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• Revenge game for the Americans?: Team USA leads Sweden 1-0 in the women’s hockey semifinals. The Swedes beat the US in this same round at the 2006 Winter Games. The winner will face Canada or Switzerland in the gold medal game Thursday.
• Hockey fight at the Games: Canada’s Tom Wilson came to the defense of a teammate who was elbowed in the face Sunday, squaring up and fighting a France player despite Olympic tradition to avoid brawls. Canada’s goaltender was frank in his assessment: “That’s hockey.”
• Norwegian makes history: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo became the most decorated Winter Olympian ever yesterday after Norway won the men’s 4x7.5km cross-country skiing relay. It is the ninth gold of Klaebo’s career.
CNN Sports has all of the greatest feats of achievement – and funny anecdotes – from the Games, sign up for our “Milano Memo” newsletter.
Why some Americans choose to compete for other countries
Several American athletes compete on behalf of other countries in the Winter Olympics, and that is nothing new in the world of sports. Skiing icon Eileen Gu, born in California and competing for China, might be the most obvious example.
CNN’s Don Riddell breaks down why so many American-born athletes make the switch:
California-born Eileen Gu competes for China, Massachusetts native Zoe Atkin skis for Great Britain and Michigan-born Allison Reed skates for Lithuania. CNN's Don Riddell explains why so many American-born athletes are representing other countries in the the Winter Olympics.
Team USA’s shutout streak continues for now
Team USA’s women’s hockey team hasn’t allowed an Olympic goal in nearly 300 minutes (291 minutes and 23 seconds of play after the first period to be exact) — the longest shutout streak in Olympic women’s hockey history.
The American squad, which leads 1-0 over Sweden going into the second period of the semifinal game, has shut out four of its last five opponents in the 2026 Winter Games.
The second period is now underway with Sweden needing a response after the break.
ABBA sing-along looks to bring some life to proceedings
Apart from Sweden’s goalie being the busiest person in Milan, there weren’t many talking points from that first period. The Americans were skating downhill throughout with Sweden not offering up much offense in this game.
What I can tell you, though, is that there is now a man playing ABBA songs on an organ somewhere in the arena, as fans stretch their legs during this first intermission.
I can also tell you that the concourses smell of dust and fresh paint, a nod to the fact that this stadium wasn’t quite ready in time. As you were…
USA leads 1-0 over Sweden after first period
With a goal from Cayla Barnes and 13 shots on Sweden’s goaltender Ebba Svensson Traff, Team USA leads 1-0 going into the second period.
Barnes, a two-time Olympic medalist, told NBC broadcasters that “getting back on top of the podium” is Team USA’s motivation.
The Swede’s two shots on goal and four penalty minutes have been the team’s only action thus far.
“They’re just moving the puck so well,” four-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero told NBC’s broadcast during the first intermission. “The Americans are going hard to the net.”
“We're always ready to put down a fight": Why athletes keep coming back after injury
Olympic bronze medalist Kelly Sildaru is set to compete in her second Winter Games this year, but getting to this point hasn’t been easy for the Estonian freestyle skier.
The 23-year-old has had to battle back from two serious knee injuries since her Olympic debut in 2022 and tells CNN Sports that it’s taken a lot of mental strength to return to the highest level of her sport.
It’s a familiar story at the Games this year – look no further than Lindsey Vonn and Federica Brignone for two women who battled injury to compete in Italy.
CNN Sports asked Sildaru why she thinks so many athletes have this power and stubbornness to keep coming back after such major setbacks.
“I don’t know why athletes keep pushing them because sometimes I don’t know why I do it,” she said, laughing.
“Because it’s hard work, it’s mentally hard and frustrating at times, but I guess it’s just something that keeps us going.
“I feel like all the athletes who have made it this far, they have a really strong mindset. I feel like we’re always ready to put down a fight.”
Sildaru said that making her second Games feels “very special” and is now fully focused on trying to win Estonia another Olympic medal in the women’s freeski halfpipe later this week.
It’s a remarkable turnaround given she underwent surgery on her knee just over a year ago.
“I did everything in my power to get back as soon as possible and be strong. So, yeah, I’m really, really happy and proud of myself,” she said.
Noise level turns up a notch after Team USA takes the lead
Well, that didn’t take long.
It had been all Team USA from the start and they made that pressure count. It’s been quite quiet in the arena so far but the noise turned up a notch after that goal.
Sweden doesn’t do itself any favors either – taking a penalty just now.
Team USA will get some power play time now up 1-0.
USA women aren’t afraid to shoot the puck, strike first against Sweden
American Cayla Barnes nabbed the team’s first goal of tonight’s semifinal game against Sweden.
Team USA’s women’s hockey team is one of the most offensively aggressive teams competing in this year’s Winter Games. The Americans, who have 232 shots on goal in Milan Cortina, lead the tournament with 27 goals.
Team USA 1-0 Sweden
Swedish fans make themselves heard amid sea of American supporters
There aren’t many Swedish fans here today, but you can easily spot the ones that are.
Little pockets of bright yellow jerseys pop out from the sea of red, white and blue as they try to make their voices heard over the chants of “U-S-A!”
As I said before, the stadium is about two-thirds full which means you can actually hear the players shouting instructions to each other on the ice.
Quite cool.
Plenty of empty seats as Team USA takes on Sweden
The puck has dropped in Milan, but the 14,000-seater stadium is nowhere near full.
There is a happy, family feel about the arena, though, with plenty of Italian school groups seemingly getting tickets for this semifinal.
Now, it’s over to the players to entertain them.
Boots got an athlete disqualified and a favorite missed out on gold. Here’s the latest
Two gold medals have already been awarded at the Games today and the weekend saw one ski jumper lose his place in the final. Catch up here:
- Dutch fans went crazy inside the arena after Xandra Velzeboer crossed the line first in the women’s 1000m short track final today. It’s the 24-year-old’s second gold medal of the Olympics having already won the 500m short track event.
- Norway was on track for another gold medal after Atle Lie McGrath’s first run led the way in the men’s slalom, but McGrath had a Did Not Finish, straddling a gate combination before he skied off the course towards the forest. Instead, Swiss skier Loïc Meillard, who has been dominant in Milan Cortina, finished with gold – his third medal of the Games.
- After shocking the world with an eighth-place finish in his free skate competition on Friday, American figure skating star Ilia Malinin discussed “invisible battles on the inside” and “vile online hatred” today in an Instagram post announcing his participation in the Winter Olympics exhibition gala on February 21.
- Over the weekend, Austrian ski jumper Daniel Tschofenig was disqualified from the men’s individual large hill individual event after wearing a pair of boots that were four millimeters (roughly 0.16 inches) larger than regulations allow. The 23-year-old, who was one of the favorites to claim gold in the event, had already qualified for the final before the judges ruled his first-round jump wouldn’t count and that he should be disqualified.
CNN’s Mia Fishman, Ben Church and Frank Nunns O’Connell contributed to this reporting.
Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida tells CNN her gold-laden Olympics are "like a dream"
Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida wrote history last week when she claimed golds in the women’s 3000m speed skating and then another in the 5000m, and she’s been enjoying the aftermath of that success since.
“It’s like a dream,” she told CNN Sports. “I got a lot of messages from the Italians, both moms and dads, saying thank you because you are an example.”
The 35-year-old is not only an example to young Italians across the country, but also her two-year-old son, Tommaso, who went viral for his toddler antics in an interview after Lollobrigida’s first gold in Milan Cortina.
“In 10 or five years, we’re gonna laugh together because another goal was to show Tommaso how strong his mom is,” she said.
“I had (won) a world title, European title, a lot of medals at the World Cup, but never in front of my son. So it’s something I wanted to do for him for sure.”
Even with the unprecedented victories, Lollobrigida is not done at these Games. The Italian still has two events left to compete in, the women’s 1500m and the mass start, and she’s aiming to keep her winning form up in both.
“I have to,” she exclaimed when asked if she can maintain her energy and adrenaline for the last two races.
“When it gets close to the race again, I just want to give everything I have again.”
Team USA seeks to make women's hockey final
I’ve made the trip to the outskirts of Milan to watch Team USA take on Sweden in the first semifinal of the women’s hockey tournament.
The players are warming up out on the ice as fans start taking their seats with around 20 minutes before we get underway.
The Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena was newly built for the Games and will serve as a multi-purpose venue after the Olympics.
There were fears it wouldn’t be ready in time and, in truth, it’s far from finished. While the rink and stands look great, there are other parts of the stadium that need a lot of work.
The press area is one of those places that is very much a work in progress, with many of the walls half-painted and random wires sticking out of the wall.
And, well, the food leaves a lot of room for improvement… But none of that really matters on the ice as Team USA looks to continue its campaign for gold.
Ilia Malinin evokes mental health referencing "vile online hatred" and "invisible battles"
American figure skating star Ilia Malinin discussed “invisible battles on the inside” and “vile online hatred” in an Instagram post announcing his participation in the Winter Olympics exhibition gala on February 21.
The exhibition gala is an Olympic tradition where the medalists are invited to perform a program of their own design with no restrictions on music or costumes and featuring no judging.
“On the world’s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside,” Malinin wrote. “Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by the noise. Vile online hatred attacks the mind and fear lures it into the darkness, no matter how hard you try to stay sane through the endless insurmountable pressure.”
“It all builds up as these moments flash before your eyes, resulting in an inevitable crash. This is that version of the story.”
After not losing a competition since November 2023, the men’s gold medal favorite shocked the world with an eighth place finish in the competition after the free skate on Friday.
Two devastating falls and a quadruple-Axel-that-wasn’t cost Malinin a spot on the podium, something nobody expected.
Following the disappointing performance, Malinin opened up about the demand athletes endure going into his individual skate.
“It’s the Olympics, and I think people only realize the pressure and the nerves that actually happen from the inside. It was just something that overwhelmed me, and I felt like I had no control.”
The mental health of elite athletes has been a topic of conversation for years now, with high-profile names such as Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps among those speaking out.
Biles, who experienced a mental block referred to as the “twisties” during the Tokyo Summer Olympics, said she was “totally devastated for Ilia.”
The full-throttle, breathtaking sport that’s missing from the Winter Olympics
While the Olympic schedule is full of spectacular sports this year, there is one missing from the agenda – speed skiing.
In fact, speed skiing has only ever been a demonstration event at the Games, wowing audiences at the 1992 Olympics. There are hopes, though, it could feature for real at the next Winter Olympics in 2030.
CNN Sports spoke to the world record holder Simon Billy, who was clocked traveling at 255.500 km/h (158.760 mph) in 2023.
Simon Billy is the fastest man in the world on two skis. In 2023, he set the world record, hurtling down a slope at 158.7 mph. He speaks to CNN about his ambitions and hopes to bring the sport to the 2030 Winter Olympics.
“When I am in my helmet, on my skis, at that moment, everything is just so slow around me. I hear nothing. I don’t see anything either,” he says.
“You have to watch your feet and trust yourself. You have to know the track, and you have to be able to ski down and take the good line.”
This wild blend of horses and skis was the Winter Games’ first demonstration sport
A wild blend between horses and skis is an integral part of a sport which we won’t be seeing at the 2026 Winter Games.
Exhibited at St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1928, skijoring holds the honor of being the first ever demonstration sport at a Winter Olympics, yet the discipline’s origins extend well beyond its Games debut.
Practiced differently across continents, the history of skijoring is a complex one and comes in many different forms. But in recent years, it’s been the American version of the sport which has grown in popularity.
Western-style skijoring sees skiers hurtle around a course of jumps, rings, and gates while being pulled along by a galloping horse.
Megan Smith, a professional western-style skijorer, told CNN Sports all about the wild nature of the discipline: “An average person couldn’t do it. This is crazy.
“It’s super risky. Anything to do with animals is risky. You know, the horses really get into it, and they go really, really, really, really fast.”
Regina Martínez becomes Mexico’s first female Olympic cross-country skier
Regina Martínez made history on Thursday during the women’s 10km interval start, becoming Mexico’s first female Olympic cross-country skier.
While she finished more than 11 minutes back from Swedish gold medalist Frida Karlsson, Martínez – a Mexico City native – cried tears of joy as she crossed the finish line, greeted with hugs and cheers from the event’s medalists.
The 33-year-old emergency room nurse picked up cross-country skiing during her time as a medical student at the University of Minnesota.
Her residency brought her to Miami, Florida, where she trained on roller skates and walked dogs for $10 an hour to fund her Olympic dream.
The sport was, and still is, a much-needed escape from the heavy weight of her hospital work.
“Incredibly grateful for all the love and support,” Martínez wrote on Instagram, dressed in medical scrubs and cross country ski boots in front of the Olympic rings.
Olympic FOMO: How it feels waiting for your event to begin
Estonian freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru is one of many athletes still waiting to compete at this year’s Winter Olympics.
The 23-year-old – who turns 24 tomorrow, coincidentally – is set to participate in the women’s freeski halfpipe, but qualifying for that event doesn’t begin until Thursday, with the final not until Saturday.
Finally in Italy ahead of her practice days, Sildaru spoke to CNN Sports about what watching the action unfold on television feels like.
“I kind of had FOMO or something,” she said. “I saw so many videos of everybody getting here two weeks ago and everything just seemed so exciting.
“And I was like ‘Oh, I want to go to Italy as well.’ I wish I could have been here earlier, but I’m happy I finally made it.”
Sildaru had been training in Switzerland before traveling to her event in Livigno and said she was watching the Olympics on TV between training.
Now, after hours spent traveling, she’s finally ready to compete in what will be her second Games.
“It’s an event that not everybody gets to go to,” she said, explaining what it feels like being an Olympian. “Just being here and representing my country, it just feels really special.”
Do Olympic athletes get paid?
While Olympic medals are highly sought-after accolades, receiving one doesn’t come with any financial bonuses directly from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the organizers of the Games.
This is because the Games originated as an amateur competition intended to champion athletic success and the spirit of sports. Instead, the IOC spreads its money far and wide to further help the development of sport and its athletes.
However, there are more direct methods for athletes to earn money via their success at the Games.
The US Olympic & Paralympic Committee for one, has their Operation Gold grant program, which awards stipends to US athletes who finish in the top-three places in each event at the Olympic Games.
The money awarded varies by medal. Here’s a breakdown from US Paralympics Swimming officials:
- Gold medal: $37,500
- Silver medal: $22,500
- Bronze medal: $15,000
If an athlete has multiple top-three finishes at the Olympic Games, they are eligible for multiple Operation Gold awards, accord to US Paralympics Swimming.
And of course, medalists are set for big paydays from sponsors with some of the top earners pulling in millions of dollars for their Olympic success.
Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard wins slalom gold
Loïc Meillard has done it in the men’s slalom! The Swiss skier, who has been dominant in Milan Cortina, finished with gold – his third medal of the Games. With a combined time of 1:53.61, Meillard nailed both runs.
Atle Lie McGrath, who had a large cushion after the first run, had a Did Not Finish after straddling a gate combination and headed off the course towards the forest after the disappointing end to his run.
Austria’s Fabio Gstrein walked away with silver, finishing 0.35 seconds back from Meillard. Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen finished with the bronze.
Coach Snoop is having a blast at the Olympics
After delighting onlookers with a series of stylish cameos at the Paris Games in 2024, Snoop Dogg is back at the Olympics with a new, slightly more official, job: coach. The gig comes with a fresh wardrobe of looks cooler than the snow-capped Italian alps.
So far, he’s been spotted draped in a full-length, white fluffy coat and fire engine-red hat and gloves, watching the women’s downhill race, and casually chatting with onlookers at the curling mixed doubles, adorned in a zip-jacket emblazoned with Team USA players’ faces.
Wandering the icy streets of Cortina in a furry hat, houndstooth coat and enough swagger to make the snowflake medal hanging from his neck jangle in agreement, Coach Snoop (as one of his beanies reads) appears in his element.
It’s the first time Team USA has had an honorary coach, a volunteer role that involves Snoop lending “his signature humor and heart to help motivate Team USA athletes,” according to the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
The rapper-turned-hype man is a longtime sports fan, popping up in sometimes unexpected ways. Last July he became co-owner and investor in the Welsh football club, Swansea City. He was a torch-bearer at the 2024 Paris Games – and did so again at this year’s Winter Olympics. Much like in 2024, Snoop is reprising his role as a special correspondent for NBC, bringing his distinctive bold and flamboyant style and a genuine enthusiasm for whichever sport he happens to be commentating on – or throwing himself into, flailing limbs and all.
“It’s going down in Cortina,” he told NBC while walking the festive streets ahead of the opening ceremony, in sunglasses. “We got the beautiful people, good food, high fashion. I mean, I’m having a blast.”
Read more about Coach Snoop in Italy here.
