Feb. 22 marked the end of the Winter 2026 Olympics in Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. For the past 16 days, competitors from 92 different countries competed to hold a title for themselves and their countries. For Americans, the spotlight was on Team USA, whose athletes hoped to turn years of training into Olympic triumphs.
Team USA is made up of a record breaking 238 athletes, 98 of which are returning Olympians. The United States competed in 116 events, including figure skating, ice hockey, snowboarding and alpine skiing.
As the competitions came to an end, the United States stands in second place with 33 medals in the medal standings, trailing Norway with 41 medals. The United States won 12 gold medals. Women’s alpine skier Breezy Johnson and the figure skating team were the first to win gold for the United States.
Alyssa Liu, a member of the figure skating team, won the United States another gold medal. Since her win on Feb. 20, the United States had not won a gold medal in women’s figure skating in the past 24 years.
“I loved watching Alyssa Liu’s performance at the Olympics,” junior Sophie Bi said. “It was truly an amazing display of artistry.”
Two other successful victories happened when the United States Men’s National Hockey team defeated Canada in a 2-1 overtime game, in addition to the United States Women’s National Hockey Team who defeated Canada as well in a 2-1 overtime game.
“Watching the United States beat Canada in hockey was the highlight of my weekend,” Bi said. “I’m extremely proud of all the amazing athletes who competed in the event.”
Team USA was hit with many obstacles during the early events. On Feb. 8, three time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn crashed during the women’s downhill race, breaking her left leg. This injury occurred nine days after she tore her ACL, with many fans voicing concern for her recovery and others questioning the decision to allow her to compete in the first place.
“It’s really a shame how such a talented Olympian lost her chance in such an important life event to an injury,” Bi said. “I’m still very proud of team USA for overcoming these challenges.”
Another significant challenge Team USA faced was their global image. Many protests broke out in Milan protesting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, who were in Milan to assist with security for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Olympic freestyle skier Hunter Hess is one of multiple Olympic athletes to oppose ICE in Milan.
According to PBS news, “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.” Hess said when asked about ICE.
Despite the various controversies, the Olympics still stands as a symbol of national pride and cultural celebration.
“The Olympics really stand as a beautiful representation of the amalgamation of cultures throughout the world despite times of difficulty,” Bi said.
As Milan closes its doors on the Winter Olympics, it leaves behind a legacy of inspiring feats and unforgettable stories. Regardless of setbacks and controversy, the Games continue to bring countries and cultures together in a shared celebration of sport.
