Key Highlights
- Mac Forehand wins silver in men’s big air event.
- Alysa Liu earns second place for Team USA in women’s figure skating short program.
- Russian athletes compete as AINs at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
- U.S. men’s hockey team faces Sweden in quarterfinals.
Olympic Day 11: Team USA’s Progress and International Reactions
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are well underway, with Team USA making steady progress across multiple disciplines. Let’s break down the day’s highlights.
Figure Skating: A Mixed Bag of Performances
Team USA’s figure skaters delivered mixed results today in the women’s short program and men’s big air events. Leading the way was Mac Forehand, who captured silver in a dramatic finish to the freeski final. The 24-year-old’s performance showcased his skill and experience under pressure, as he pulled out a new trick during his last run, earning a score of 98.25.
Meanwhile, Amber Glenn faltered in her short program, scoring only a 67.39 due to a mistake on one of her jumps.
Despite nailing her triple axel, the double loop later in the program proved problematic, leading to zero points for that element and putting her into 12th place heading into Thursday’s free skate.
Alysa Liu, a first-time Olympian, skated to a score of 76.59, moving into second place behind Ami Nakai of Japan. The U.S.’s performance in the women’s figure skating short program remains strong, with Isabeau Levito earning a fifth-place finish on her Olympic debut.
Curling: A Bumpy Ride for Team USA
The U.S. men’s curling team faced tough competition today, falling to Italy 7-5 and earlier in the day, they lost to China 8-5. Despite a three-game winning streak before these setbacks, Danny Casper’s final throw in the seventh end managed to score two points, leaving Team USA trailing at 5-4 as curling winds down.
Italy’s strategy of keeping the hammer and passing up single-point opportunities paid off with three points in the sixth end. The U.S. now trails 5-2, but still has a chance to make a comeback in the final ends.
Russian Athletes Compete as AINs
A notable development at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games is the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes as AINs (Individual Neutral Athletes). No flag or anthem will be displayed for these athletes, but their performance could still affect the global narrative around Russia’s return to major sporting events.
This marks the first time a Russian flag has been flown at the Paralympics since the 2014 games in Sochi. The ban on Russian athletes was initially imposed due to state-sponsored doping programs, but Russia’s National Paralympic Committee has now earned six slots for the upcoming Milan Cortina Games.
Men’s Hockey Elimination Round Approaches
The U.S. men’s hockey team is set to play its first elimination game in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics against Sweden on Wednesday. With a 3-0 record in Group C, Team USA secured their spot for the quarterfinals but face a formidable opponent.
Team USA’s recent performance includes victories over Denmark, Germany, and Latvia by a combined score of 16-5, with 11 different players scoring goals. Captain Auston Matthews and alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk lead the team in points (five) alongside goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s strong save percentage.
The U.S. will need to bring their A-game against Sweden if they hope to advance further in this high-stakes competition.
