U.S. Achieves Historic Gold Medal Haul at Milan Cortina Olympics
The United States has set a new national record by securing 12 gold medals at the Milan Cortina Olympics, surpassing the previous Winter Olympics benchmark of 10 golds established during the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. This remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone in American Olympic history.
Second Place Finish in Medal Standings
In the overall medal table, the U.S. finished in second place for both gold medals and total medals, with 12 golds and 33 total medals. Norway led the standings with 18 gold medals and 41 total medals. This is the first instance since the 1952 Oslo Olympics that the United States has held sole possession of second place in both categories. The American team came within one medal of tying its record for most total medals in a Winter Olympics, which stands at 34 from the 2002 Games.
Ending Longstanding Medal Droughts
The historic success at the Games was fueled by the end of several prolonged medal droughts for American athletes. The U.S. men’s hockey team clinched gold for the first time since 1980, while the U.S. women’s hockey team secured gold for only the second time since 1998.
In speed skating, 21-year-old Jordan Stolz made a stunning Olympic debut by winning gold in both the 500-meter and 1,000-meter events. He joins fellow American Eric Heiden as just the second man to achieve this double victory in the same Olympics.
Notable Performances Across Sports
Alysa Liu made history by becoming the first American woman to medal in women’s figure skating since 2006 and the first gold medalist since Sarah Hughes in 2002. Additionally, the U.S. narrowly won gold in the team figure skating event for the second consecutive Games.
Legendary bobsledder Elana Meyers-Taylor, at age 41, became the oldest Winter Olympian to win an individual gold medal when she triumphed in the women’s monobob. This victory marked her first gold after previously earning five silver or bronze Olympic medals, tying her with Bonnie Blair for the most Winter Olympic medals by a U.S. woman at six.
Top Five Medal Table Results
Host nation Italy finished third in both gold medals and total medals, with 10 golds and 30 total medals. Germany and Japan rounded out the top five, with Germany securing eight golds and 26 total medals, and Japan earning five golds and 24 total medals.
