U.S. Skiers Shine, Dog Disrupts Olympics in Milan-Cortina
MILAN-CORTINA, ITALY - The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, are underway, with American athletes making headlines, including a silver medal win for Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher in the men's team sprint, according to NPR News. The games, which are six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, also saw a canine interloper briefly disrupt the women's cross-country skiing qualification, injecting a dose of levity into the competition. Key events on February 18th included curling, ice hockey playoffs, and various medal events in snowboarding, skiing, and speed skating, while the U.S. women's ice hockey team prepared to compete against Canada for gold or silver on February 19th, as reported by CBS News.
The U.S. men's team sprint victory marked a significant achievement for American male skiers, while Norway's Johannes Klaebo continued his dominance, and Italy's Federico Pellegrino secured bronze, according to NPR News. The U.S. women's team, including Jessie Diggins, narrowly missed a podium finish.
Adding an unexpected twist to the games, a dog's unexpected appearance on the track during the women's cross-country skiing qualification captivated global audiences, becoming an instant social media sensation, according to NPR News. The canine was quickly apprehended.
Meanwhile, American free skier Nick Goepper, a three-time Olympic medalist, is aiming to make Olympic history. Goepper credits his success, in part, to his upbringing in Indiana, where he honed his skills on a small slope with a 400-foot vertical drop, according to Time. "It was the best place I ever could have grown up to learn how to ski," Goepper said, highlighting the advantage of the facility's accessibility and the hours of practice it afforded him.
The word "Olympics" itself hails from ancient Greece, where the gods of Mount Olympus mingled with humans in the sacred sanctuary of Olympia, a tradition that continues to inspire athletic excellence, according to NPR News. As the games continue, athletes from around the world are competing in various events, striving for glory and embodying the spirit of the Olympics.
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