Shiffrin wins slalom gold, U.S. men's hockey survives OT

Mikaela Shiffrin caps Olympic career with slalom gold, U.S. men's hockey team advances to semifinals

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Mikaela Shiffrin won the women's slalom gold medal in dominant fashion, cementing her legacy as one of the greatest Olympic skiers of all time. The U.S. men's hockey team survived overtime against Sweden to advance to the semifinals, where they will face Slovakia.

Why it matters

Shiffrin's slalom gold medal caps an inspirational Olympic journey, as she overcame recent underperformances to solidify her status as a legendary athlete. The U.S. men's hockey team's semifinal berth marks a return to Olympic relevance for the program after a long drought.

The details

Shiffrin won the slalom event by a massive 1.50-second margin, the largest in any alpine skiing event this century. Her victory made her the first U.S. skier to win three Olympic gold medals. The U.S. men's hockey team was 1:31 away from securing a semifinal spot, but Sweden's Mika Zibanejad tied the game late in regulation to force overtime. Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes scored the game-winning goal in OT to send the U.S. to the semifinals, where they will face Slovakia.

  • Shiffrin's first slalom gold medal came at the 2014 Sochi Olympics when she was 18 years old.
  • Shiffrin's latest slalom gold medal makes her the youngest and oldest skier to win the event.
  • The U.S. men's hockey team will face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday, with the gold-medal game on Sunday.

The players

Mikaela Shiffrin

A 30-year-old American alpine skier who is considered one of the greatest Olympians of all time, with three gold medals and 108 World Cup wins.

Quinn Hughes

A defenseman for the Minnesota Wild who scored the game-winning goal in overtime to send the U.S. men's hockey team to the semifinals.

Mika Zibanejad

A Swedish ice hockey player who plays for the New York Rangers in the NHL and scored the game-tying goal late in regulation to force overtime against the U.S. men's hockey team.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The U.S. men's hockey team will face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday, with the gold-medal game on Sunday.

The takeaway

Mikaela Shiffrin's slalom gold medal caps an inspirational Olympic career, while the U.S. men's hockey team's semifinal berth marks a return to relevance for the program after a long drought.