Day 12 of the 2026 Winter Olympics was been a busy one for Team USA and a quarterfinal showdown for the men’s hockey team against Sweden capped off the day in dramatic fashion. The Americans maintained a 1-0 lead for much of the contest, but Sweden tied things up with just 1:31 left in regulation, sending the game to overtime. That’s when Quinn Hughes stepped up and buried a highlight reel goal to give the U.S. a 2-1 victory and berth in the semifinals against Slovakia.
On the slopes, Mikaela Shiffrin overcame a slow Olympic start with a dazzling gold medal-winning run in the slalom. She finished with a combined time of 1:39.10 — a whopping 1.5 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Camille Rast. It’s Shiffrin’s first Olympic medal since 2018 and her second gold in the slalom. She has three career Olympic golds and four total medals, the most of any U.S. female alpine skier.
Elsewhere, 22-year-old American Jake Canter took bronze in the men’s snowboard slopestyle. He saved his best for last — and made Olympic history in the process. He was buried in 10th after two runs before uncorking a fearless third run, adding difficulty on the rails and stomping his final jumps to post a 79.36.
Red Gerard, who won gold in 2018 as a 17-year-old, finished sixth while fellow American Oliver Martin placed ninth.
2026 Winter Olympics medal count: Keep track of Team USA’s quest for gold in Italy
Austin Nivison
In the men’s cross-country team spring, Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher surged to silver to deliver the United States its first-ever Olympic medal in the event. Ogden won his second silver as he previously became the first American man to reach an Olympic cross-country podium since 1976.
On the women’s side, Jessie Diggins — who won team sprint gold in 2018 — and Julia Kern finished fifth, just shy of another podium run.