Team USA builds early momentum at Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics with curling, hockey wins and gold medal hopes

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are fully underway, and Team USA is already delivering clutch performances as competition moves into its first full week.

The Americans advanced to the finals of mixed doubles curling after defeating host nation Italy, the defending gold medalists. With the win, Team USA secured its first-ever medal in the mixed doubles curling event. The U.S. team will now face a Swedish brother-and-sister duo in the finals, a pair they previously defeated during qualifying rounds.

On the ice dance stage, Madison Chock and Evan Bates opened strong in their first performance. The American duo trails the French leaders by less than a single point heading into the free dance, keeping them firmly in medal contention. Chock said the pair felt confident in their opening skate and believes they are well-positioned to challenge for the top spot.

Team USA women’s hockey also made a statement, shutting out Switzerland with a dominant 5–0 victory. Attention now shifts to a highly anticipated matchup against longtime rival Canada, a game many see as a potential preview of the gold medal showdown. Players expect a high-energy atmosphere as the two powerhouses collide.

Excitement is also building in men’s figure skating, with the opening round of singles competition set to begin. American star Ilya Malinin, widely known as the “Quad God,” enters as a heavy favorite to capture gold for Team USA.

With a historic medal already secured and several gold medal opportunities on the horizon, Team USA’s momentum continues to build at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

Credit: NBC News

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