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LIVIGNO, Italy — A beaming Eileen Gu had finished a row of interviews, silver medal around her neck, where a throng of Olympic volunteers were waiting to ask her for a group selfie. After putting on her million-dollar smile, she headed down the hill where she obliged another group asking her to do it all over again.

The gold medalist in freeski big air, Canada’s Megan Oldham, had long since left the scene.

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As always at the Winter Olympics, the American-born Gu who now represents China was the center of attention Monday night, which is usually right where she likes to be.

“I think I’m the first freeskier to five [Olympic medals],” Gu said, though it was technically moguls specialist Mikael Kingsbury one day earlier. “Five-time Olympic medalist kind of has a ring to it.”

It sure does. But on this particular night, even if it doesn’t generate as many clicks or social-media comments or requests for selfies, the story of how Oldham won her second seemed far more compelling.

It’s a story that goes back to Parry Sound, located a couple hours north of Toronto, when Oldham’s adrenaline junkie brothers convinced her they should start skiing off the roof of their garage. Her father, Howard, of course, was livid — mostly about the roof.

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“The dad is a crazy dad and she has two really, really crazy brothers, and they grew up together doing obviously crazy stuff,” her coach, J.F. Cusson said. “And this produces Megan. I call her ‘Mighty Meg.’”

Mighty enough to overcome a November concussion that lingered for weeks and took her out of training during a key period of preparation for the Milan Cortina Olympics. Mighty enough to push through a bruised quad that she suffered one week ago during a heavy fall in slopestyle on her way to the bronze medal in that event. Mighty enough to take down the great Eileen Gu in big air, the event Gu won four years ago in Beijing for her second gold medal of those Olympics.

“Honestly, this has been an Olympics that has totally surpassed my dreams,” Oldham said. “I wanted to come home with one medal and to come home with gold is something I never thought was possible. I’m so proud of myself.”

In terms of sheer toughness, you cannot deny Oldham’s performance Monday ranks among the most impressive of these Winter Olympics.

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Her job as a freestyle skier is to perform outrageous, dangerous tricks, and big air is an event where only the most daring win.

But it was one of those tricks — one she worked on specifically for this event, the one Cusson said would have made her “unbeatable”  — that almost cost her a chance to be here at all. It was the forward double cork 1440 mute — four full rotations in the air while performing two off-axis spins while also grabbing outside of her ski with the opposite hand — that caused a crash so bad Oldham can’t remember anything about that day.

“I hadn’t dealt with something like that before,” she said. “I really wasn’t sure how long the recovery would be and definitely felt a lot of pressure with the Games coming so close.”

And still, even after she started to come back in December, the mental trauma was so acute she couldn’t bring herself to try that trick again.

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“She had the yips, so that was a no-go,” Cusson said. “It was pretty dramatic.”

The plan changed. She was going to do a double cork 1260 both forward and switch — the switch meaning a backward launch — with the potential to try that big 1440 on the third run if she really, really needed it.

She did not.

On a night when the competition was delayed by 75 minutes due to snow blowing sideways in 18-mph winds but heated up instantly with massive tricks — including a couple stomped 1620s — Oldham’s first two runs were so pure that she had clinched the gold before even needing a third since this event is scored by combining the best two attempts.

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When Great Britain’s Kirsty Muir — one of the 1620 landers — crashed on her third and final attempt, Oldham stood at the top of the ramp having fulfilled a desire that began to burn four years ago when she finished just off the podium in Beijing and didn’t qualify for the finals in slopestyle.

“That was a bit of a heartbreak,” she said. “I knew I was up there with the top girls. Being just off was really hard to process. I was really hungry to change that.”

Gu did not come to these Games with that same hunger, which is why after landing a flawless double cork 1260 on third run, she celebrated like she won the gold when the 89.00 score flashed on the scoreboard, putting her in second place. Combined with the 1440 she landed on her first run, she felt it was a wild success in an event she hasn’t even contested since the Beijing Olympics.

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“I’m a competitor, so I’d be lying if I said I came into this contest and didn’t think I had a chance at the podium, but I will say I definitely didn’t expect it,” she said. “I think I really showcased my best skiing. I’ve never done that trick in a contest before. I did it for the first time in four years three days ago in training. So talk about peaking at the right time. I was sitting at the top and thinking, if not now, then when? Right? When am I going to show the world what I’ve been working on? When am I going to show the world this level of women’s skiing? When am I going to show the world how I handle pressure? This is it. Time is now. That’s what I love about the Olympics.”

The wind-up to that moment, of course, was pure Gu. Headed back to Stanford after these Olympics, there is no big moment in her life or athletic career without an interesting backstory.

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And this one came when, after winning the silver in slopestyle last week, her mother Yan called a breakfast meeting and implored her to skip big air to focus exclusively on halfpipe — her best event — which will be contested here Saturday night.

“I was like, ‘Let’s just do the training and see how I do,’” Gu said. “It’s most important for my body to feel good going into halfpipe, but if I can compete, why not? Like, I don’t want to be afraid to try. And especially as young women, it’s so important to, like, don’t stop yourself before you have the opportunity to show the world how great you are. Don’t be your own barrier.”

That isn’t likely to be a problem for Gu, whose ambition and composure is yet to meet a threshold it cannot demolish. Now a five-time Olympic medalist with an excellent chance to make it six, her story will never leave center stage.

But sometimes you have to make room for another A-list star — even if they’re not getting mugged for selfies.

Three people were killed in a shooting Monday, including the suspect, at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Three other shooting victims were hospitalized in critical condition, according to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves. She did not divulge the nature of their injuries. Pawtucket is situated just north of Providence near the Massachusetts border.

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Goncalves told reporters that officers were dispatched to Dennis M. Lynch Arena to respond to reports of the shooting just before 2:30 p.m. ET. Per Goncalves, officers found the suspected shooter dead at the scene due to a potential self-inflicted gunshot wound.

One victim was found dead at the scene and another died after arriving at a local hospital. Goncalves did not release personal information or details about the victims or the suspected shooter, explaining that family notifications had not yet been made.

“It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute,” Goncalves told reporters.

Per NBC News, the FBI and ATF were also on the scene, and the FBI announced there was no further threat to the community.

Goncalves declined to divulge other details about the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation, according to NBC News. It’s unclear what kind of weapon or weapons were used, and it’s not clear what relationship the suspected shooter had with the victims.

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“We have several witnesses that are at the station,” Goncalves told reporters. “So we’re going to put together a story before we release information, to make sure that the information is put out there is accurate and correct.”

Per local NBC affiliate WJAR, the shooting took place during a hockey game between the Coventry-Johnston co-op and the St. Raphael-Providence Country Day-North Providence-North Smithfield co-op. Per WJAR, high schools in Pawtucket form co-op teams if they don’t have enough players to field a full team on their own.

Citing live-stream footage of the game, WJAR reports that gunshots were audible on the stream and that players off the ice jumped from their seats onto the ice in an effort to skate to safety. None of those players were shot, per WJAR.

Coventry Superintendent Don Cowart, Providence Country Day School, St. Raphael Academy, Johnston Public Schools and North Smithfield issued statements either confirming that none of their students were shot or stating that they were unaware of any of their students being injured in the shooting, according to WJAR.

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Per the Associated Press, players still in uniform and tearful families shared hugs outside the arena after the shooting. Police closed down roads around the arena as they conducted their investigation.

France’s Pierre Crinon was suspended by the French Olympic ice hockey federation Monday for his fight with Canada’s Tom Wilson during Sunday’s group-play match.

Crinon, 30, is not allowed to play in the rest of the Olympic tournament. At 0-3, France likely has only one more game remaining in Milan Cortina with Tuesday’s qualification round matchup versus Germany.

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Canada had a 10-2 lead with 6:59 remaining when Crinon hit Canadian forward Nathan McKinnon up high. That prompted Wilson to retaliate against Crinon and the two tangled near the French goal. Crinon quickly forced Wilson to the ice face-first. But after the referee pulled the French defenseman off, Wilson went back at Crinon for some pushing and shoving.

(A wider view of the fight can be seen in this BlueSky post.)

Both players eventually received five-minute penalties for fighting and were ejected for game misconduct. Neither infraction resulted in an automatic suspension and shortly after the match, SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that both Crinon and Wilson would be allowed by the International Ice Hockey Federation to play in their teams’ next games.

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The French Olympic ice hockey federation felt differently.

Citing “the values ​​of every player wearing the French national team jersey, as well as their duty to set an example, particularly during the Olympic Games,” Crinon was no longer allowed to play in the remainder of the Milan Cortina tournament.

“Pierre Crinon’s provocative behavior upon leaving the ice, even though he had just been ejected from the game for fighting, constitutes a clear violation of the Olympic spirit and also undermines the values ​​of our sport,” Hockey France said in a statement.

“Therefore, in full agreement with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, the decision has been made not to authorize his participation in the upcoming game[s] of the Olympic tournament.”

As the statement mentioned, Crinon goaded the Canadian supporters in the crowd at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena while leaving the ice following his ejection.

France could advance to the qualification round with a win over Germany (1-2 in group play). If so, the French will face Slovakia in the next round. Regardless, Crinon will not be on the ice.

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Canada (3-0) will play either Czechia or Denmark at 10:40 a.m. ET Wednesday.

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Tyreek Hill is back on the job market after being one of the latest stars released from the Miami Dolphins. Yahoo Sports’ Andrew Siciliano, Frank Schwab and Ben Fawkes discuss Miami’s shift to rebuild mode, who is the best suitor for Hill and what Tua Tagovailoa’s future looks like. Then, the guys dive into some of the off-season’s biggest free agency decisions. The franchise tag is not something players enjoy seeing, but does it seem to be in the future for Daniel Jones and George Pickens? Plus, what will happen with Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III? Later, the crew breaks down Frank’s way-too-early power rankings. Hear about that and more on today’s episode!

(4:20) – Dolphins release 4 key veterans including Tyreek Hill
(19:20) – Who will get the franchise tag this offseason?
(42:15) – Frank’s Way-Too-Early NFL Power Rankings
(55:55) – One More Thing

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MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs want more.

Having finally made a long awaited return to the postseason and even earning a series victory in the wild-card round against the Padres last October, a lofty standard has been reestablished for one of baseball’s most prominent franchises. On Monday, ahead of their first full-squad workout, the Cubs spoke of their hunger for an even deeper postseason run and how the core that has grown together over the past half-decade is eager for the opportunity ahead — with some new reinforcements along for the ride.

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A year ago, Cubs camp opened just days after Alex Bregman chose the Boston Red Sox to conclude his first foray into free agency, a decision that was felt in Mesa, with Chicago having pursued Bregman to no avail. The Cubs made their own splash earlier that winter with the acquisition of Kyle Tucker, but Tucker arrived with just one year remaining on his contract, making his presence feel tenuous even then. A largely successful season for both player and team ensued, but the partnership did end up being temporary, as Tucker joined the Dodgers this winter.

[Get more Chicago news: Cubs team feed]

But in Bregman’s second trip to the open market, after he opted out of his Red Sox deal, the Cubs got their man. A heavily deferred, five-year, $175 million deal brought Bregman into the fold as a pillar for the franchise — a sharp contrast to Tucker’s arrival the year prior. Bregman joins a roster loaded with veterans who have already experienced a lot together and are looking to take the next step. And after fielding questions about missing out on Bregman on the first day of workouts last February, Cubs personnel on Monday got to talk about his value as a teammate.

“I think he fits our team really well,” said outfielder Ian Happ, the longest-tenured Cub. “But I think the group as a whole, we know each other. We know what each other is working on and, you know, what the offseason goals were for everybody. So it’s really fun when you get to put a group back together … that part of it is so exciting because you know what everybody’s capable of, and the group collectively is just trying to raise the level.”

Now a decade removed from the drought-breaking triumph in 2016, the Cubs’ core — bolstered this winter by Bregman and hard-throwing right-hander Edward Cabrera in the rotation — is not shying away from expectations to deliver another special season.

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“I think the expectations as a whole for the team are a deep playoff run. But that starts with your process every day,” Happ said. “And you can talk about winning the World Series all you want, but the way you get there is by being really diligent to your process every day and focusing on little things one day at a time. Sounds cliche, but it’s very true.”

Process and patience are crucial principles, especially with months and months of baseball ahead. But Chicago’s experience of finally returning to the October stage has only amplified the team’s level of urgency and ambition in 2026. Left-hander Matthew Boyd is entering his second season with the Cubs, a refreshing bit of continuity after he bounced among three teams the previous three seasons. Boyd made his first All-Star team at age 34 last year, a remarkable, late-career breakout that instilled some much-needed dependability in Chicago’s rotation. But for all the important innings Boyd threw in the regular season, taking the mound in October left a visceral impression on him that has carried into his preparation this spring.

“The playoffs are just — they’re addictive, right? Like, you play it, and you go, ‘Man, I want more of that,’” Boyd said. “And I’ve gotten to experience it three out of the last four years now, and it’s something that you don’t want to not do. So I think that collectively, we all have that. Collectively, we knew that, like, man, we were more than capable to win that first series and go on and play. And that we weren’t afraid of anybody that was ahead of us.

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“But we didn’t get there. So I think that the hunger, the feeling of what we got, where we got — that was awesome, but we want more. And then you add the guys that we added in this clubhouse. It’s exciting to know that we’re all going to be collectively working toward that goal.”

To be sure, last year’s NLDS defeat against the rival Brewers provides more than enough motivation. But the Cubs’ roster — and the contract status of several key players — adds another layer that could contribute to the level of urgency. Boyd, who has a $15 million mutual option for 2027, is one of several key Cubs who can become free agents after this season, along with Happ, starting pitchers Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga, outfielder Seiya Suzuki and second baseman Nico Hoerner. Depending on how the season unfolds, that could be a challenging dynamic to manage. But Hoerner — having been the subject of ample trade speculation this winter — spoke of the collective contractual circumstances as more of an opportunity than an obstacle.

“The cool part is that we all do share a pretty amazing opportunity for this season,” he said. “I think that’s going to be something here a lot of guys talk about. There’s plenty of guys who are in their last year here, and that’s also an opportunity, though — because we’ve been fortunate to play as a group for a while, and I think that just it creates excitement. You don’t get to share a locker room with guys, a consistent core, a lot in the big leagues. And so to have that opportunity, to have gotten better and to now be in a place where we can really seize that opportunity is super exciting.”

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On Monday, manager Craig Counsell also spoke about the delicate balance between players arriving at such a critical junction in their careers and tackling the team task at hand.

“Every player’s got a situation. And frankly, if you’re at the point where you’re in a free-agent year, you’re doing pretty good — things have gone pretty well,” he said.

“But I think it’s this team, it’s now. It’s about being present. And what you have the opportunity to accomplish with your friends, with your teammates, with guys that you’ve gone through some different times with — that’s a real opportunity.”

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More news and notes from the Cubs’ first full-squad workout

Matt Shaw, displaced from his native third base by Bregman’s arrival, will be taking on more of a superutility role in his sophomore season, including spending some time in the outfield. That marks his first exposure to the outfield in pro ball, as he had exclusively played second, third and shortstop since joining the Cubs organization as a first-round pick in 2023. But Shaw did play some outfield as a freshman at the University of Maryland and during summer ball in college. He’s also in a good position to relearn some of the intricacies of outfield play from stellar defenders such as Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

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“He’s got some pretty good outfielders to defer to,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I mean, it’s a nice situation for him. It may not be the exact situation he thought he’d be in, but considering the circumstances, I think he’s got a good group to lean on, and we’re definitely gonna be there for him because it’s not easy having to shift.”

With Happ and Crow-Armstrong entrenched in left and center, respectively, right field is the natural spot for Shaw to see the most time. While Seiya Suzuki is expected to take on the bulk of right-field reps in the wake of Tucker’s departure, he’ll need some DH days, which could open at-bats for Shaw in the outfield when he isn’t playing the infield.

Suzuki is preparing not just for increased outfield responsibility in Chicago but also for Samurai Japan as he gears up for the World Baseball Classic. Suzuki wanted to participate in the 2023 edition but was unable due to an oblique injury, making the upcoming tournament all the more exciting for the 31-year-old slugger. Shohei Ohtani’s presence as the DH ensures that Suzuki will be in the outfield for Team Japan; exactly which outfield spot remains something of an open question because of the other options on the roster.

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But we got a hint about where Suzuki might be deployed when his teammate and Team USA outfielder Crow-Armstrong was asked for his thoughts on the tournament and the prospect of playing against Team Japan.

“I’m excited to watch Seiya play center field,” Crow-Armstrong said. “That’ll be really fun. I think it’s a good opportunity for him to show people that he’s a really good defender. And I don’t think he gets enough credit for his abilities out there. So that’ll be fun.”

When asked about his defense and the prospect of playing center in the WBC, Suzuki said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry, “I feel like I’ve been moving well. It’s something I worked on in the offseason. And I think getting those reps in, I think that’s going to be beneficial for me in the season, too. And if Pete wants an off-day or something, that’s my chance to play center field.”

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It remains to be seen whether Suzuki will start in center for Japan — he has started one game there in the majors and only a handful during his NPB career — but it’s not entirely implausible. Japan has one natural center fielder in Ukyo Shuto, but he’s mostly on the roster for his speed, and his bat lags far behind the other available outfielders. So if Japan wants to put out its best lineup, manager Hirokazu Ibata might indeed be best suited putting Suzuki in center flanked by some combination of Masataka Yoshida, Kensuke Kondoh and Shota Morishita.

But no matter where he’s playing, Suzuki is excited about the possibility of facing off against his teammate in the tourney.

“I want to see Pete throw his helmet,” Suzuki said with a smirk. “And then if he hits the ball to center field, I want to make sure I catch it and dance on it.”

— It’s no secret Crow-Armstrong is seeking more consistency at the plate after last season’s severely uneven campaign, which featured a terrific first half followed by a brutal run of poor production down the stretch. But the soon-to-be 24-year-old sees room for improvement beyond the batter’s box, too, even if those elements of his game are already renowned as elite.

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“The throwing decisions,” Crow-Armstrong said when asked how he can upgrade as a defender, even while he already rates as one of the game’s best. “I think that’s been kind of the kicker my whole career so far. Just gave up some extra bases last year. Dropping the ego and not feeling like I’m gonna throw somebody out from 300 feet — because I’m not Jackie Bradley. I think there will be times when I can let one loose, and the situation will have to call for that. But there’s little moments from last year that I can kind of pick out … decision-making wise. I think it probably wasn’t my strongest suit.”

Crow-Armstrong was also one of the most impactful baserunners in MLB last season, but he identified at least one area for growth on the basepaths as well.

“I feel like I could probably steal third base more,” said Crow-Armstrong, who stole second base 31 times in 2025, tied for ninth in MLB, but stole third on only four occasions, which ranked 24th. “It’s kind of like the throws, picking your times … forcing things is never really going to work in your favor. … But it’s playing the game, picking your spots, just being a little more patient. I think I can probably apply that to a lot of my game right now.”

Monday’s competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics produced elation, heartbreak and an unexpected decision to cancel the final stage of an event.

A 41-year-old U.S. bobsledder secured her first gold medal after five silvers and bronzes in four previous Olympics. Team USA’s podium drought in pairs skating extended to 38 years. And a slalom skier’s heartbreak played out on the mountain after his dream of Olympic gold ended in an instant.

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Here are five of the top stories from Day 10 of the Milan Cortina Olympics:

U.S. women cruise into hockey gold-medal round

Six games in, and U.S. women’s hockey’s run through the Olympics has been nothing short of a coronation.

Team USA continued its dominance Monday with a 5-0 win over Sweden in the semifinals, securing a medal and a trip to the gold medal game. The U.S. women are now guaranteed at least a silver medal and will face Canada on Thursday.

At this point, anything short of gold would be a stunner.

Team USA and Canada entered Olympic competition as co-favorites, and since then, the U.S. has established itself as the overwhelming favorite.

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Team USA opened its Games with a 5-1 win over Czechia in group play. It hasn’t allowed a goal in five games since while scoring five-plus goals in each of those games. That includes a 5-0 win over rival Canada in group play.

Monday saw more of the same. The U.S. dominated the puck early, but left the first period with just a 1-0 advantage. Then Team USA opened the floodgates with a four-goal second period to secure the game’s final margin. Five different U.S. players scored.

Team USA now has a 31-1 goal differential through six games and will enter Thursday’s final as the clear-cut favorite to win gold.

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Elana Meyers Taylor gets her gold

U.S. bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, at last, has her first gold medal following a dramatic come-from-behind victory in Monday’s monobob final.

She’s now tied with speedskater Bonnie Blair for the most Winter Olympic medals won by a U.S. woman with six.

Meyers Taylor’s U.S. teammate Kaillie Humphries won bronze, while Germany’s Laura Nolte secured silver.

Meyers Taylor entered her final run in silver medal position, knowing the time she needed to finish ahead of her teammate, Humphries, who secured a podium position one run earlier.

She had a clean run and crossed the finish line with a combined time across four runs of 3:57.93, 0.12 seconds ahead of Humphries. The run secured silver at worst and put pressure on Nolte, who had held the lead through the first three runs of competition.

Nolte sledded the final run of the day and crossed the finish line with a combined time of 3:57.97, .04 seconds behind Meyers Taylor’s run, ensuring gold for Meyers Taylor.

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Meyers Taylor started the Games with two silver Olympic medals and two bronze medals in two-woman bobsled from Vancouver (2010), Sochi (2014), Pyeongchang (2018) and Beijing (2022). She also won the silver medal in Beijing in monobob. Now she has gold.

Japan duo tops pairs podium; USA shut out again

Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara secured gold in the pairs figure skating competition with a nearly flawless free skate that vaulted them to the top of the standings after a fifth-place finish in the short program.

Their free skate score of 158.13 was the best of the day and the best of their careers. It put them in gold medal position with four teams remaining.

But their gold wasn’t secure going into the final skate of the day by Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin, who had a shot to overtake them thanks to their first-place finish in the short program.

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But Hase and Volodin made mistakes where Miura and Kihara did not, ensuring gold for the Japanese pair. Hase and Volodin dropped to third place for the bronze medal, while Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava won silver.

Ellie Kam and Daniel O’Shea posted the best U.S. finish in seventh place. They will take home gold from Milan Cortina thanks to their contributions to Team USA’s win in the team skating event last week.

The U.S. is still in search of its first Olympic medal in pairs since Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard won bronze in 1988.

Ski jump medals awarded sans finals

Harsh winter weather came for the Games on Monday. It was enough for officials to call the men’s super team ski jump competition early.

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With heavy snow and high winds, officials canceled the third and final round of competition in progress before the top teams had a chance to land their final runs. The runs of the teams that competed in Round 3 were wiped out, and the medals were awarded based on standings after two rounds.

The weather had changed enough to create drastically unfair conditions for athletes jumping later in the competitions.

“We had this sudden, heavy snowfall, wet snowfall, and we were trying to clean the track, but we saw immediately that we lost the speed in the in-run,” Sandro Pertile, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation race director, told NBC Sports. “The difference was very [significant]. We also had completely different wind conditions. … With these conditions it was really unfair to continue.”

That meant gold for Austria’s Jan Hörl and Stephan Embache, silver for Poland’s Paweł Wąsek and Kacper Tomasiak and bronze for Norway’s Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal and Johann André Forfang.

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Slovenia’s Domen Prevc and Anze Lanisek, who won gold last week in the mixed team normal competition, finished fifth.

“Unfortunately, we have to take this as it is,” Prevc said, per NBC.

It wasn’t immediately clear why officials opted to cancel the final run rather than postpone it.

Canada’s Megan Oldham tops Eileen Gu in big air final

Eileen Gu put down a great third run with Olympic gold on the line. But it wasn’t enough to overtake Canada’s Megan Oldham for the top of the podium in the freestyle skiing big air final.

Oldham’s first two of three runs in the big air final were good enough to secure gold with a score of 180.75, and her final jump of the day was a victory run. A skier’s two best runs out of three are added up for a final score. With the gold medal, Oldham unseated Gu as Olympic champion after Gu won gold for China in Beijing.

Gu’s third-round 89 gave her a combined score of 179, 1.75 points behind Oldham’s total. It was good enough for a silver medal, her second of the Milan Cortina Games in addition to two golds and one silver from Beijing. She and Oldham shared a hug after Oldham’s final run. Italy’s Flora Tabanelli won bronze.

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Gu will have a chance to secure her first gold medal of the Games in halfpipe, her best competition. Halfpipe qualifying is scheduled for Thursday, and the finals are scheduled for Saturday.

Highlight of the day

First, it was Japan’s Ikuma Horishima in moguls. On Monday, it was Italian speed skater Pietro Sighel.

Sighel lost his footing near the end of his preliminary heat in the 500-meter short track competition after two skaters collided behind him. But he remained upright and crossed the finish line backward. He placed second in his heat, which was good enough to advance to Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

Here’s another look at Sighel’s backward finish next to Horishima, who had a similar finish while falling in Sunday’s dual moguls competition.

Horishima ended up winning silver in his competition. Sighel is certainly hoping that his wild finish also helps him onto an Olympic podium.

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One more thing

The misery of defeat played out in dramatic fashion in Monday’s men’s slalom final.

Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath had a shot at gold after finishing first in the first of two runs. He skied last in Run 2 and had a spot on the Olympic podium in his sights.

But he didn’t finish the race. He missed a gate early in his run, and his Olympic dream was over in a flash. He did not react well.

NBC declined to make footage of his reaction available. But as soon as he missed his gate, McGrath launched his poles into the air. He then unstrapped his skis and walked off the course to the adjacent forest nearby.

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He lay down in the snow as he processed the disappointment.

Officials eventually approached him and gave him a ride down the mountain on a snowmobile.

“I thought I would get some peace and quiet, which I didn’t because photographers and police found me out in the woods,” he told media after it was over. “I just needed some time for myself.”

The Winter Games have begun in Italy. From the rink to the slopes, a new generation of stars has emerged to chase gold. We’ll keep you connected to all of the thrilling moments and top stories as we track the medal race each day of the Games.

The United States increased its medal count to 19 at the 2026 Winter Olympics after Day 10’s competition. Elana Meyers Taylor and Kaillee Humphries picked up gold and bronze, respectively, in the women’s monobob on Monday.

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Team USA has an opportunity to add four other medals on Day 11 at Milan Cortina in freeski Big Air and two-man bobsled, in addition to team pursuit in men’s and women’s speed skating.

Here are the top five things to watch on Tuesday at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics:

1. Women’s figure skating opens with short program (12:45 p.m. ET)

You may have heard of Team USA’s “Blade Angels,” and you’ll see them in action on Tuesday as women’s figure skating begins its short program. Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito will compete for Team USA on Tuesday in hopes of securing the U.S. its first women’s singles medal since Sasha Cohen’s silver in 2006. The last U.S. woman to win gold was Sarah Hughes in 2002.

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Their chances for multiple spots on the podium aren’t bad — Liu won the women’s singles title at the 2025 World Championships, while Glenn has won gold at the U.S. Championships the last three years.

2. Mac Forehand pursues gold in men’s freeski Big Air final (1:30 p.m. ET)

U.S. freestyle skier Mac Forehand finished a disappointing 11th in the freeski Slopestyle competition, but he has an opportunity to win a medal in Tuesday’s Big Air final. He placed first in Sunday’s qualifying runs, with defending gold medalist Birk Rudd placing third. Forehand won Big Air gold at the 2023 and 2026 Winter X Games and now has a chance to add Olympic gold to his trophy case.

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Another American who could be on the podium is Troy Podmilsak. He finished 10th in qualifying but won gold at the 2023 World Championships and 2024 Winter X Games.

3. U.S. chases medal in two-man bobsled (1 p.m. ET)

The U.S. duo of Frank Del Duca and Josh Williamson has a shot at medaling in Tuesday’s two-man bobsled competition. The pair finished a tenth of a second out of third place after their first two runs on Monday at a combined 1:51.24.

That left them fourth behind Germany’s Adam Ammour and Alexander Schaller. (Germany took the first three spots after two runs, with Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer in first place.) The final two runs of the event are Tuesday, scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3:05 p.m. ET.

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4. USA men’s and women’s speed skating eyes medals in team pursuits (8:30 a.m. ET)

On the men’s side, Emery Lehman, Casey Dawson and Ethan Cepuran are viewed as the favorites to win gold, which would be Team USA’s first in the event. But the home nation of Italy could challenge for the top of the podium with Davide Ghiotto, Andrew Giovannini and Michele Malfatti. China and the Netherlands hold the other two semifinal spots.

For the women, Brittany Bowe and Mia Manganello are set to be the first racers for the U.S., with either Greta Myers and Giorgia Birkeland skating as the anchor. The team placed fourth in qualifiers, earning the last spot in the semifinals. Canada (which won gold in Beijing with Ivanie Blondin, Isabelle Weidemann, and Valarie Maltais), China and the Netherlands are viewed as the medal favorites.

The men’s semifinal begins at 8:30 a.m. ET, followed by the women scheduled for 8:52 a.m. ET.

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5. U.S. women’s (8:05 a.m. ET), men’s (3:05 a.m. ET) curling build resumes for semifinal berth

The U.S. women’s curling team lost for only the second time in round-robin competition, falling to Italy 7-2 on Monday. They could not recover after falling behind 4-0 after five ends, showing a surprising lack of offense and precision.

At 4-2, Team USA is in a three-way tie with Switzerland and Korea for second in the round-robin standings. Sweden is in front with a 6-0 record. The top four teams qualify for the semifinals. The U.S. has two more matches in the round-robin session, facing Denmark on Tuesday and Great Britain on Wednesday.

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On the men’s side, the team is also 4-2 thus far through the round-robin session after defeating Sweden and Norway on Sunday. That has them tied with Norway for third place behind Switzerland (5-0) and Canada (5-1). With matches versus China and Italy remaining, the U.S. still has a chance to finish in the top four and qualify for the semifinals.

The one certainty on the men’s side is that Sweden will not defend its gold medal won at the 2022 Beijing Games. The Swedes are 1-5 after losing to Germany on Monday.

Olympics schedule for Tuesday, Feb. 17 (Day 11)

Biathlon

Relay

• 8:30 a.m.: Men’s final (USA Network coverage begins at 9:05 a.m.)🏅

Bobsled

• 1 p.m.: Two-man runs 3, 4 (airs on USA Network at 5:30 p.m.)🏅

Curling

Men’s round-robin

• 3:05 a.m.: Switzerland-Sweden, USA-China (airs on USA Network at 6 a.m.), Czechia-Germany

• 1:05 p.m.: Germany-Switzerland, USA-Italy (airs on USA Network at 9:30 p.m.), Canada-Great Britain, Sweden-Norway

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Women’s round-robin

• 8:05 a.m.: Sweden-Canada, Italy-Japan, Denmark-USA (airs on CNBC at 5 p.m.), South Korea-Switzerland

Figure Skating

• 12:45: Women’s short program (USA Network; NBC coverage begins at 2:40 p.m.)

Freestyle Skiing

Aerials

• 4:45 a.m.: Women’s qualifying (USA Network)

• 7:30 a.m.: Men’s qualifying (airs on USA Network at 11 a.m.)

Big air

• 1:30 p.m.: Men’s final (NBC)🏅

Hockey

Men’s qualification playoffs

• 6:10 a.m.: Two games, teams TBD (airs on USA Network at 12:15 p.m.)

• 10:40 a.m.: Teams TBD (airs on USA Network at 3:10 p.m.)

• 3:10 p.m.: Teams TBD (airs on USA Network at 8 p.m.)

Nordic Combined

Large hill

• 3 a.m.: Men’s ski jump (airs on USA Network at 1 a.m.)🏅

• 7:45 a.m.: Men’s 10km cross-country ski (airs on USA Network at 9:50 a.m.)🏅

Snowboarding

Slopestyle

• 7 a.m.: Women’s final (USA Network)🏅

Speed Skating

Team pursuit

• 8:30 a.m.: Men’s and women’s semifinals and finals (USA Network)🏅

The boards for ice hockey games at Milano Santagiulia Arena will have a different look for the remainder of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The International Ice Hockey Federation will change the color of the boards along the rink to a lighter color after getting feedback on the matter from various teams and national federations, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported.

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Though the IIHF usually does work on the boards to clean up dents, scuffs and other wear and tear at the midway point of a tournament, the change is being made in response to concerns that the darker turquoise color is different from what is typically seen in professional arenas throughout Europe and the NHL.

In particular, the issue is that the darker color has made it difficult to track the puck when it travels along, or even above, the boards. The boards in NHL and European professional hockey arenas are typically white, even if covered with banner ads.

The Milan Cortina tournament has seen several unexpected goals from long distances, in addition to closer shots traveling through the air or taking quirky bounces. One of the most notable was allowed by Team USA goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who let in a first-period slapshot taken by Denmark’s Nick Jensen from center ice. Swayman appeared to lose sight of the puck as it left Jensen’s stick.

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Swayman also allowed another goal in the second period on a shot he didn’t appear to see, but he was likely screened by teammate J.T Miller on that shot.

Following Team USA’s 6-3 win over Denmark, Swayman told reporters he couldn’t track Jensen’s shot, which was “the perfect height, right between the stands and the board level.”

Asked if he lost the puck because of the dark boards, Swayman joked, “I’m colorblind, so it doesn’t matter to me.”

Teammate Jack Eichel defended Swayman, saying he lost the puck in the lights during the game. But if there were other such complaints, that apparently isn’t a change the IIHF is considering.

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However, Swayman didn’t use the board colors as an excuse.

“It’s something all of us always have to face, and we play in different arenas every night in the NHL,” he said. “So this is just one, another one, and it’s a challenge that we have to embrace,” Swayman said.

Work on the boards in Milan began immediately after Monday’s women’s ice hockey match between Canada and Switzerland, according to The Athletic.

U.S. bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, at last, has her first Olympic gold medal following a dramatic come-from-behind victory in Monday’s monobob final at the Milan Cortina Games.

The 41-year-old mother of two is now tied with speedskater Bonnie Blair for the most Winter Olympic medals by a U.S. woman with six. And she’s the oldest Winter Olympian to ever win a gold medal in an individual event, breaking a record set by Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl just days earlier.

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Meyers Taylor’s U.S. teammate, Kaillie Humphries, won bronze, while Germany’s Laura Nolte secured silver.

Dramatic final secures repeat U.S. gold

Meyers Taylor entered her final run in silver-medal position and knowing the time she needed to finish ahead of her teammate, Humphries, who secured a podium position one run earlier.

Meyers Taylor ran a clean run and crossed the finish line with a combined time across four runs of 3:57.93, 0.12 seconds ahead of Humphries’ time. The run secured silver at worst and put pressure on Nolte, who had held the lead through the first three runs of competition.

Nolte sledded the final run of the day and crossed the finish line with a combined time of 3:57.97, .04 seconds behind Meyers Taylor’s run, ensuring gold for Meyers Taylor.

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When Nolte’s time was posted, Meyers Taylor clutched a U.S. flag in joy. She celebrated the moment with her two young sons and then Humphries.

‘E Money’ secures first gold in fifth Olympics

Meyers Taylor is a decorated Olympic medalist who entered this year’s competition seeking her first gold. She started the Games with two silver Olympic medals and two bronze medals in two-woman bobsled from Vancouver (2010), Sochi (2014), Pyeongchang (2018) and Beijing (2022). She also won the silver medal in Beijing in monobob.

Armed with that hardware, she entered the Milan Cortina Games brimming with confidence.

“My nickname for people who know me most is E-Money,” Taylor told NBC News prior to competition. “I’m money under pressure.”

She now has an Olympic gold medal to back up her boasts.

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USA dominant in monobob

Through two Games, Team USA now has four of the six medals awarded in Olympic monobob competition. Humphries and Meyers Taylor have all four. Humphries won gold in Beijing in addition to Meyers Taylor’s silver.

Monobob is in its second Games after debuting in Beijing in 2022. It features a single driver in a lighter sled than used by two- and four-person bobsled teams. It’s a women’s-only event at the Olympic level and brings the number of bobsled competitions for men and women to two each.

Women compete in monobob and two-woman bobsleds. Men compete in two-man and four-man teams.

Iowa State looks like it’s fully back on track.

The Cyclones, after a rough loss in Fort Worth early last week, have now won back-to-back top-10 matchups in the Big 12 in the span of three days.

No. 6 Iowa State rallied from a double-digit hole in the second half to knock off No. 2 Houston 70-67 at Hilton Coliseum on Monday night. That got the Cyclones to 23-3 on the season and handed Houston its second loss in Big 12 play.

The Cyclones opened the game on a 15-5 run Monday night, but ended up taking just a three-point lead into halftime. Emanuel Sharp scored all 16 of his points in the first half to keep Houston in it after he went 4-of-7 from behind the arc.

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Houston came out of the break hot, though, and took control of the game almost instantly. The Cougars went on an 18-6 run to open the second half and shut the Cyclones down offensively in a very stark contrast from the first 20 minutes. It very much looked like Houston was poised to run away with it.

But, after going 1-of-11 from behind the arc in the second half, Iowa State responded. Jamarion Batemon drilled a wide-open 3-pointer to put the Cyclones in the lead again, and then Nate Heise followed it up with one of his own from the corner just moments later to keep the Cyclones up by two.

While Houston had one last look to tie it up after Chris Cenac blocked Joshua Jefferson at the rim on the other end, Cenac missed a 10-footer that fell right into Blake Buchanan’s hands under the rim in the final seconds. That was enough to send the Cyclones, who ended the game on an extended 17-4 run, to the three-point win.

Kingston Flemings led Houston with 22 points and five rebounds after he went 9-of-15 from the field. Milos Uzan added 11 points to go with Sharp’s 16 first-half points. The loss snapped a six-game win streak for the Cougars, who will have to turn around and take on No. 4 Arizona and No. 8 Kansas in their next two games.

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Jefferson led Iowa State with 12 points and six rebounds, though he went just 1-of-5 from behind the arc. Heise added 11 points off the bench, and Buchanan added 10 points. Iowa State was fresh off a nearly 20-point win over No. 9 Kansas on Saturday.

The Cyclones have an equally rough finish to their regular season, including a stop at No. 23 BYU on Saturday and games against No. 13 Texas Tech and Arizona.

Though Monday night’s win will be a huge boost for the Cyclones, especially after their bad loss at unranked TCU last week, the Big 12 is still very much up for grabs. They still have a ways to go, but the Cyclones have played themselves right back into the mix to claim what would be their first regular-season conference title since 2001.