Tag: Fox Sport News

How excited was Austria’s Benjamin Karl to win his second consecutive gold medal in the men’s parallel giant slalom? He disregarded the cold, snowy conditions at the Livigno Snow Park and ditched his ski clothing to flex in victory.

Karl, 40, trailed South Korea’s Kim Sang-kyum through much of the final. But Kim made a mistake with a wide turn midway down the course and Karl raced downhill to finish 0.19 seconds ahead to win gold. Bulgaria’s Tervel Zamfirov won bronze in the event.

As if going shirtless in the snow wasn’t enough, Karl continued his celebration by kneeling to toss the powder in the air before lying face-down in the snow for what will surely be one of the most exuberant displays of triumph at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Karl may also have been tired after finishing his run in addition to shedding four layers of clothing in celebration. This wasn’t Brandi Chastain after Team USA won the women’s World Cup in 1999 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Karl’s celebration took a bit longer.

Advertisement

With the win, Karl successfully defended the gold medal he won at the 2022 Beijing Games. He also became the first snowboarder to win four Olympic medals with the bronze he earned at Sochi in 2014 and silver he took in 2010 at Vancouver.

The Super Bowl LX matchup has been set, and the Seattle Seahawks are favored against the New England Patriots. The game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and it will have an estimated $1.71 billion wagered on it from American bettors at legal U.S. sportsbooks.

One bettor could end up winning nearly $4.5 million if Sam Darnold and the Seahawks win the game, thanks to a $50,000 wager on Seattle to win the Super Bowl at 60-1 odds back in August.

Advertisement

With an expansive prop bet menu and many more options to wager on than a normal game, Yahoo Sports’ NFL handicappers are here to help you sort through everything to find betting value. Remember that even though it’s the last game of the season, be smart with your bankroll: Nevada sportsbooks have only lost on two Super Bowls since 1991.

Here are our favorite Super Bowl LX wagers — be sure to bookmark this page and check in daily, as we’ll be updating it all the way up to kickoff.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

Side and total

Matt Jacob: The Patriots lost their season opener to the Las Vegas Raiders. By a touchdown. At home.

Advertisement

The Raiders would go on to win two more games the rest of the season and now hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Two weeks after falling to Las Vegas, the Patriots lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. By a touchdown. At home. This was one week after the Steelers — at home — lost to the Seattle Seahawks by two touchdowns.

For the season, New England would play just four games against opponents that qualified for the postseason — Pittsburgh, Carolina and Buffalo (twice). It went 2-2 in those contests.

Think that’s unimpressive? Get a load of this: Of the 14 foes the Patriots played in the regular season …

Advertisement

• 10 fired their head coaches

• Four were from the putrid NFC South

• Four started rookie quarterbacks (Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel, Tennessee’s Cam Ward, the Jets’ Brady Cook and Miami’s Quinn Ewers)

• Two started quarterbacks in their 40s (Cincinnati backup Joe Flacco, who subbed for Joe Burrow, and Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers)

• One started Spencer Rattler (New Orleans); one had a journeyman backup quarterback play the majority of the game (Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley); and one a QB who led the NFL in interceptions (Las Vegas’ Geno Smith)

[Check out all of Yahoo’s sports betting content here in our new betting hub]

But wait, there’s more.

Advertisement

The Patriots played eight games against teams that finished with fewer than seven victories. They played eight games against teams that didn’t have their No. 1 wide receiver (plus one more in the playoffs). And they barely won the AFC Championship Game against an opponent whose quarterback (Jarrett Stidham) entered the contest with four NFL starts under his belt.

Now the luckiest team in recent memory heads to Super Bowl 60 to face a Seahawks squad that has won nine consecutive games (including four by 17-plus points).

It’s a franchise that beat the Rams and 49ers to close the regular season, then did it again in the playoffs.

A franchise that ranked in the top 10 in almost every major statistical category (including No. 1 in scoring defense, and No. 3 in both scoring offense and rushing defense).

Advertisement

And a franchise that won its only championship in blowout fashion (43-8 over Denver in Super Bowl 48). Expect a similar lopsided result in Super Bowl 60.

Bet: Seahawks -13.5 (+280)

Matt Russell: Well, that’s aggressive, and even if I hate it, damnit do I respect it. Unfortunately, somebody has to take the other side, both against the spread and with less veracity.

The Seahawks also played the four teams of the vaunted NFC South, to go along with Cam Ward’s Titans, the Commanders and the putrid Cardinals twice. Throw in home games against the oldest of all the quarterbacks — Philip Rivers off the street — and rookie-est of all the quarterbacks — Max Brosmer — even if we acknowledge the obvious coziness of the Patriots’ schedule, it’s hard to argue the Seahawks faced some daunting slate.

Advertisement

The Seahawks are dining out on dominating an exhausted 49ers’ team ravaged by injury, with a week off in-between, and edging the Rams 2-1 in a thrilling, competitive trilogy.

[Get more Patriots news: New England team feed]

A year ahead in their rebuild timeline, Seattle got out faster than New England, with impressive passing offense and defensive run metrics by EPA/Play in the first half of the season. Meanwhile, an entirely new Patriots team and coaching staff lost that first game, a toss-up, before the Raiders lost all hope in the season soon after. Then New England fumbled the Steelers game away by putting the ball on the ground five times despite dominating the boxscore.

The Seahawks’ market rating quickly shot up into the upper echelon of the NFL, as they caught many of their best opponents, like the Jaguars and Texans, at their low point of the season. It created the assumption that the Rams-Seahawks games were titanic battles between teams head and shoulders above the rest, even as the Rams lost to the Falcons, barely beat the Panthers and almost blew it in Chicago. Yet, few seem bothered enough to re-evaluate the rating for the teams atop the NFC West.

Advertisement

Isn’t it more likely that in a league designed for parity, in a season where the perceived top dogs disappointed, that no team is even close to an all-time great?

That’s what would be required of the Seahawks for a projected line of -3.5 to re-open fairly at -4.5, but because beating the Rams is more impressive than beating the Broncos with Jarret Stidham — and the Patriots are perceived have gotten this far because of their opponents’ poor quarterback play — that’s where we are. However, if you step back, there really isn’t that much difference between these two teams.

When healthy with all three of Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga, the Patriots run defense has allowed -0.12 EPA/Play, which would be third to the Seahawks’ -0.187 rating against run in the regular season. With neither team able to run in this game, now we’re looking at quarterbacks required to carry the day, both of whom are equally capable of a rash of turnovers.

The difference this season for Darnold has been Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but he hasn’t faced the focus of a cornerback of the caliber of Christian Gonzalez, who has led the Patriots to the best EPA/Play against the pass since he first played a full complement of snaps in Week 5 (he missed the Raiders and Steelers games).

Advertisement

While that could all be undermined by re-referencing the Patriots’ schedule, it’s no different than the Hawks’ unit allowing 581 and 479 to the Rams’ offense at home, in two of the few games they’ve played against a capable team at full strength.

I’m not calling for the upset, but there’s far less between the two teams than the betting market perceives because of recent results and the standard schedule-centric talking points. Getting 4.5 points with a coaching staff with extensive experience on handling the unusual elements of the Super Bowl, the Patriots are the valuable side.

Bet: Patriots +4.5

Prop bets

Russell: If it feels like we haven’t lost one of these in a while, it’s because THE WINDOW’s player prop submission into these selections has hit six straight from the divisional round through the conference championships.

Advertisement

This game is going to be a grind. While the Texans, Broncos, and others have a more spectacular pass rush than New England and Seattle, no teams are more solidly schemed with their ability to confuse coverage and hold up against the run.

The offense is either going to be punting frequently, when Maye and Darnold aren’t turning the ball over, or creating the occasional short fields, which probably translate into field goals. Mix in the possibility that the Patriots — a franchise that’s focused on making teams play left-handed since Mike Vrabel was a player in these games — do everything they can to take away Darnold’s favorite target, and it’s hard to picture this being a game where he’s throwing the Seahawks up and down the field.

If Seattle’s defense can convert Maye turnovers into points, they’ll win, but the worst case seems to be that a close game doesn’t compel Darnold to be throwing the ball all over Levi’s Stadium.

Bet: Sam Darnold under 227.5 passing yards

Russell: As for the Patriots, let’s assume that Josh McDaniels spends two weeks coming up with a better plan than running Rhamondre Stevenson straight into the best run defense this season. It’s time to empty the bag of tricks, and that should mean a little more TreVeyon Henderson, using Maye’s legs, and pushing the ball down the field against a Seahawks’ defense that has been vulnerable to long passes from the few good quarterbacks they have faced this season. Plus, if Matt Jacob is right, and this is a blowout, there’s no way Stevenson gets to 15 totes.

Advertisement

Bet: Rhamondre Stevenson under 14.5 rush attempts

Jacob: Slightly more than three field goals per game. That’s what the last five opponents have averaged against New England’s defense.

The raw numbers: 46 total points and four touchdowns allowed in 300 minutes of action.

Now let’s review the five quarterbacks the Patriots suffocated during this dominant defensive run:

• Brady Cook (Jets rookie making his fourth NFL start)

• Quinn Ewers (Dolphins rookie making his third NFL start)

• Justin Herbert (Chargers starter)

• C.J. Stroud (Texans starter)

• Jarrett Stidham (Broncos backup making his fifth NFL start)

A quick word about Herbert and Stroud: The former played behind a makeshift offensive line for most of the season, while the latter treated the football like a hot potato in two playoff games (five interceptions, five fumbles). Oh, and Herbert is now 0-for-3 in the playoffs (all on the road), while Stroud is 1-for-4 as a visitor in the postseason.

Advertisement

So forgive me for being reluctant to compare the 2026 Patriots’ defense with the 1985 Chicago Bears defense.

No, I’m not dropping an F-bomb (“fraud”) on New England’s stop unit. I am, however, saying the recent numbers need to be taken in context. After all, immediately prior to this five-game stretch, the Patriots’ defense was carved up by the Ravens (24 points in Week 15) and Bills (35 points in Week 16). The starting QBs in those games: Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.

I get it — there’s a large faction of NFL fans (and bettors) still waiting for the “real” Sam Darnold to show up. But here’s reality: Seattle scored 72 points in playoff wins over the 49ers and Rams after averaging 28.4 points per game in the regular season.

Advertisement

The Seahawks scored at least 26 PPG in 13 of 18 games (including 10 of the last 13); they’ve hit the 30-point plateau 10 times; and they’ve topped 40 points on three occasions.

Has Darnold done it all by himself? Absolutely not. In fact, the defense and special teams have had a massive impact on Seattle’s scoring output. It has been a total team effort — and I’m betting we see it again in Super Bowl 60 with the Seahawks lighting up the scoreboard one last time.

Bet: Seahawks team total over 25.5 points (-120)

Jacob: The fact that Drake Maye can move is not exactly breaking news. Opposing defenses have known for quite some time that the Patriots’ 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback is willing to abandon the pocket and — more importantly — able to pick up chunks of real estate with his legs.

Advertisement

Doing something about it? That’s a different story.

Over his past seven games, Maye has popped at least one run of more than 13 yards five times. The only exceptions: He had long rushes of 11 yards against the Jets in Week 17 and 8 yards against Houston in the divisional round.

In Super Bowl 60, Maye will be facing an aggressive Seahawks pass rush that I expect to dominate a Patriots offensive line that has given up five sacks in each of its three playoff wins.

[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]

Translation: Maye will be given the green light to take off whenever he feels the heat, and I’m banking on him turning at least one of his scampers into a sizable gain — just like Brock Purdy did in the divisional round (18-yard run) and old-man Matthew Stafford did in the NFC championship game (13-yard run).

Advertisement

Among the quarterbacks who had big runs against Seattle in the regular season: Kyler Murray (29 yards), Jacoby Brissett (15 yards), C.J. Stroud (15 yards) and Cam Ward (14 yards).

Bet: Drake Maye longest rush over 13.5 yards (-115)

Jacob: A big reason why the Patriots’ defense had so much success this season: It didn’t face many top-tier pass-catchers. To that point:

Mike Evans didn’t play when the Buccaneers hosted New England in Week 10. Ja’Marr Chase was suspended when the Patriots played in Cincinnati in Week 12 (and Joe Flacco was the Bengals’ quarterback). Garrett Wilson was hurt for both of the Jets’ games against the Pats. Malik Nabers was in street clothes when the Giants went to New England in Week 13. And Tyreek Hill was long gone by the time the Dolphins played in Foxborough in Week 18.

Advertisement

Hill, however, was on the field when Miami hosted the Patriots in Week 2, and he racked up 109 receiving yards.

The only other notable tight ends and wideouts who suited up against New England this year: the Raiders’ Brock Bowers (103 yards); the Bills’ Dalton Kincaid (108 yards in the first meeting, 34 yards in the second meeting); Chris Olave (98 yards); Drake London (118 yards), Emeka Egbuka (115 yards); DK Metcalf (32 yards); and Courtland Sutton (17 yards).

[Get more Seahawks news: Seattle team feed]

Sutton, of course, had Jarrett Stidham as his quarterback. So the only elite pass catchers the Patriots contained were Kincaid (once) and Metcalf.

Advertisement

Which brings me to Seahawks wide receiver (and Metcalf’s former teammate) Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The third-year pro had an NFL-high 1,793 receiving yards in the regular season. He racked up more than 90 receiving yards in 12 of Seattle’s first 14 games. And he’s topped 100 yards 10 times (including 153 yards against the Rams in the NFC championship game).

This is why Smith-Njigba will be the Patriots’ top defensive priority on Super Bowl Sunday. Will it matter? Nope.

Bet: Jaxon Smith-Njigba over 93.5 receiving yards (-130)

Ed Feng: My interception model depends on the rate at which a quarterback throws the football into dangerous situations. The play-by-play data tracks these plays as both interceptions and passes defended, or plays in which the defense gets a hand on the ball.

Advertisement

Once a quarterback throws the football into a dangerous situation, he has no control over whether it ends up as an interception. Seattle QB Sam Darnold has had 24.6% of his dangerous passes end up as interceptions this season. Since the NFL average is 18.2%, Darnold has gotten unlucky with interceptions this season, and we expect strong regression to the mean.

There is some idea out there that Darnold chokes in big games. People think about his collapse last season against the Lions and the Rams in his final two games with the Minnesota Vikings. NFL quarterbacks have bad games. Darnold has been brilliant this season (and unlucky with interceptions). Can we put this Darnold collapse narrative to rest?

My interception model gives a 53.1% chance Darnold that doesn’t throw a pick in the Super Bowl. The price at BetMGM is quite a bit off market.

Bet: Sam Darnold under 0.5 interceptions (+110)

Ed Feng: This market for Henry is low because of his lack of production in the last two games (17 receiving yards on three catches and six targets against excellent Denver and Houston defenses). Based on season-long numbers, Henry should have a 20% target share (projection of 4.4 receptions).

Advertisement

In addition, Seattle’s excellent defense allows a 25% target share to tight ends, 10th-highest in the NFL. Dalton Schultz (nine catches, 98 yards) and Kyle Pitts (six catches, 90 yards) had big games against the Seattle defense.

Henry should return to his role as Maye’s outlet, and while Henry hasn’t been practicing this week it’s not due to injury. He should have a little extra rest as a 31-year old-veteran.

Bet: Hunter Henry over 3.5 receptions (-140)

Corbie Craig: Levi’s Stadium quietly flipped from a kicker’s nightmare to a mild edge.

On paper, Santa Clara sets up perfectly for Super Bowl football — clear skies, roughly 65 degrees and no weather chaos after a brutal winter storm swept across much of the country. But historically, Levi’s Stadium played smaller than it looked. Open end-zone corners created swirling drafts and crosswinds that consistently knocked it below league-average kicking efficiency. That changed this season.

Advertisement

As part of a major offseason renovation — including a $200M jumbotron upgrade — wind flow inside the stadium stabilized. The result: field-goal conditions improved to roughly 3.5% better than league average, with visiting kickers converting 88% of attempts this year.

With a game script that leads me to believe endzone shots will be tough, these two will take the points when they can.

Bet: Over 3.5 field goals made (-103)

We’re closing in on the Super Bowl LX matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, the most unlikely Super Bowl matchups we’ve ever seen from a preseason odds perspective.

The Seahawks are currently 4.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks (with a few 5s out there) and a total of 45.5 at BetMGM.

Advertisement

There are many large wagers out there, including a $2 million bet from Mattress Mack on the Patriots at +200 (to win $4 million) and a $50,000 wager on the Seahawks to win Super Bowl 60 at 60-1 odds from a BetMGM bettor from August that would win $3 million. We’re keeping track of all of them in this file.

But it is the Super Bowl after all, which means the people want picks. And who better to give that than the oddsmakers booking all the action themselves.

Yahoo Sports reached out to oddsmakers from Las Vegas and around the country and asked which team they believe will win Super Bowl LX, and why.

Avert your eyes Patriots fans, oddsmakers believe it’s going to be Sam Darnold and the Seahawks’ year.

Advertisement

Super Bowl LX picks from oddsmakers

Seahawks win (12)

Christian Cipollini, BetMGM NFL trader

“I personally like the Seahawks to win in a very boring game. I think the Seahawks’ defense is real and will give Drake Maye trouble. I don’t think the Patriots will have many opportunities to score. Game to come comes down to Darnold being able to limit turnovers, which I think he can do.”

Score: Seahawks 23, Patriots 13

Halvor Egeland, BetMGM trading strategy manager

“I do think Seattle is the more complete team and has proven itself in the superior conference.”

Score: Seahawks 24, Patriots 20

Advertisement

John Murray, vice president of race and sports at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook

“I think New England is better than people realize and they’re very well-coached, but to me Seattle is a little better than the Patriots are at every position.”

Score: Seahawks 27, Patriots 17

Ed Salmons, VP of risk at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook

“Seahawks are simply better at every position.”

Score: Seahawks 24, Patriots 17

Jeff Sherman, VP of risk at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook

“Patriots are a team on the rise with the second-year QB in Drake Maye, but it’s their time to wait Seattle dominates in all facets of the game to cruise to a convincing victory.”

Advertisement

Score: Seahawks 27, Patriots 13

[Check out all of Yahoo’s sports betting content here in our new betting hub]

Jamey Pileggi, Circa Sports head NFL oddsmaker

“Seattle is a more complete team and will put pressure on Maye all game. Darnold is playing with confidence, if he protects the ball I think Seattle wins rather easily.”

Score: Seahawks 20, Patriots 13

Craig Mucklow, VP of trading at Caesars Sportsbook

“I feel 4 is the correct spread and I am expecting a low-scoring defensive battle.”

Score: Seahawks 17, Patriots 13

Chris Andrews, South Point sportsbook director

“If the Seahawks play up to their potential, they should win a close game.”

Advertisement

Score: Seahawks 27, Patriots 20

Joey Feazel, head NFL oddsmaker at Caesars

“I’m predicting Seattle 20-17 with a last-minute field goal to win it for Seattle. I am anticipating a back-and-forth defensive game that will align with the lack of elite quarterback play and solid defensive scheme on both sides of the ball.”

Score: Seahawks 20, Patriots 17

Thomas Gable, Borgata sportsbook director

“I lean toward this game going under the total, and I’m not sure the New England offensive line is able to hold up under pressure.”

Score: Seahawks 21, Patriots 17

Nick Bogdanovich, head of trading at Boomer’s Sportsbook

“Patriots come up short after a hell of a battle.”

Advertisement

Score: Seahawks 23, Patriots 21

Ethan Useloff, NFL trader at Fanatics Sportsbook

“I expect the Seahawks to emerge victorious on Sunday, with Sam Darnold seeing Disney instead of ghosts. Seattle’s defensive line will give New England fits, especially on the blind side with rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson struggling. Their reincarnated Legion of Boom secondary should stick with New England’s skill-position players, forcing Maye to scramble. I believe Rashid Shaheed, Hunter Henry, and AJ Barner with his “Barnyard” tush-push rendition will each have impact performances as Seattle avenges its 2014 heartbreak.”

Score: Seahawks 24, Patriots 13

Advertisement

Patriots win (2)

Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos sportsbook director

“I think both teams get off to a slow start in this game. This clearly could be a game where the kicker decides it. I have the Pats winning on a last-second field goal. New England defense is also a top-10 unit and is extremely underrated.”

Score: Patriots 23, Seahawks 21

Lamarr Mitchell, director of trading at MGM Resorts

“After facing some of the staunchest defenses during their playoff run, Maye and the Patriots prove they’re up to the task once again.”

Score: Patriots 21, Seahawks 17

Aaron Rodgers appears open to returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers as their quarterback. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that while Rodgers has not officially decided whether he will return for a 22nd NFL season, the odds have improved he could be back in a Steelers uniform next season.

Rodgers has reportedly had multiple conversations with new head coach Mike McCarthy and wide receiver DK Metcalf.

Advertisement

McCarthy coached Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers from 2006-18. The pair went 108-62-1 together and won a Super Bowl over the Steelers in 2011. Rodgers also won two MVPs under McCarthy’s leadership.

Despite the Steelers saying they did not hire McCarthy as a recruiting tool to bring back Rodgers, their new head coach expressed interest in the pair’s reunion during the opening press conference.

“Definitely,” McCarthy said on Rodgers’ return. “I don’t see why you wouldn’t. I think just like anything, knowing Aaron long enough. … When guys are up at that stage of their career, they need to step away and decompress. I think that’s very important.”

[Get more Steelers news: Pittsburgh team feed]

Rodgers was rejuvenated this past season with the Steelers. After a three-year postseason drought, Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while battling a wrist injury late in the season. He led the Steelers to their first AFC North title since the 2020 season.

Advertisement

Rodgers took months to decide his future last offseason before signing a one-year, $13.65 million contract with the Steelers last June. One of the reasons for Rodgers’ return was his interest in playing for former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. After a wild-card defeat to the Houston Texans, Tomlin decided to part ways with the franchise after 19 seasons.

If Rodgers decided to retire or leave the Steelers for another team, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are the only Pittsburgh quarterbacks under contract. Rudolph threw for 310 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions last season, with most of his yards coming in a start for an injured Rodgers in Week 12.

Advertisement

Rudolph is 8-5-1 as a starter in his five seasons with the Steelers and 1-4 in his one season with the Titans. Howard was a 2025 sixth-round pick and spent the majority of his rookie season on injured reserve.

The NBA announced that Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün will replace Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the World team in the All-Star Game on February 15.

Gilgeous-Alexander will be sidelined through the All-Star Game with an abdominal injury he suffered on February 3 in a win over the Orlando Magic. He is expected to be reevaluated after the All-Star break.

Advertisement

Last year’s MVP has averaged 31.8 points, 6.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds. The Thunder lead the NBA standings at 40-13.

[Get more Rockets news: Houston team feed]

This is the second straight All-Star appearance for Şengün. The 23-year-old has averaged 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists this season. Şengün is one of three players averaging at least 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists this season, joining the Hawks’ Jalen Johnson and Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić. Both players were also selected for the All-Star Game.

Şengün will represent Turkey in the new All-Star format that will be played, featuring two US teams and one World team in a robin-round mini-tournament with four 12-minute games.

Advertisement

Şengün will join players such as Jokić, the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and Lakers’ Luka Dončić on the World team. The team will be coached by Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković.

Şengün will also join Rockets forward Kevin Durant in the game. The Rockets join the Pistons, Lakers, Knicks and Nuggets as teams that have multiple All-Stars.

Durant will play for the USA Stripes team. Durant has averaged 25.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in his first season with the Rockets. The Rockets are 32-19.

MILAN — Lindsey Vonn’s magnificent comeback is over, in the most devastating way possible.

Starting 13th in a field of 36 for the women’s downhill, facing the dramatic 2,572-meter Olympia Delle Tofane course, pushing out of the gate at high noon, Vonn almost immediately clipped one of the course’s gates with her right shoulder. That was enough to send her spinning over a jump, twisting helplessly over her skis.

Advertisement

Far below, the crowd watched in stunned silence.

Vonn remained sprawled on the snow, her screams audible on camera in the immediate moments after the crash. Medical staff worked on her as the event was halted. Loaded onto a stretcher, a medical helicopter hovered above to carry her from the mountain — just as it did a little more than a week ago in Switzerland when she tore her ACL. Fifteen minutes after the crash, Vonn was lifted from the mountain and into the yellow helicopter high above.

Vonn’s mandatory air bag worn under her race suit did inflate, according to the Associated Press.

Vonn was airlifted to Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso. “In the afternoon, she underwent orthopedic surgery to stabilize the fracture sustained in her left leg,” the hospital said in a statement. She was initially taken to Cortina’s Codivilla Putti Hospital for immediate treatment, and later moved to Treviso.

Advertisement

U.S. Ski & Snowboard said Vonn “sustained an injury, but is in stable condition.”

“It was scary, because when you start to see the stretcher pulled out it’s not a good sign,” Vonn’s sister Karin Kildow told NBC. “We were just saying like the man in the arena, she just dared greatly. She put it all out there. It’s really hard to see, we just hope she’s OK.”

At the bottom of the slope, Vonn’s fellow American Breezy Johnson sat quietly after having posted the fastest time on the course, concern evident on her face. Johnson would go on to win gold, the first medal for Team USA at these Olympic Games.

Advertisement

Sunday marked the final act of Vonn’s remarkable journey, one whose sharp twists and frenetic turns matched any downhill course. Vonn, who won three Olympic medals over the course of the first phase of her career, retired in 2019, her body broken even though her spirit remained strong. Over the course of her career, she’d won more World Cup victories than any woman in history, but by the time of her retirement, those podiums were just a memory. Unable to even hike short distances without pain, Vonn reconciled herself to a life off the mountain, pursuing everything from reality TV stardom to philanthropy.

In 2024, she elected to undergo a partial knee replacement in the hopes of living the rest of her life without debilitating pain. But something amazing happened: Vonn realized that the pain, all the pain, was gone from her beleaguered knee. And an idea formed in her mind: Why not get back out there on the slopes and give it one more run?

“I really thought when I retired in 2019, that was it,” Vonn said recently. “I had built an amazing life, I was really  happy. But then after the replacement, I knew things were really different. My body felt so good, and I just kind of kept pushing myself further and further to see what I was capable of, and racing seemed like the logical next step.”

Advertisement

She’d spent the entire 2022 Beijing Olympics in a state of mild frustration, hearing from friends and fellow skiers about how the mountain there was made for her talents. So the fact that the 2026 Games would be held at Cortina d’Ampezzo — site of her first World Cup podium, and 11 more after that, including six wins — clinched it for Vonn. She would attempt a comeback unlike any other in skiing history.

“I don’t think I would have tried this comeback if the Olympics weren’t in Cortina,” Vonn said. “If it had been anywhere else, I would probably say it’s not worth it. But for me, there’s something special about Cortina that always pulls me back, and it’s pulled me back one last time.”

Right out of the gate, Vonn faced criticism of her motivations, her perceived selfishness, even her mental state. Olympic gold medalist Franz Klammer declared that “She’s gone completely mad,” and that was one of the kinder critiques.

Advertisement

But Vonn simply kept skiing, and soon enough, she began climbing the standings of World Cup events. She blew right past U.S. Ski and Snowboarding’s metrics for judging potential Olympic team members, first climbing onto podiums, and then claiming two more World Cup victories.

Along the way, she metamorphosed from a cute story and the centerpiece of NBC’s Olympic coverage into a legitimate medal threat. Ranked sixth in the World Cup standings just a week before the Games began, Vonn seemed like she was on the verge of a story that defied even fairytales.

And then: disaster. Just one week before the Opening Ceremony, on a Swiss slope that had already seen several wrecks, Vonn pinwheeled off the course and into a barrier. She limped to her feet, the agony on her face evident, and required airlifting from the course. Soon afterward, doctors told her that she’d completely torn her left ACL. Vonn’s Olympic comeback, it seemed, would be a nice story, but an ultimately unfinished one.

But Lindsey Vonn is, as the saying goes, built different. On Tuesday, four days after her crash and two days before her first scheduled downhill practice, Vonn announced that yes, her ACL was completely torn, and no, she would not be withdrawing from the Olympics.

Advertisement

“This is not, obviously, what I had hoped for,” Vonn said. “I’ve been working really hard to come into these Games in a much different position. I know what my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today, but I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance, I will try.”

She later posted video of herself lifting weights and leaping on the ACL-less knee, and jabbed back at social media analysis of both her knee and her motivations.

So when Sunday morning dawned in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Vonn had the opportunity to create magic. With the entire world watching, she went for it. And though the ending was devastating, the journey was something special to see.

Advertisement

“It sucks for her,” fellow American Jackie Wiles, who finished fourth, said after. “We’re such a tight group. Lindsey has really been a huge mentor for all of us, and seeing her go down like that, it really sucks.

“It doesn’t change anything about her legacy. She’s a fighter, and that’s the way that she’s going to go out and ski every time.”

The U.S. is sending just four athletes sliding to Milan to compete in the fast-paced sport of Skeleton at the 2026 Winter Games. You can catch all of Team USA’s Skeleton Heats live on Peacock. Below is the complete schedule of all Team USA’s Skeleton events at this year’s games, along with a rundown of who is competing. While every race will stream on Peacock, some will also be broadcast on NBC and USA Network. (To see specific air times, check out the official NBC Olympics broadcast schedule, and toggle your search to “TV Only.”) Here’s a rundown of how to watch every Skeleton event at the 2026 Winter Games.

And if you want to learn even more about every event at this year’s Winter Games, here’s a guide to everything you need to know about Milan-Cortina 2026.

Advertisement

How to watch Skeleton at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Competition dates: Feb. 12 – 15

TV channels: NBC, USA

Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV, and more

Where can I stream Skeleton at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Where to watch Skeleton on TV:

Team USA men’s and women’s Skeleton coverage will be split between NBC and USA, which you can stream on DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, and more. NBC will only be airing select coverage live. For specific times on NBC, make sure to check out the official NBC Olympics broadcast schedule, and toggle your search to “TV Only.”

The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks are headed to the 2026 Super Bowl today at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. You can catch the Big Game on NBC and Peacock. And Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, with Charlie Puth performing the National Anthem, Brandi Carlile singing “America the Beautiful” and Coco Jones performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Here’s how to watch the 2026 Super Bowl.

How to watch the 2026 Super Bowl:

Date: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026

Advertisement

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

TV channel: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV

How to watch the 2026 Super Bowl without cable

If you don’t have access to NBC already, you’ll be able to stream the 2026 Super Bowl live on Peacock.

Alpine skier Breezy Johnson earned the USA’s second gold medal in women’s downhill on Sunday. With a time of 1:36.10, she beat out Germany’s Emma Aicher by just four hundredths of a second.

Johnson’s medal was also the first won by the U.S. in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Unfortunately, her coveted prize was damaged by the time she left the medal stand. While celebrating, the ribbon attached to the medal broke away. Johnson’s medal fell and was broken into three pieces.

“Well, I was jumping up and down in excitement, and it fell off,” Johnson explained to reporters. “I think that’s maybe why it broke.”

Advertisement

“I don’t know that the Italians are known for their engineering,” she added, joking that none of the assembled media offered to fix the medal. “I assume someone will fix it.”

During her news conference, Johnson held up the detached ribbon and three pieces of the broken medal for reporters to see, calling it a “show-and-tell moment.”

“It is heavy, it’s broken. It’s a look,” she said.

In addition to the joy of winning gold, Johnson also felt the emotions of watching teammate Lindsey Vonn crash and get airlifted from the Tofane slope at Cortina d’Ampezzo due to her injuries. While waiting through a 30-minute delay and for the rest of the competition to finish, she could be seen tearing up several times.

Advertisement

Perhaps Johnson was also recalling her own memories of getting hurt at the same venue. In 2022, she crashed and injured her right knee on training run in Cortina, which kept her from competing in the Beijing Games.

Johnson could have another opportunity for a gold medal in the women’s combined team competition, possibly paired with Mikaela Shiffrin. If she wins that event, she may hold onto that medal more tightly.

Remarks made by American freestyle skier Hunter Hess regarding “mixed emotions” about representing the United States in the 2026 Winter Olympics have drawn criticism from some fans and observers — including President Trump.

During a news conference with the U.S. freeski team in Milan on Friday, Hess, 27, said he felt conflicted because “a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.”

“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think,” Hess said, via Portland, Oregon’s KGW8. “It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.”

“For me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S.,” he added. “I think if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”

Trump responded on social media on Sunday, saying Hess “shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it.”

Hess’ comments earlier raised the ire of Mike Eruzione, a captain on the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” gold medal team who scored the game-winning goal versus the Soviet Union in the medal round. He has previously shown support for Donald Trump, but in responding to Hess on Saturday, he didn’t mention the president. He stated that the skier shouldn’t wear a uniform representing the U.S. if he’d prefer to represent friends and family instead.

“Hunter Hess US snowboarder saying he doesn’t represent his country but his family and friends,” Eruzione posted. “Then don’t put on the USA uniform maybe just put for family and friend some athletes just don’t get it.”

Eruzione was criticized for appearing at a Trump rally in 2020 with his U.S. hockey teammates and wearing a hat that said “Keep America Great.”

Advertisement

In response to the backlash received for his appearance, Eruzione expressed regret for wearing the hat.

“If we knew we were going to piss off this many people, we probably would not have put the hats on,” Eruzione, 65, told the Washington Post. “That’s the big question here. A lot of the stuff I got was, ‘You guys said it’s not political, but when you put the hats on, you made it political.’ ”

Presumably, Hess’ remarks “made it political” in Eruzione’s view. Yet he’s not the only U.S. athlete who has voiced ambivalent sentiments toward what’s currently happening. Freestyle aerialist Chris Lillis said he wouldn’t want to represent any other country, but is “heartbroken” over current events.

“I feel heartbroken about what’s happened in the United States,” Lillis said, via the Washington Post. “I think that, as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect. I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that’s the America that we’re trying to represent.”