, but the relationship is much, much longer,’ said Evan Bates, one half of the husband-and-wife ice dancing duo with Madison Chock. ‘The appreciation for everything that we’ve gone through over 15 years has grown as maybe you get closer towards the end.’

Each Olympic partnership is unique. Some Olympic duos compete together, like Bates and Chock, while others participate in the same discipline, including American snowboarders Red Gerard and Hailey Langland. There’s partners in completely different sports, such as ice hockey star Hilary Knight and speed skater Brittany Bowe, and even some lovebirds representing different countries, like Anna Kjellbin and Ronja Savolainen.

Here are a few of the most notable partnerships at the 2026 Winter Olympics:

Madison Chock and Evan Bates

• Nationality: American
• Discipline: Figure skating — Ice Dance
• Olympic medals: The pair has three Olympic medals (one gold in 2022 team event, gold in the 2026 team event and silver in the 2026 ice dance event).

Figure skating ice dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates are partners both on and off the ice. The duo went on their first date at a Bahama Breeze restaurant on Chock’s 16th birthday, where Bates gifted her a black zip-up sweater from Pink. Nothing came of the date, but the two friends stayed in touch and eventually started competing together after both parted ways with their previous partners in 2011.

‘We genuinely enjoy each other’s company a lot,’ Bates said at the USOPC media summit in October. ‘Our relationship was a friendship first. And I think that is a big reason why we just like each other.

Their relationship slowly blossomed and they started dating in 2017. Chock and Bates got engaged in June 2022 following the Beijing Games, where they narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish, and tied the knot in a Hawaiian wedding in June 2024. The duo made their fourth Olympic appearance together (and their first as husband and wife) at the Milano Cortina Games after winning three consecutive World championships.

Winning Olympic gold, however, isn’t the sole goal for Chock and Bates. They strive to ‘grow together as a team and as a couple,’ said Chock, who believed the connectedness would lead to them standing on top of the podium.

‘Skating and winning (an) Olympic gold medal was always the top priority, and it still is for us, but the focus on our relationship and the understanding of how that pursuit of excellence benefits our relationship, especially if we allow it to, has become more of a priority,’ Bates added.

Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe

• Nationality: American
• Discipline: Ice hockey (Knight), speed skating (Bowe)
• Olympic medals: Knight has four medals (one gold in 2018 and three silvers in 2010, 2014, 2022), while Bowe has two bronze medals (1000m in 2018 and Team Pursuit 6 Laps in 2022).

There’s a good chance that if you enter the home of Olympic power couple Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe, sports will be playing on the television.

‘Whether it’s playoffs, regular season, we’re watching everything sports 24/7,’ Knight said at the USOPC media summit in October, adding that’s one of the ‘awesome’ perks of dating a fellow athlete.

Knight and Bowe first met at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games amid strict COVID-19 protocols. The duo connected on fully masked strolls that were cute, but not necessarily romantic, Knight recalled. Bowe walked away with bronze in the 1000m, but she told People that her time with Knight ‘was the biggest win coming out of Beijing.’

“(It was) a very unique way to meet someone, but it was also kind of cool because we felt like we were in this bubble,’ Bowe said. ‘No outside distractions. And we really had a lot of time just to get to know each other.” 

‘We have normal human conversations and then we have Olympic athlete conversations about tactical and technical parts of our training,’ Knight said. ‘(Bowe’s) so intentional and thoughtful with preparation and it’s something that I hope that’s rubbed off on me in the right way. But it’s really incredible when you put two different sports side by side and see how they’re similar and how they’re different as well.’

Knight (hockey) and Bowe (speed skating) started dating in December 2022. The relationship helped Knight find the strength to publicly come out a year later in 2023. Knight said they understand each other on a different level as two elite athletes with prolonged careers. Milano Cortina marks Knight’s fifth Games and Bowe’s fourth.

Chloe Kim and Myles Garrett

• Nationality: American
• Discipline: Snowboard halfpipe (Kim)
• Olympic medals: Kim has two gold medals (2018, 2022) and one silver (2026)

Garrett may not be an Olympian, but he can relate to being an elite. The Cleveland Browns’ defensive end and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year set the NFL’s single-season sack record (23) in January. Kim and Garrett made their first public appearance together at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Japan in May 2025. The duo confirmed their relationship in November when Kim attended a Browns game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Garrett returned the favor. He was front and center at the 2026 Winter Olympics to watch Kim try and complete a historic three-peat in the women’s snowboard halfpipe event. He donned a sweater with Kim’s face on it.

‘We’re both just so supportive of one another,’ Garrett said of their relationship. ‘She’s always texting, she’s always calling to see how I’m doing during the year and I’m doing the same right now, checking on her, seeing how she’s feeling, emotionally and physically.’

‘I grew up in a very Korean household, so we didn’t really watch American sports, or sports in general. It was whatever my dad was into. I guess my dad did watch football when he first came to America, but when I came around, it was a lot of, like, golf, tennis, things of that sort. So it’s actually funny that we’re in this position right now, because I had no idea who he was. Like, zero idea,’ Kim said.

CHLOE KIM: Who is Chloe Kim’s boyfriend? What to know about Myles Garrett

Red Gerard and Hailey Langland

• Nationality: American
• Discipline: Snowboarding
• Olympic medals: Gerard has one gold slopestyle medal (2018)

The snowboarders first met on the slopes in Mount Hood, Oregon, at age 12 and remained good friends until their ‘friendship developed into a relationship,’ according to Gerard. The duo made it official several years later before their respective Olympic debuts in PyeongChang in 2018, where Gerard went on to become the youngest Olympic snowboarding champion after winning gold in slopestyle at age 17.

Langland and Gerard agree that dating someone that competes in the same sport comes with a lot of benefits: They understand each other. They travel the world together. They push each other to be better.

Gerard described Langland as the ‘chill’ one in the relationship. ‘She’s more relaxed and keeps me relaxed,’ he joked.

Langland said her beau is a ‘great athlete and great advocate for the sport.’

She added, ‘I look up to him.’

Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde

• Nationality: American (Shiffrin), Norwegian (Kilde)
• Discipline: Alpine skiing
• Oympic medals: Shiffrin has three, including two golds (Slalom in 2014; Giant Slalom in 2018) and one silver medal (Super Combined in 2018). Kilde won two medals at the 2022 Beijing Games, a silver in Alpine Combined and bronze in super-G.

Kilde and Shiffrin have been dating since early 2021, and made their relationship Instagram-official a year later in June. The couple announced their engagement in April 2024. Shiffrin and Kilde are both set to compete in their fourth Games, but their journey to Milano Cortina hasn’t been without challenges.

In January 2024, Kilde suffered a severe crash during a downhill race in Switzerland that left him with injuries to his calf and shoulder. He faced an additional setback during his recovery after a shoulder infection led to sepsis and required additional surgery. Kilde returned to the World Cup circuit in November ahead of the Milano Cortina Games, an emotional moment for both Kilde and Shiffrin. ‘I’m so proud of him,’ she told local media.

Kilde has supported Shiffrin through her own adversity. Shiffrin suffered severe muscle trauma and a puncture wound in her abdomen during a November 2024 crash, but has returned to form ahead of Milano Cortina.

‘We’ve been a rock for each other,” Kilde said in October. ‘We’re always supporting each other.’

Kaysha Love and Hunter Powell

• Nationality: American
• Discipline: Bobsled

The bobsledders have nerves of steel as they steer their way to the … wedding altar. Love and Powell announced their engagement in June 2025, with Powell writing on Instagram, ‘I love you to the moon and back and infinitely more Kaysha Love. I always have and I always will.’

Love competed in track and field at UNLV before switching over to bobsled in late 2020. Less than two years later, she made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Powell shares a similar story and Love served as the catalyst. Love recruited Powell to switch to bobsled after the 2024 track and field season. Less than two years since starting the sport, he’s now set to make his Olympic debut in Milano Cortina.

Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike

• Nationality: American
• Discipline: Para Nordic skiing
• Paralympic medals: Masters has 19 Paralympic medals (nine gold, seven silver, three bronze)

Masters has competed in every Summer and Winter Paralympics since 2012 and is the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian of all-time with 14 medals, in addition to five Summer Paralympic medals, but Masters told NBC that she ‘didn’t start succeeding as an athlete until (Pike) came into my life.’

Masters and Pike, both seven-time Paralympians, first crossed paths at an U.S. para Nordic development event in 2013 but connected at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics after sharing a gondola ride together. Pike recreated the cable car ride eight years later in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park when he proposed to Masters.

Masters said Pike ‘helped me really feel confident in my abilities and … celebrate the things that I normally diminish. When I have really bad days, he understands it. I understand his. And when the really good days come, they’re even better, because you’re celebrating them with your best friend. … It’s our secret weapon that we have each other.”

Anna Kjellbin and Ronja Savolainen

• Nationality: Sweden (Kjellbin), Finland (Savolainen)
• Discipline: Women’s ice hockey
• Olympic medals: Savolainen has two bronze medals (2018, 2022)

This couple’s heated rivalry could spice up the ice at Milano Cortina. Swedish hockey defender Anna Kjellbin and Finnish defender Ronja Savolainen got engaged in 2024 after nearly five years of dating, but on the ice, ‘she’s my enemy. That’s how it goes,’ Savolainen said in 2024.

Kjellbin and Savolainen are used to facing off against each other because they’re both in the PWHL. Kjellbin plays for the Toronto Sceptres and Savolainen plays for the Ottawa Charge. Only a two-hour drive separates them.

 “We were super lucky that we are so close to each other. It was the best thing that could happen,’ Savolainen said. “We’re in the same country, at least, the same side of the world, so I’m super happy.’

The Sweden and Finland women’s hockey teams aren’t scheduled to face each other in the round-robin preliminaries, but the couple could meet in the later medal rounds. Savolainen has won two bronze medals with Team Finland, while Kjellbin is set to make her second Winter Games appearance with Team Sweden.

Cornelius Kersten and Ellia Smeding

• Nationality: British
• Discipline: Speed skating

Love is brewing for these British speed skaters. Kersten and Smeding co-founded the coffee company Brew 22 in 2020 to fund their journey to the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Both are still involved in the coffee company, which has evolved to feature five flavors to represent each Olympic ring.

Smeding finished 23rd in the 1000m and 27th in 1500m at Beijing 2022. Smeding may have been far off the podium, but made history as the first female long track speed skater to represent Great Britain since 1980. Kersten’s best result came with his ninth-place finish in the 1,000m.

Kersten and Smeding have each dealt with injuries in the lead-up to Milano Cortina. Smeding worked her way back from a hip injury to qualify for her second Olympic Games, but Kersten couldn’t find his footing after suffering torn obliques and a torn labral in a bad crash in 2023. Smeding credits Kersten with her recovery.

‘I’ve seen Cornelius struggle with injuries and his ongoing one now. Knowing how he’s dealt with injuries really gave me a guideline of staying optimistic and confident and being patient with my time,’ she said in May 2025.

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