Winter Olympics update from Milan Cortina: Medal races heat up across skiing, skating, and curling

Sunday is not just about football. While fans get ready for Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are already delivering big moments in Italy. Medals are under review, pressure is growing, and certain initial favorites are now in difficult circumstances. One emotional crash has changed the tone of the Games, whereas Team USA is battling closely on the ice and in curling.With events happening across multiple venues, this is shaping up to be a busy and tense Olympic day for athletes and fans alike.The biggest moment so far came in women’s downhill skiing. Lindsey Vonn crashed just seconds into her run. Her ski pole clipped a gate early, throwing her off balance. She spun, hit the snow hard, and stayed down while screaming in pain. Medical teams reached her quickly, and she was later airlifted from the mountain for further care.The crash ended what many saw as a brave return to Olympic racing. Vonn had been away from competition for years and came back hoping for another medal. Instead, her run ended almost as soon as it began, leaving the crowd silent and stunned.On the ice, Team USA is still in front, but nothing feels settled. Ilia Malinin placed second in the men’s short program of the team event. His skate was strong, but small mistakes kept him behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama. The U.S. leads overall, but Japan is close, and three free skate events on Sunday will decide the final result.In mixed doubles curling, Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin hit a rough patch. After four straight wins, they lost twice on Saturday, including a surprise extra-end loss to South Korea. They return Sunday needing wins against Estonia and Sweden to stay in control.Outside Team USA, Ester Ledecká saw her chance at history slip away. She was aiming for a third straight Olympic gold in snowboard cross but finished second in her quarterfinal heat. While the three-peat did not happen, her past Olympic achievements still set her apart.More medals will also be awarded Sunday in biathlon, cross-country skiing, luge, and speed skating. For the U.S., speed skater Casey Dawson enters a deep and competitive field.