The opening week of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo has already delivered historic performances, thrilling upsets, and unforgettable moments.

Team USA has made a strong showing in the first week, earning medals across a wide range of disciplines. In freestyle skiing, Elizabeth “Liz” Lemley captured gold in the women’s moguls, showcasing her precise aerials and strong turns to claim the top podium spot. Jaelin Kauf added to the U.S. success in the same event, taking silver in the women’s moguls with a technically impressive run. In the men’s freeski slopestyle, Alex Hall earned silver, delivering a combination of high-flying tricks and clean landings that thrilled the crowd.

In alpine skiing, Breezy Johnson won gold in the women’s downhill, marking her first Olympic medal and first Olympic gold after overcoming injuries that prevented her from competing in 2022 and finishing off the podium in 2018. Ryan Cochran-Siegle added a silver in the men’s Super-G, demonstrating speed and control on a challenging course, while the duo of Paula Moltzan and Jacqueline Wiles earned bronze in the women’s team combined event, contributing to the United States’ growing medal total in alpine skiing.

In sliding sports, Ashley Farquharson earned bronze in the women’s luge, delivering a fast and consistent performance down the icy track and adding an important medal for the U.S. in a discipline traditionally dominated by European nations. In bobsled, Elana Meyers Taylor won her first Olympic gold in the women’s monobob at age 41, becoming one of the most decorated American Winter Olympians.  Kaillie Humphries took bronze in the same event. In mixed doubles curling, the pair of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin secured silver after a tense and closely contested final, demonstrating strategic precision and teamwork on the ice.

These performances illustrate the depth and versatility of Team USA, with achievements spanning skiing, sliding sports, and ice events, and set the stage for further success as the Olympic Games move into their second week.

The first week has also seen historic achievements and dramatic upsets beyond Team USA. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil won gold in the men’s giant slalom, earning the first-ever Winter Olympic medal for a South American country. In men’s long-distance speed skating, Metoděj Jílek of the Czech Republic stunned the field by winning gold in the 10,000 meters, securing his nation’s first Olympic title in speed skating at these Games. 

Women’s alpine skiing also produced memorable moments, including a rare tie for silver in the giant slalom between Sara Hector of Sweden and Thea Louise Stjernesund of Norway, behind Italy’s Federica Brignone. Men’s slalom conditions caused favorite Atle Lie McGrath of Norway to crash out, allowing Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard to take gold. In Nordic combined, Norway’s Jens Lurås Oftebro added a second gold medal, reinforcing his early Games supremacy. 

Sweden captured its first mixed doubles curling medal as the Wranå siblings edged out the U.S. pair in a thrilling final. In snowboarding, 17-year-old Gaon Choi of South Korea upset expectations in the women’s halfpipe, ending Chloe Kim’s streak of Olympic dominance and demonstrating the ever-present potential for surprises in the Games.

After the first week, Norway leads the medal table, excelling in skiing, biathlon, and speed skating. Italy, the host nation, has also climbed near the top with strong performances across alpine and skating events. The United States rounds out the top three, thanks to medals in bobsled, speed skating, freestyle skiing, alpine skiing, luge, and mixed doubles curling.

As the Games move into their second week, the medal race remains tight. Team USA and other top nations continue to contend in skiing, skating, hockey, and marquee events, while historic breakthroughs such as Breezy Johnson’s first Olympic gold and Brazil’s first Winter Olympic medal remind fans that anything can happen on the Olympic stage.