2026 Winter Olympics Day 3 Highlights: U.S. Curlers Chase Gold, Women’s Hockey Dominates, Vonn Speaks After Crash
Day 3 of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics brought the kind of drama and determination that make the Games so captivating. From a potential curling milestone to a dominant performance on the ice by the U.S. women’s hockey team - and even a ski jumping gold medalist who once feared heights - Monday had no shortage of compelling storylines. Let’s dive into the biggest moments from a busy day on snow and ice.
Dropkin and Thiesse One Win Away from Curling History
The U.S. mixed doubles curling team of Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse delivered a statement win on Monday, edging past Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner - the reigning Olympic champions - in a 9-8 thriller that had everything you want from a semifinal: precision, pressure, and a little late-game drama.
With that win, Dropkin and Thiesse are now just one victory away from securing only the second curling gold in U.S. Olympic history.
The first came back in 2018, when John Shuster and the men’s team shocked the world in Pyeongchang. Now, it’s the mixed doubles team’s turn to etch their names into U.S. curling lore.
They’ll take on Sweden in the gold medal match Tuesday, with the first stone set to be thrown at 6:05 p.m. local time (12:05 p.m. ET). If Monday’s performance was any indication, this duo is locked in - and ready to make history.
Chock and Bates Trail in Ice Dance, But Still in the Hunt
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, one of Team USA’s most decorated ice dance pairs, find themselves in second place after the rhythm dance portion of the competition. Their score of 89.72 trails the French duo of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, who posted a 90.18.
That sets up a high-stakes free dance showdown on Wednesday. Chock and Bates are no strangers to pressure - they’ve been at the top of the sport for years - and they’ll need a near-flawless performance to leapfrog the French and chase down gold.
Ski Jumping Gold for Germany’s Raimund - From Fear to Flight
Germany’s Philipp Raimund delivered one of the most unexpected - and inspiring - gold medal performances of the Games so far. Just months ago, Raimund pulled out of a competition, citing a fear of heights. Fast forward to Monday, and he’s standing atop the Olympic podium after winning gold in the normal hill ski jump.
Coming into the Games ranked sixth in the World Cup standings and without a single individual World Cup win, Raimund wasn’t on many shortlists for gold. But that’s what makes the Olympics special - they’re built for moments like this.
Team USA Women’s Hockey Rolls Again - Next Up: Canada
The U.S. women’s hockey team continued its dominant run through the preliminary round, shutting out Switzerland 5-0 on Monday. Goals came from Haley Winn, Joy Dunne, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, and Caroline Harvey - a balanced attack that’s been the hallmark of this squad so far.
Team USA has now outscored opponents 15-1 through three games and looks every bit like a gold medal contender. But the real test comes Tuesday, when they face off against rival Canada in one of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament.
Canada, 2-0 after a 5-1 win over the Czech Republic, may be without their captain and superstar Marie-Philip Poulin, who left Monday’s game after a collision with Czech forward Kristýna Kaltounková. If Poulin can’t go, it’s a major blow for the Canadians - and a potential edge for Team USA in a rivalry that rarely needs extra fuel.
Lindsey Vonn Speaks Out After Downhill Crash
Lindsey Vonn’s return to Olympic skiing ended in heartbreak on Sunday after a brutal crash in the downhill left her with a complex tibia fracture. On Monday, the legendary skier shared her thoughts and emotions in an Instagram post, revealing she’ll need multiple surgeries to repair the damage.
“I tried. I dreamt.
I jumped,” Vonn wrote. “While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets.”
It was a raw and honest reflection from one of the sport’s greatest champions. Even in injury, Vonn’s competitive spirit and love for skiing remain unmistakable.
Farquharson in the Mix for Luge Podium
Ashley Farquharson is right in the hunt for a luge medal after two runs, sitting in fifth place with a combined time of 1:45.796. The Sacramento native will have two more runs Tuesday to try and crack the podium.
She’s chasing a pair of Germans - Julia Taubitz (1:45.188) and Merle Malou Fraebel (1:45.249) - who currently hold the top two spots. Fellow Americans Emily Fischnaller and Summer Britcher are in eighth and 12th, respectively.
Déjà Vu for Eileen Gu in Freeski Slopestyle
Eileen Gu took home silver in the women’s freeski slopestyle, once again finishing behind Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud - just as she did four years ago in Beijing.
Gremaud’s second run featured three double corkscrew jumps that ultimately sealed the gold. For Gu, a global icon and one of the sport’s biggest stars, it’s another podium finish - but not the color she was chasing.
As the Games continue, the U.S. has plenty of storylines to follow: a curling duo on the verge of history, a hockey team ready for its biggest test, and athletes across disciplines pushing for the podium. Day 3 brought the drama - and there’s plenty more to come in Milan-Cortina.