The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina have seen their fair share of surprises and standout performances, and day ten brought exciting developments for American athletes. The USA women’s hockey team secured a spot in the gold medal game after dominating Sweden with a 5-0 victory in the semifinals. The team showcased its strength with multiple scorers contributing to the win, maintaining an impressive streak without conceding any goals over a record 331 minutes, while scoring 31 goals and only allowing one throughout the tournament. They are set to face their long-time rivals, Canada, for the coveted gold medal.
In figure skating, history was made as Japan’s Ryuichi Kihara and Riku Miura captured gold in the pairs event. With a remarkable free skate performance that scored 158.13, they secured Japan’s first medal in this discipline. Meanwhile, Georgia’s duo Luka Berulava and Anastasiia Metelkina took silver, marking the country’s first-ever medal at the Winter Olympics, as they upset the favored German pair who had led after the short program.
Adding to the day’s excitement, American bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor achieved a personal milestone by winning her first gold medal in the women’s monobob event, finishing just .04 seconds ahead of Germany’s Laura Nolte. Meyers Taylor, already a six-time Olympic medalist, celebrated this victory as particularly special, especially as she shared the moment with her two children. At age 41, she also became the oldest woman to win an Olympic medal in bobsled, further enhancing her exceptional legacy in the sport.
The day wasn’t without its disappointments, as Norwegian skier Atle Lie McGrath faced a meltdown after a challenging run where he lost control and failed to secure a medal, leading to an emotional outburst on the slopes.
As the Games continue, the spotlight will shift to women’s figure skating, where American contenders Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito will compete in the short program, promising to deliver more thrilling moments in the ongoing Winter Olympics.