U.S. speedskater Greta Myers made a surprise Olympic debut in the 3,000 meters at the Milano Cortina Games, while other athletes shared their thoughts on representing the United States amid a tumultuous political climate, as the Winter Olympics officially began in Italy. Meanwhile, heavy metal band Twisted Sister canceled its 50th-anniversary reunion shows after lead singer Dee Snider resigned due to health issues.
Myers' unexpected appearance in the 3,000 meters came just three hours before the race began, according to CBS News. She was originally slated to compete in the women's 1,500 meters at the 2026 Games. However, her times were fast enough to secure the first alternate quota spot, as reported by NBC. Czechia's Martina Sablikova, who won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games, announced she wouldn't compete, calling it the "hardest sporting decision of her life." Sablikova expressed feeling "helpless" and "disappointed," and apologized to everyone.
As the Games commenced, some Team USA athletes spoke about representing the United States amid the political climate. Freestyle skier Chris Lillis told journalists he felt "heartbroken about what's happened in the United States," according to CBS News. He added, "I love the USA, and I think I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics. With that being said, you know, a lot of times athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things."
In other news, Twisted Sister canceled its reunion shows scheduled from April through the beginning of the summer. The band cited the "sudden and unexpected resignation" of lead singer Dee Snider, according to a social media post. Snider, 70, stated that his body could "no longer push the boundaries of rock and roll fury," due to health issues, including degenerative arthritis. The band said the future of Twisted Sister would be determined in the next several weeks.
The Macuga sisters, Alli, Lauren, and Sam, also had their Olympic dreams dashed. While they had hoped to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics, Alli and Sam were not selected for Team USA. Lauren, who won a Super-G event in January 2025, still had a chance, but ultimately did not make the team.
On the political front, CBS News announced the guests for "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on February 8, 2026, would include Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, Republican Rep. Tony Gonzalez of Texas, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, and David Becker.
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