Every four years, the Winter Olympic Games are held, featuring a variety of snow and ice sports. For many, it’s a way to come together as a country to celebrate the people; for others, it’s a time to remember what you could’ve achieved if you hadn’t given up that one particular sport from when you were younger.
Typically, in February, it brings together thousands of elite athletes from around the world to compete in sports like skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and figure skating. Additionally, it’s a way to explore new sports you have never heard of and possibly take up a new hyper-fixation!
This year, they took place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6 to February 22. Also called the Milano Cortina 2026, the 25th edition of the Winter Games marked the first time the event was officially co-hosted by two cities (Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo) and marked the fourth time Italy hosted the Olympics.
“Sweeping” the Competition:
Who knew a game of shuffleboard on ice could cause so much controversy? Like most people around the world, the Winter Olympics put a new sport on the radar: Curling. Curling is a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice towards a target area. There are two teams, each with four players, who take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones (rocks) across the ice towards a circular target marked on the ice (the house). They must release the rock before a line drawn in the ice, the “hog line,” or the stone is disqualified and taken out of play. Each team has eight stones, with each player throwing two. To get the highest score for a game, the players try to score points by having their rock closest to the centre of the house.
This year, things got heated on the ice as–according to the Swedish team–Canada’s Marc Kennedy had been double-touching the stone, releasing the stone’s handle but then keeping a finger on the stone as it crossed the hog line. This led to an outburst from Kennedy, who proceeded to curse out Swedish player Oskar Eriksson, who had called out the offense. Curling officials, who are stationed at either end of the sheet, say they didn’t see the violations, so they couldn’t call it. “I’ve curled my whole life, never once with the intention of getting an advantage through cheating,” Kennedy said after the match. And even though there has been a video circulating on the internet of Kennedy’s violations, World Curling said they will not use video replays to re-litigate calls made by umpires during games.
The controversy has sent shockwaves through the curling world—a sport known for its wholesome, close-knit community and its “Spirit of Curling.” The Spirit of Curling promotes good sportsmanship and respect for opponents, expecting players to applaud good shots by anyone, avoid distracting rivals, never intentionally break rules, and immediately acknowledge any foul they commit. Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson, who was the target of Kennedy’s criticism, remarked: “Curling should be a gentleman’s sport. But perhaps it has reached a level of professionalism where we drift away from that, as some people think winning is too important.”
Champions of the Ice and Snow:
This year’s Olympics saw the first Olympian from South America to win a medal at the Winter Olympics, as well as the first athlete from a tropical nation to win a Winter Olympic medal! Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is a Norwegian and Brazilian alpine ski racer who championed the men’s giant slalom competitions.
Jessica Diggins is the most accomplished cross-country skier from the United States in the sport’s history, having won four World Cup overall titles, four Olympic medals, seven World Championship medals, and numerous other event championships. After a hard crash in the skiathlon (her first race in the Winter Olympics this year), Diggins was diagnosed with bruised ribs and strained muscles, causing immense pain. Despite all her injuries, Diggins finished with a bronze medal in the 10-kilometer freestyle. A truly outstanding skier, who is considered the greatest American cross-country skier of all time and one of the greatest American endurance athletes.
Not like Heated Rivalry At All:
Many fans of the show tuned in on Sunday, February 22, to watch the finals match against the Canada and USA men’s hockey teams. After a fantastic win over Canada just days before from the women’s hockey team, the country exploded in celebration after another 2-1 win from the men’s team. The victory was immediately overshadowed by a phone call from President Trump to the locker room: Players were seen laughing after the president had made a joke regarding the women’s team. President Trump said he would “have to bring the [women’s] team” to the White House; he added, “I do believe I probably would be impeached” if he didn’t. While some members of Team USA apologized for laughing at Trump’s joke, the damage had already been done. Many people–viewers and athletes alike–found these comments and reactions particularly distasteful. Backlash includes the fact that players on the team who were seen laughing along were Jack and Quinn Hughes, whose mother–Ellen Hughes–is one of the pioneers of women’s ice hockey, competing internationally for the US women’s national team at the 1992 Women’s World Championship and was part of the tournament’s all-star team.
Women’s team captain Hilary Knight commented: “I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke, and unfortunately, that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats.” On Monday, February 23, the women’s team officially turned down Trump’s invitation, saying they had “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”
The Snow Princess:
Often affectionately called the “Snow Princess” or “Frog Princess” by her Chinese fans, Eileen Feng Gu–also known by her Chinese name Gu Ailing–is a Chinese-American freestyle skier and model. Since the 2018–19 season, she has represented China in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air events. With a career total of three gold and three silver Olympic medals, Gu is the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history. Raised in the United States, Gu began competing for China in 2019. At just 18 years old, she became the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing, winning gold in big air and halfpipe, plus a silver in slopestyle at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. She was also the first freestyle skier to earn three medals at a single Winter Games. At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Gu added gold in women’s halfpipe and two more silver medals (big air and slopestyle) to her collection. This achievement set a new Olympic medal record in freestyle skiing, surpassing all previous competitors regardless of gender. In 2022, Time magazine named Gu one of the 100 most influential people in the world under its Pioneers category. By 2025, she was the fourth-highest‑earning female athlete in the world.
At three years old, Gu began skiing in Lake Tahoe. She joined the Northstar California Resort free-ski team at eight and won her first national championship at nine. She was granted early admittance to Stanford University in December 2020 but took time off in the 2025–26 academic year to prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Her championship gained much controversy immediately afterward. In an interview with Fox News, Vance said–referring to Gu–he hoped someone who grew up in the U.S. would “want to compete with the United States.” However, Gu didn’t take offense to these comments: “I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet.”
The Blade Angels:
Arguably the most exciting performances of the Olympics, women’s ice skating has gotten much engagement from the public this past year. This surge in viewers can be credited to three American figure skaters on the U.S. women’s figure skating team: Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito. Introduced by Taylor Swift during the Winter Olympics hype video for the team, they were dubbed “The Blade Angels” by the singer, and called “showgirls on ice” as “Opalite” by Swift played in the background.
First is Alysa Liu, who became the first American woman to win an individual medal since 2006, and the first American gold medalist since 2002 during this year’s Olympic Games. Liu grew up skating and, at age 13, was the youngest person to become U.S. women’s national champion. The following year, she became the youngest skater to win two senior national titles. Liu announced her retirement from competitive figure skating in April 2022 at age 16, shortly after competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics and winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. Coming back in 2024 at age 19, she received the gold medal at her first competition since retirement in Budapest. She continued to win a world title at the 2025 World Championships. Liu highlights her changes in her relationship with skating: “I get to pick my own programme music. I get to help with the creative process of the programme. If I feel like I’m skating too much, I’ll back down,” she explained. “If I feel like I’m not skating enough, I’ll ramp it up. No one’s going to starve me or tell me what I can or can’t eat.” She has also become a fan favorite, with her alternative style reflected in the stripes in her hair and her makeup. With programmes from Laufey, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson, the U.S. just can’t get enough of this Olympic star.
Second, Amber Glenn, who made history at the 2026 Winter Olympics by claiming the gold medal in women’s singles figure skating and became the first American woman to achieve the feat in over two decades. Earlier that season, she also became the first U.S. woman to win three consecutive national titles (2024–2026), cementing her dominance in the sport. As one of the first openly queer figure skaters to compete at the highest level, she has inspired countless fans who proudly wave pride flags whenever she steps onto the ice. Beyond her athletic achievements, Glenn is a passionate and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health awareness, regularly speaking about her own struggles with anxiety and depression, partnering with organizations like The Trevor Project, and encouraging young skaters to prioritize their well-being over perfection.
Isabeau Levito made her Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, helping the U.S. claim gold in the team event alongside Amber and Alysa. The 2023 U.S. national champion and 2024 world silver medalist entered the Games with a decorated résumé that includes a gold medal at the U.S. Championships and a bronze medal the following year. Known for her vintage Hollywood glamour and ice presence, she has crafted routines around icons like Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. Levito has also been open about her personal struggles, including spending time in a mental health facility to manage depression and learning to cope with ADHD, making her a relatable figure for young athletes navigating similar challenges.
The trio is widely regarded as the strongest American women’s contingent in ice skating in a generation. What truly sets this group apart isn’t just their remarkable talent—it’s the deep sense of camaraderie they share. Rather than chasing individual glory, they genuinely uplift one another, eager to share the spotlight and celebrate each other’s successes. As Amber Glenn put it, they are “like a comfort for each other.” In a sport where such unity hasn’t always been the norm, their bond is a refreshing and inspiring sight. They’re constantly laughing together, and it’s that genuine friendship that fuels their success on the ice.
Although the Olympics are often scrutinized for commercialism and controversy, this year also offered a more powerful takeaway: greatness is not measured by medals alone, but by how athletes carry themselves—and each other. The Games in Italy may have ended, but the stories of resilience, sportsmanship, and friendship will linger long after the ice has melted.
