Switzerland Surges with Double Gold on Day 3 of Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
- Rex Ballard
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Day 3 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics brought a Swiss avalanche of success, with Franjo von Allmen and Mathilde Gremaud each claiming gold to propel Switzerland into contention atop the medal standings. Norway maintains the lead in golds with three, while host Italy boasts the most total medals at nine. Team USA, after a golden Day 2, didn't add to their tally but delivered strong showings in curling and hockey, setting up high-stakes matchups ahead. With 18 of 116 events now complete, the Games are delivering non-stop drama from the Alps to the ice rinks.
The spotlight shone on Switzerland's von Allmen, who became the first athlete at these Games with multiple golds, and Gremaud, who defended her slopestyle title. Meanwhile, U.S. curlers pulled off a stunning upset, and Lindsey Vonn broke her silence post-crash. Here's the full rundown, with a focus on American athletes chasing glory.
Latest Medal Count by Country
As of the end of February 9 (local time), the medal table reflects a tight race among winter powerhouses. Switzerland's Day 3 haul vaulted them up the ranks, while the U.S. holds steady with two golds from earlier events.
Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
1 | Norway (NOR) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
2 | Switzerland (SUI) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
3 | Japan (JPN) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
4 | Germany (GER) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
5 | United States (USA) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
6 | Austria (AUT) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
7 | Italy (ITA) | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
8 | Czechia (CZE) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
8 | France (FRA) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
8 | Netherlands (NED) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
8 | Sweden (SWE) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
12 | People's Republic of China (CHN) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Traditional favorites like Norway and Switzerland are flexing in endurance and alpine events, while the U.S. eyes more hardware in freestyle and team sports.
Key Event Results from February 9
Five medal events wrapped up on Day 3, spanning freestyle slopes to speed skating ovals. No new podiums for the U.S., but close calls and historic advances kept American fans buzzing.
Freestyle Skiing - Women's Slopestyle Switzerland's Mathilde Gremaud defended her Olympic title with a stellar 86.96 on her best run, edging out China's Eileen Gu (86.58, silver) – a San Francisco native who switched allegiance in 2019. Canada's Megan Oldham took bronze (85.30). For the U.S., no finalists, but the event highlighted Gu's continued dominance, though she fell short of repeating her Beijing gold.
Alpine Skiing - Team Combined Franjo von Allmen made history as the first double gold medalist of these Games, leading Switzerland to victory in this debut Olympic event. Austria claimed silver, and Italy bronze amid home cheers. No U.S. team in the mix, but the event's format – blending downhill and slalom – added fresh excitement. Lindsey Vonn, recovering from her Day 2 crash, shared her first comments: "No regrets – I gave it everything."
Speed Skating - Women's 1000m Netherlands' Jutta Leerdam shattered the Olympic record (1:12.31) for gold, with compatriot Femke Kok taking silver. Germany's Claudia Pechstein earned bronze at age 53 – a remarkable feat. U.S. veterans Brittany Bowe (4th) and Erin Jackson (6th) were in contention but missed the podium, showing depth but no hardware.
Snowboard - Women's Big Air Japan's Kokomo Murase thrilled with a 179.00 score to dethrone two-time champion Anna Gasser (AUT, silver). China's Su Yiming took bronze. U.S. snowboarder Hailey Langland qualified but finished outside the medals in a competitive field.
Ski Jumping - Men's Individual Normal Hill Germany's Andreas Wellinger soared to gold, with Norway's Johann Andre Forfang silver and Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi bronze. No standout U.S. performances here, as the Americans focus on upcoming large hill events.
Other Notable Updates
Mixed Doubles Curling: In a massive upset, U.S. duo Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin defeated defending champions Italy 9-8 in the semifinals, guaranteeing at least silver – America's first-ever Olympic medal in this event. They'll face Sweden for gold on February 10.
Women's Ice Hockey: Team USA stayed perfect (3-0) with a 5-0 shutout over Switzerland, outshooting them 42-12. Goals from five different players, including Caroline Harvey's three-point night. Next up: A blockbuster vs. Canada on February 10.
Figure Skating: U.S. pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates sit second after the rhythm dance, just 0.46 points behind France – positioning them well for the free dance.
Looking Ahead
Day 4 (February 10) promises fireworks with the U.S.-Canada women's hockey rivalry, mixed doubles curling gold medal match, and events like biathlon pursuits and snowboard halfpipe finals. Team USA has medal hopefuls in curling and skating, aiming to climb the table. The Games continue to captivate – stay locked in for more twists from Milan and Cortina.
