Winter Olympics 2026 Day 3 Highlights: Golds, Records, and Dramatic Moments
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina have been nothing short of spectacular. Day 3, especially, was wild—five gold medals handed out and a bunch of records smashed.
Switzerland owned the slopes in skiing. Mathilde Gremaud defended her title in the women’s freeski slopestyle and snagged the day’s first gold.
Her run was jaw-dropping. You could feel her focus and grit in every trick.
Men’s Alpine Skiing Combined Team Event
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Switzerland kept the momentum in the men’s Alpine skiing combined team event. Franjo von Allmen and Tanguy Nef led the charge for their team.
Von Allmen clocked the fourth-fastest downhill, while Nef nailed the top slalom. That combo clinched the win, making von Allmen the first double gold medalist at these Games.
Record-Breaking Speed Skating
Speed skating turned heads on Day 3. Jutta Leerdam from the Netherlands shattered the Olympic record in the women’s 1000m.
She crossed the line in 1:12.31 to grab the gold. That’s another big one for her trophy case.
Support from the Stands
Leerdam had some serious support—her fiancé, YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul, cheered her on from the crowd. Fellow Dutch skater Femke Kok took silver.
American Brittany Bowe just missed out, landing in fourth.
Japan’s Snowboarding Triumph
In the women’s big air snowboarding, Kokomo Murase of Japan took her first Olympic gold. Her last run was a nail-biter—she scored 179.00 and unseated two-time champ Anna Gasser.
Murase’s Journey to Gold
Murase’s path to the top spot wasn’t easy. She picked up bronze in 2022 and came here hungry for more.
After winning big air world gold last year, she’s now firmly among the sport’s elite.
U.S. Mixed Doubles Curling Upset
The U.S. mixed doubles curling team pulled off a shocker by knocking out defending champs Italy. Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin edged them out 9-8 in a tense semifinal.
Gold Medal Match Ahead
Thiesse and Dropkin now face Sweden for gold. If they win, it’ll be Team USA’s first-ever mixed doubles curling gold.
They’ve played smart and stayed locked in the whole way.
Women’s Hockey Showdown
The U.S. and Canada women’s hockey teams are gearing up for another classic showdown. Both squads cruised through prelims—the U.S. blanked Switzerland 5-0, while Canada led Czech Republic by the same score.
Historic Rivalry
Honestly, this rivalry never gets old. These two have claimed 15 of the 16 gold and silver medals in Olympic women’s hockey history.
Puck drops at 2:10 p.m. ET. You know it’s going to be intense.
Lindsey Vonn’s Heartbreaking Injury
American alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn had to end her comeback bid after fracturing her tibia during the women’s downhill skiing final. It’s a tough blow for Team USA.
Her teammates say they’ll push forward and try to honor her legacy.
Team USA’s Reshuffle
With Vonn out, Breezy Johnson will step in for the women’s alpine skiing team combined event alongside Mikaela Shiffrin.
Even with the setback, the team’s got confidence. Johnson and Shiffrin are ready to lead the way.
Other Notable Performances
Day 3 brought some impressive performances across several events:
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- Philipp Raimund from Germany grabbed gold in the men’s ski jump normal hill final. He pushed past his fear of heights and pulled off a win that felt almost cinematic.
- Madison Chock and Evan Bates represented Team USA in the ice dance rhythm dance. Their routine was sharp and set up a tight showdown with the French duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron.
If you’re following along, there’s a lot more in store as the 2026 Winter Olympics roll on. For live updates and news, you might want to check out The Athletic.