MILANO CORTINA, Italy — The 2026 Winter Olympics have reached the midway point, and Team USA sits in third place in the medal standings with 19 medals: six gold, eight silver and five bronze. Norway leads with 28 total medals, while host Italy has 23.
Standout performances have defined the American effort so far. Speed skater Jordan Stolz captured gold in both the men’s 500 meters and 1,000 meters, setting Olympic records in the process. Alpine skier Breezy Johnson won gold in the women’s downhill. Freestyle skier Elizabeth Lemley took gold in the women’s moguls. Bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, at age 41, became the oldest American woman to win Winter Olympic gold when she claimed the women’s monobob title on Monday. The U.S. figure skating team also earned gold in the team event.
Additional medals came in cross-country skiing, curling, ice dance, snowboard halfpipe and more. Jaelin Kauf earned silver in women’s dual moguls, while Madison Chock and Evan Bates took silver in ice dance. Mixed doubles curling brought another silver.
Ohio connection shines in women’s hockey
Ohio athletes have contributed to the success. Cleveland Heights native Laila Edwards, the first Black woman to compete for the United States in Olympic ice hockey, has recorded multiple goals and five assists through six games. On Monday, Edwards added an assist in the 5-0 semifinal shutout of Sweden. The U.S. women remain undefeated, outscoring opponents 31-1, and will face Canada in the gold medal game on Thursday.
Eight Ohio natives are competing for Team USA across hockey, freestyle skiing aerials and snowboarding. Several Ohio State alumni and current players also represent the United States and other nations in women’s hockey. Aerials events continue this week, offering more opportunities for Ohio athletes to compete.
Key results and advancing teams
On Monday, the United States women’s hockey team advanced to the final. Men’s hockey has secured a strong position in its group and eyes a quarterfinal berth. Curling teams remain in round-robin play, with both men’s and women’s squads posting wins. Bobsleigh events, including monobob, delivered medals for the U.S. on Monday.
What to watch next
Fans across Ross County and central Ohio can look forward to the women’s hockey gold medal game Thursday. Individual figure skating events, additional bobsleigh and skeleton races, and freestyle skiing aerials will highlight the final week. Cross-country and Alpine events also continue, with several U.S. athletes still in contention.
The games run through Feb. 22. Coverage airs on NBC, USA Network, Peacock and related platforms. Ohio fans have plenty of reasons to cheer, from national medal success to the historic run of a Cleveland Heights standout on the ice.
