Alex Ferreira, hailing from Aspen, Colorado, secured a gold medal in the freeski halfpipe event on Friday night during the Milan Cortina Winter Games. At 31 years old, Ferreira completed a remarkable achievement by adding a gold medal to his collection, which previously included a silver and a bronze from the last two Winter Olympics. His victory not only marked a personal milestone but also contributed to Team USA’s tally, bringing their total gold medal count to ten at this year’s Games. This impressive feat ties the U.S. with its highest total of gold medals ever earned at a Winter Olympics, a record established during the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.
Ferreira is part of a wave of American athletes excelling at the Winter Olympics, with a gold medal streak that began with alpine skier Breezy Johnson on February 8. The U.S. has seen additional golds from a variety of sports, including Mikaela Shiffrin in alpine skiing, Elana Meyers-Taylor in bobsledding, Alysia Liu in figure skating, Elizabeth Lemley in freeski moguls, and the U.S. women’s ice hockey team. Notably, speedskater Jordan Stolz stands out as the only athlete thus far to win two individual gold medals at these Games.
As of now, Team USA ranks second in the overall medal count, trailing Norway, which has amassed 17 gold medals and set a new record for the most first-place finishes by any nation in a Winter Games, surpassing their previous record of 16 golds achieved at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
With several competitions still ahead, American athletes have a promising opportunity to break the record for gold medals. Notably, Stolz is set to race in the mass start event, while Meyers-Taylor will compete in the two-person bobsled. Additionally, the U.S. men’s ice hockey team is on the path toward a gold medal match this Sunday, fueling excitement and hope for further success.