US claims record 12 gold medals at 2026 Winter Olympics, finishing second overall

The United States delivered its most successful Winter Olympics performance in history, capturing 12 gold medals and 33 total medals at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games—the nation’s best tally ever in a Winter Games.

Only Norway, the traditional winter sport powerhouse, finished ahead of the U.S. in the overall medal count. The Americans became the only non-European nation to crack the top five.

The record-breaking haul came despite early struggles from several marquee athletes and questions surrounding the U.S. team’s reception in Italy amid political tensions. By the time the closing ceremony began in Verona, however, American superstars and surprise performers alike had delivered when it mattered most.

Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin of Colorado claimed gold in the women’s slalom, while Wisconsin’s Jordan Stolz dominated the speed skating oval with two gold medals and a silver. The U.S. men’s hockey team captured gold for the first time since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980, joined by the women’s team on the podium in a double hockey medal performance.

“The men of USA hockey are GOLDEN at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 1980,” the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee posted on X.

Figure skaters and bobsledders also contributed to the medal rush, with Elena Meyers Taylor of Georgia winning gold in the monobob event.

“I don’t think I’m going to process this for a while,” Meyers Taylor said. “There were so many moments during this entire season, during this past four years, that we just thought it was impossible.”

Small States, Big Impact

The U.S. sent 232 athletes to Italy—its largest Winter Olympics roster ever—but participation remained heavily regional. Eighteen states, including Nebraska, Nevada and South Dakota, sent no Olympians at all, according to the USOPC’s official tally of athletes and their recognized hometowns.

Instead, a handful of states punched far above their weight. Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Utah and Wyoming produced the bulk of elite winter athletes and medals.

Colorado alone accounted for five medals, including three gold. Vermont and Wyoming, despite their tiny populations, combined for one gold and six silver medals.

“It’s been a tough road, but sometimes you just have to keep going because that’s the only option,” said Breezy Johnson of Wyoming, who won gold in the women’s downhill. “And sometimes when you keep going, maybe you’ll make it back to the top. It’s really special.”

Breadth of Success

The U.S. distinguished itself by medaling in 11 different sports disciplines—from bobsled to figure skating to hockey to speed skating. That diversity stood in contrast to Norway, which concentrated its dominance, winning 25 of its 41 medals in just two disciplines: cross-country skiing and biathlon.

“It [the gold medal win] means a lot to me,” Stolz said. “It’s every four years that you get the chance to win Olympic gold, so I’m super happy.”

Historical Context

Olympic historian Bill Mallon offered a note of context for the record performance: today’s Winter Olympics feature significantly more opportunities than in the past.

“Our previous best [gold medal tally] was 10 in 2002, there were 78 events,” Mallon told NPR. “There are now 116 events.”

Even accounting for the expanded program, the 2026 performance marked a sharp improvement from the Beijing Games four years ago, when the U.S. won nine gold and 25 medals overall.