The US Olympics go for Gold on the Ice

by Ellie Green and Charlotte Welliver

The 2026 Winter Olympics set new records for US Hockey and figure skating. The Winter Olympics were hosted in Milan, Italy, known as the Milan Cortina Games and the 25th Winter Olympics. Figure skaters such as Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito have pushed the sport forward, breaking age and scoring barriers to a new level. The US men’s and women's national ice hockey teams set new records at the Olympics by winning gold, ending the U.S.'s long absence from the podium. These exciting performances and games have energized fans worldwide and left an impact on the Olympics.

Team USA women’s figure skaters, known as the ‘Blade Angels’, have redefined the image of US women’s figure skating and brought an increasing amount of attention to the sport.   After retiring from the sport at the young age of sixteen, Alsya Liu came back and took home gold after her final score of  226.29. Alysa Liu is the first U.S. woman to take first place in individual Olympic figure skating since Sarah Hughes in 2002. Liu has also grown famous for her alternative style and her signature ‘halo hair,’ inspiring people to be creative with their looks and own it. Her joy for the sport and companionship with others has made winning the least of her concerns. In a recent interview with NBC Sports, Liu explained how happy she is to show off what she has made for herself and hopes that her talent inspires other people. She also shares her gratitude for the moment. Her humility is another remarkable trait as she explained that “This medal is not what is important to me; what’s important is how I got there, my journey here, and I never want the journey to end.” Her energy, determination, and appreciation for teamwork highlight how today’s U.S. women’s figure skaters value growth, confidence, and community just as much as competitive success.

Other figure skaters such as Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito have also put forth incredible effort. Famously known for her saying of ‘Believe and Breathe,’ Amber Glenn finished 5th in women’s figure skating with a final score of 214.91. Glenn is widely recognized as the first openly queer woman to represent the United States in Olympic women’s singles figure skating. She is also a mental health advocate. Though she is only twenty-six, she has hinted at plans of retirement, though nothing is confirmed yet. Meanwhile, Isabea Levito made her Olympic debut at eighteen. She finished 12th overall in women’s figure skating with a combined score of 202.80. 

The U.S hockey team has also had victories for both the men's and women's teams. The 2026 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team won the gold medal in Milan, defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime, marking their third Olympic gold (1998, 2018, 2026). The 2026 U.S Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team's first gold medal in forty years from the 1980 Lake Placid, famously known as “Miracle on Ice.” 

After the Men's game, they brought Johnny Gaudreau’s Jersey and his children onto the ice in remembrance of him. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, died on August 29, 2024, after being struck by an SUV while cycling in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. They were killed by a suspected drunk driver on the eve of their sister's wedding. 

For the Women's team, Megan Keller scored the game-winning "golden goal" for Team USA in the 2026 Women's Hockey Olympic final, securing a 2-1 overtime victory against Canada. For the men’s team, Jack Hughes, from the New Jersey Devils, scored the game-winning goal in overtime, winning 2-1. The women's USA team took gold, Canada took Silver, and Switzerland took bronze. The Men's USA team took gold, Canada took silver, and Finland took bronze.