U.S. boosts gold medal tally at Winter Games, led by athletes from handful of states

U.S. athletes delivered a record-breaking performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, securing 12 gold medals and 33 overall medals despite initial political protests and early struggles by some star competitors, with the haul marking the country's best Winter Games showing ever and second only to Norway in the final medal standings. The historic medal count was fueled by superstar performances from athletes like Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin from Colorado, who claimed gold in the women's slalom, and speed skater Jordan Stolz from Wisconsin, who won two gold and a silver. Team successes also played a crucial role, with the U.S. figure skating team delivering stunning performances and both the men's and women's hockey teams capturing gold, ending a 46-year drought for the men's team. 'The men of USA hockey are GOLDEN at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 1980,' the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced, highlighting one of the most emotional victories of the Games. Notably, the medal success came despite winter sports remaining predominantly regional in the United States. The U.S. sent its largest-ever roster of 232 athletes to Italy, yet 18 states failed to send any competitors at all, including some with long winters like Nebraska, Nevada, and South Dakota. The medal harvest was concentrated in a handful of states that have fostered elite winter sports programs, with Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Utah producing the majority of champions. Colorado alone accounted for five medals, including three gold, while Vermont and Wyoming—both with small populations—combined for one gold and six silver medals, demonstrating how smaller states can punch above their weight in winter sports. The U.S. achievement stands out for its breadth across disciplines, with medals won in eleven different sports from bobsled to figure skating to hockey to speed skating. This contrasts with Norway, which won 25 of its 41 medals in just two sports—cross-country skiing and biathlon. Olympic historian Bill Mallon noted that while the previous U.S. record of 10 gold medals was set in 2002 when there were only 78 events, this year's Games featured 116 events, providing more opportunities for medals. Despite this expanded competition, the 2026 performance represented a significant improvement over the 2022 Beijing Games, where the U.S. won only nine gold and 25 medals overall.