Milan, Italy: The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics delivered high drama on Thursday as American star Jordan Stolz settled for silver in the men’s 1,500 meters while Alysa Liu prepared for a pivotal free skate and the U.S. women’s hockey team chased gold.
Stolz falls short of triple gold
At the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, 21 year old Jordan Stolz entered the final heat as the favorite. Instead, China’s Zhongyan Ning produced an Olympic record 1 minute, 41.98 seconds to take gold. Stolz crossed the line 0.77 seconds behind, adding silver to the two gold medals he already captured in the 500 and 1,000 meters.
When the time flashed on the arena board, Ning leaped into the arms of teammates and draped a Chinese flag over his shoulders for a victory lap. Stolz bowed his head briefly, hands on his knees, before acknowledging the crowd.
“It’s a success, but more of a partial success if I don’t win the 1,500,” Stolz said before the race, reflecting on his dominance at the distance in recent years.
Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands claimed bronze, finishing just 0.07 seconds behind Stolz. Stolz will close his Olympic debut Saturday in the mass start.
Liu chases podium in women’s free skate
Later Thursday at 1 p.m. ET, the women’s figure skating free skate takes center stage. Alysa Liu enters in third place after a composed short program performance that kept American medal hopes alive.
Teammate Isabeau Levito sits eighth heading into the final skate, while Amber Glenn is 13th after a short rotation error on a jump left her visibly emotional at rink side.
The free skate is expected to be one of the defining moments of these Games, with medals likely decided by narrow margins.
USA vs Canada for hockey gold
Just ten minutes after figure skating begins, the United States and Canada meet for the women’s hockey gold medal at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Team USA has dominated the tournament, entering the final with a 31 to 1 goal differential across six games. The Americans defeated Canada 5 to 0 in group play and have not conceded a goal since their opening game.
Canada, a long time rival on Olympic ice, will attempt to disrupt U.S. momentum in what promises to be a physical and emotional showdown.
Curling breakthrough
Earlier in the day, Team USA women’s curling secured a semifinal berth with a tense 7 to 6 win over Switzerland. Tabitha Peterson delivered a clutch hammer shot in an extra end to clinch the victory after surrendering three points in the 10th end.
With medals on the line across multiple events and American athletes at the center of the action, Thursday stands as one of the most significant days yet in Milan Cortina.
