As the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games approach their final stretch, Day 13 delivered a masterclass in resilience and elite athleticism. February 19 proved to be a historic date, marked by the introduction of new Olympic disciplines and the end of long-standing gold medal droughts.

Figure Skating: Alysa Liu Ends 24-Year Wait for Team USA

In a breathtaking performance, Alysa Liu secured the Olympic title in the women’s singles event. Entering the free skate in third place, Liu delivered a career-high score of 226.79 to climb to the top of the podium. This victory marks the first time an American woman has taken home the figure skating gold in nearly a quarter-century.

• Gold: Alysa Liu (USA) – 226.79
• Silver: Sakamoto Kaori (JPN) – 221.16
• Bronze: Nakai Ami (JPN) – 224.90

Note: Liu’s win follows her earlier success in the team event, making this her second gold of the 2026 Games.

Women’s Ice Hockey: Team USA Triumphs in Overtime Thriller

The legendary rivalry between USA and Canada reached a fever pitch in the gold-medal game. Trailing 1-0 late in the third period, the Americans made a risky move by pulling goaltender Aerin Frankel for an extra attacker. The gamble paid off when captain Hilary Knight netted the equalizer.

Just over four minutes into sudden-death overtime, Megan Keller scored the winning goal, securing a 2-1 victory and Team USA’s third Olympic crown. Meanwhile, Switzerland took home the bronze after defeating Sweden.

Ski Mountaineering: A Historic Olympic Debut

Ski mountaineering officially joined the Olympic roster on Thursday, crowning its inaugural champions in the sprint events.

• Women’s Sprint: Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton took the gold with a time of 2:59.77, narrowly beating favorite Emily Harrop of France. Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez took bronze, marking a historic first Winter medal for her country.
• Men’s Sprint: Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll braved heavy snow to claim the first-ever men’s gold in the sport. He clocked in at 2:34.03, finishing 1.5 seconds ahead of silver medalist Nikita Filipov.

Nordic Combined: Oftebro Secures Third Gold

Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro continued his dominant run in the men’s team sprint. Despite Germany leading after the ski jumping phase, Oftebro and teammate Andreas Skoglund surged during the cross-country portion. In a tense final stretch, Oftebro overtook Finland’s Eero Hirvonen to finish in 41:18.0, clinching his third gold medal of these Games.

Speed Skating: Ning Zhongyan Smashes Olympic Record

The men’s 1500m saw a historic performance from China’s Ning Zhongyan. Ning clocked a record-breaking 1:41.98, defeating American favorite Jordan Stolz. In a fast-paced heat, the top four finishers—including bronze medalist Kjeld Nuis—all surpassed the previous Olympic record.

Rank	Athlete	Country	Time
Gold	Ning Zhongyan	China	1:41.98 (OR)
Silver	Jordan Stolz	USA	1:42.75
Bronze	Kjeld Nuis	Netherlands	1:42.82