US captures record 11th gold medal at the Winter Olympics
#Winter Olympics#gold medal#mixed aerials#Livigno Italy#US Olympic team#Salt Lake City 2002#Norway#Chris Lillis
📌 Key Takeaways
US wins record 11th gold medal at Winter Olympics
Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran and Chris Lillis take mixed aerials title
Medal breaks previous record set at Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics
US now has 30 overall medals, second to Norway's 17 golds
📖 Full Retelling
The U.S. Olympic team won its record-breaking 11th gold medal of the Winter Olympics on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Livigno, Italy, when the trio of Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran and Chris Lillis took the title in mixed aerials, surpassing the previous record set at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002. The historic victory marked a significant milestone for American winter sports, which has seen remarkable development over the past two decades since turning a corner at the 2002 Games. The medal also elevated the U.S. to 30 overall medals for the Olympics, though Norway maintained its lead with a remarkable 17 gold medals, setting a Winter Games record just a day earlier. The increased medal count reflects the expansion of the Winter Olympics, which now features 38 more events than in 2002, providing more opportunities for nations to achieve success. For Chris Lillis, this victory was particularly special as it marked a repeat performance, having previously teamed with Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld to win gold in the same event at the Beijing Games four years ago, demonstrating his consistent excellence in the sport of aerial skiing.
🏷️ Themes
Winter Olympics, US Sports Achievement, Aerial Skiing
The Winter Olympic Games (French: Jeux olympiques d'hiver), also known as the Olympic Winter Games or simply the Winter Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event held once every four years for sports practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympic Games, the 1924 Winter Olympics, were...
# Norway
**Norway**, officially the **Kingdom of Norway**, is a Nordic country situated in Northern Europe. It occupies the western and northernmost portions of the Scandinavian Peninsula and maintains territory extending into the Arctic and Subantarctic regions.
### Geography and Territory
Norway...
Christopher Lillis (born October 4, 1998) is an American freestyle skier. In the 2022 Winter Olympics, he won a gold medal in the mixed team aerials event.
He competed in Freestyle Aerial Skiing at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2021, winning the silver medal.
The US secured a record 11th gold medal at the Winter Olympics, marking a historic achievement for its winter sports program. This win boosts the nation's overall medal count to 30, underscoring its growing competitiveness on the global stage.
Context & Background
The mixed aerials team comprised Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran and Chris Lillis
The win brings the US total gold medals to 30, second only to Norway
Norway set a record with 17 golds in the same Games
There are 38 more medal events this year than in 2002
What Happens Next
The US team will continue to compete in the remaining events, aiming to add more medals to its tally. The record may influence future investment in winter sports development programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What event did the US win?
Mixed aerials
Who were the athletes on the winning team?
Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran and Chris Lillis
How many gold medals has the US won overall in these Games?
30
How many gold medals did Norway win?
17
Original Source
US captures record 11th gold medal at the Winter Olympics The U.S. team won its record-breaking 11th gold medal of the Winter Olympics when the trio of Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran and Chris Lillis took the title in mixed aerials By The Associated Press February 21, 2026, 7:10 AM LIVIGNO, Italy -- The U.S. Olympic team won its record-breaking 11th gold medal of the Winter Games on Saturday when the trio of Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran and Chris Lillis took the title in mixed aerials. The 11th gold breaks a record set at the last Olympics on U.S. soil — in Salt Lake City in 2002, which has long stood out as a turning point for a Winter-sports program that had struggled over previous decades. The medal lifted the U.S. to 30 overall for the Olympics. That's second to Norway, which a day earlier won its 17th gold medal to set a Winter Games record. There are 38 more medal events this year than there were in 2002. Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says Feb 20, 4:51 PM The mysterious Nancy Guthrie abduction: A full timeline Feb 19, 8:20 AM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM This marks a repeat for Lillis, who teamed with Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld four years ago to win at the Beijing Games. ___ https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics Related Topics Olympics Sponsored Content by Taboola Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says Feb 20, 4:51 PM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM The mysterious Nancy Guthrie abduction: A full timeline Feb 19, 8:20 AM Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released after arrest on suspicion of misconduct Feb 19, 4:23 PM ABC News Live 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events
