The United States secured its second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the figure skating team event on February 9, 2026, in Milan. The victory was clinched by "Quad God" Ilia Malinin, whose powerful free skate pushed the U.S. to a final score of 69 points, narrowly defeating Japan (68) and Italy (60). The win was a emotional milestone for the American team, featuring several first-time Olympic medalists.

The day was also marked by significant drama in Alpine skiing. American Breezy Johnson won gold in the women's downhill, but in a bizarre post-race incident, she accidentally dropped her medal, breaking it into three pieces. This victory made her only the second American woman ever to win the Olympic downhill title, joining the legendary Lindsey Vonn.

However, the event was overshadowed by a frightening crash involving Vonn herself. Making a highly-publicized comeback at age 41, Vonn went down during her run, sparking immediate concern across the sporting world. While the extent of her injuries is still being evaluated, her crash has reignited debates regarding athlete safety and the physical demands placed on veteran competitors at the highest level of winter sports.