After a thrilling quarterfinal round, the U.S. men&#8217;s hockey team is now only two games away from capturing Olympic gold — something they have only done twice — and not since 1980.
The team secured the win over Sweden in an overtime nail-biter, eventually defeating them by a slim 2-1 when two-time all-star Quinn Hughes came through with the winning shot.
Despite a scoreless first period, it seemed like the Americans seized control when Dylan Larkin scored in the second period with the assists of Hughes and his brother Jack — coupled with unstoppable goaltending by Connor Hellebuyck. But with just 91 seconds left on the clock, Sweden&#8217;s Mika Zibanejad beat Hellebuyck to tie the game.
The teams then went to 3-on-3 sudden death overtime, where only ten minutes are given to score before moving to a shootout. Three and a half minutes into overtime, Hughes took a pass from his teammate Matt Boldy, ripped home the game-winner, and became Team USA&#8217;s hero. It marked his second point of the game, and sixth in the tournament.
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Quinn Hughes sends the USA Men&#8217;s Olympic Hockey Team to the semi-finals against Slovakia with this OT winner!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USAHockey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USAHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/KkvvAYFejQ">pic.twitter.com/KkvvAYFejQ</a>
— Grand Canyon State Sports (@GCStateSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/GCStateSports/status/2024259726524248412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The U.S.-Sweden match was just one of three quarterfinals that required overtime today, as Canada barely overtook the Czech Republic, and Finland also almost lost to Switzerland.
Team USA will compete against Slovakia, coming off a 6-2 win over Germany, in the semifinals on Friday afternoon. Canada will play the reigning Olympic gold champions, Finland. If the United States and Canada can both deliver in the semifinals, what a competitive rival match it will be on Sunday.
On the women&#8217;s side, the U.S. team — who last won gold in the 2018 Winter Games — has had sweeping wins over its competition throughout the entire Olympic tournament and is set to take on Canada for another gold on Thursday.

Ice Hockey – Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 12

U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team Snags Win In Overtime Thriller

Hockey

Sports

Winter Olympics

American Elana Meyers Taylor has many titles: professional bobsledder, wife, devoted mother of two, proud patriot, and now — finally — Olympic gold medalist.
The 41-year-old also became the oldest athlete to win an individual event in the winter games, and is tied for the most decorated female Winter Olympian for Team USA. Before the Milan Cortina Games, Meyers Taylor has been overwhelmingly close to gold with five previous medals &#8212; three silver and two bronze. But after several years and Olympic appearances, this Monday, she finally secured first.
Her win took place in the women’s monobob competition. Meyers Taylor was to go second to last, and delivered an impressive time of 3:57.93, beating her teammate Kaillie Humphries for the top spot. Only one person stood between her and the gold medal — Germany&#8217;s Laura Nolte, who was the gold medalist in the women&#8217;s bobsled from the Beijing games in 2022. She anxiously awaited as Nolte sped down the track neck-and-neck with her times, but finished a mere 0.04 seconds behind Meyers Taylor.
Once she realized her victory, Meyers Taylor jumped and shouted with joy before falling to her knees, hands to her face and clutching the American flag.
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Elana Meyers Taylor&#8217;s GOLDEN reaction says it all. 💛🥇 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinterOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinterOlympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/5gU3MItPN5">pic.twitter.com/5gU3MItPN5</a>
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSports/status/2023593152083374455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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But Meyers Taylor isn&#8217;t just an elite competitor. She is a proud wife, mother, and American.
Meyers Taylor <a href="https://cbn.com/news/world/god-has-plan-bobsledding-olympian-elana-meyers-taylor-wins-silver-medal">met</a> her husband, Nic, who was also a bobsledder, in a Bible study near the U.S. Olympic Training Center in New York in 2011. Their two sons are both deaf, and one has Down syndrome. In a post before the games, she <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUk-75oDXd7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">wrote</a>: “I am a first generation American- a proud Jamaican Panamanian Italian American. I am the daughter of an immigrant and the proud mother of two disabled sons and my story isn’t possible in most other places in the world. I am proud to represent the US and I love my country dearly.”
She is also an outspoken Christian and shared <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DU3CAerjX3a/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">this</a> on Tuesday: &#8220;The moment we prayed for. Glory to God. Forever an Olympic Champion.&#8221;
Meyers Taylor has had her eyes set on Olympic gold for a long time, but she believes there is more to it than just the game. In a 2016 interview, she <a href="https://cbn.com/news/world/god-has-plan-bobsledding-olympian-elana-meyers-taylor-wins-silver-medal">said,</a> ​​&#8221;We&#8217;re talking about the Olympics. We&#8217;re talking about trying to win the gold medal. All of these things can be overwhelming. But regardless of whether I win a gold medal or never compete again, I just have to trust that God has a plan for my life and I’m called to be his representative through the sport and outside of the sport.”
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUdW9XhkYe6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Elana Meyers Taylor OLY (@elanameyerstaylor)</a>
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BOBSLEIGH-OLY-2026-MILANO CORTINA

Meet Elana Meyers Taylor: The American Bobsledder Who Finally Won Her First Gold Medal

Christian

Family Values

General

World

There are lots of emotions surrounding the Winter Olympics this year, and not all of them are tied to the actual competition. Several American Olympians have voiced their “mixed emotions” about representing their country, with one choosing to compete for an entirely different nation.
Freestyle skier Hunter Hess, for example, is one competitor who has gained significant attention, even from President Donald Trump. The president <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7031234/2026/02/08/president-trump-hunter-hess-2026-winter-olympics/">called</a> the athlete a “real loser” over comments Hess made in a pre-Olympics press conference last week.
When asked what it means to represent America, Hess <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JvQ_IxWVbM">said</a> it &#8220;brings up mixed emotions&#8221; and that it&#8217;s “a little hard.”
“There&#8217;s obviously a lot going on that I&#8217;m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren&#8217;t. &#8230; If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I&#8217;m representing it. Just because I&#8217;m wearing the flag doesn&#8217;t mean I represent everything that&#8217;s going on in the U.S. I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here.&#8221;
A few days after the internet backlash, Hess took to social media to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUip9fYjEv1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">expand</a>: “I love my country,” he wrote.
“There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better. One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out. The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided, we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.”
Another freestyle skier, Chris Lillis, feels similarly. In the same press conference, Lillis <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JvQ_IxWVbM">said</a> he is “heartbroken” over the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Minnesota. &#8220;As a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody&#8217;s rights and making sure that we&#8217;re treating our citizens as well as anybody, with love and respect. I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that that&#8217;s the America that we&#8217;re trying to represent.&#8221;
Lillis did, however, post this on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUiEq81DGPe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">social media</a>: “Love, dignity and respect to everyone, even those who disagree with us. I love my country and am proud to represent the USA.”
Figure skater Amber Glenn is another Olympian who hit the headlines of many prominent outlets for her controversial comments. Last week, she said the queer community is having a “hard time” under the Trump administration, leaving them to “fight for [their] human rights.” Glenn said a “scary amount of hate” trailed her in a now-expired Instagram story: “When I chose to utilize one of the amazing things about the United States of America (Freedom of speech) to convey how I feel as an athlete competing for Team USA in a troubling time for many Americans, I am now receiving a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice WHEN ASKED about how I feel.”
After the internet backlash, she announced a break from social media before <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-figure-skater-amber-glenn-fires-back-after-controversial-comments">firing back</a> at her haters, &#8220;They hate to see two woke b*tches winning.”
Conversely, before the games began, snowboarder Chloe Kim delivered a heartfelt tribute to America in a social media <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUYjinFidqC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">post</a>: “I can’t believe I’ve arrived in Milan to represent my country at the Olympic Games for the third time.”
“My parents left South Korea in search of a better future for their family. They left behind everything they knew so that my sisters and I could have the chance to one day live the American dream. Their sacrifice is one I will never take for granted. So when I stand at the top of the halfpipe, competing on the biggest stage in sport, I do so with immense pride. I am representing my country but I am also representing those who took a leap of faith, who came to this beautiful nation carrying hopes, dreams, and courage.”
“I am proud of my heritage. I am proud of my journey. And I am proud to represent a country that is strongest when it embraces diversity, dignity, and hope. GO TEAM USA!!” she added.
When <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/snowboarder-chloe-kim-falls-short-of-historic-gold-medal-threepeat?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=American+Snowboarder+Chloe+Kim+Falls+Short+Of+Historic+Gold+Medal+Threepeat">asked</a> by a reporter for a response to Trump calling Hess a “real loser,” Kim said she hopes to lead with love and compassion. “Obviously, my parents being immigrants, this one definitely hits pretty close to home. I think in moments like these, it is important to unite and stand up for one another, for all that’s going on.”
“I’m really proud to represent the United States,” she said. “The U.S. has given my family and I so much opportunity, but I also think we are allowed to voice our opinions on what is going on, and I think we need to lead with love and compassion. I would love to see some more of that.”
Along the same lines, Kim&#8217;s teammate Maddie Mastro <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUa32PqDO16/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">posted</a> something similar, “I am truly honored and proud to wear Team USA on my back. Being an American athlete means representing a country built on diversity, strength, and resilience … When I drop in, I’m riding for an America that leads with kindness, love, and compassion; one that supports one another and rises together.”
One of the most <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/eileen-gu-garners-backlash-commenting-trumps-statement-while-representing-china">controversial</a> Olympians is American Eileen Gu, who has chosen to compete for China, where her mother is from, since 2019. She recently <a href="https://time.com/7355691/eileen-gu-interview-2026-olympics/">said</a> in an interview with TIME, “The U.S. already has the representation. I like building my own pond.”
Critics have pointed out that Gu makes millions a year from Chinese brands, but she has denied that it was a factor: “I’m glad that there’s enough money in the sport now for people to think that’s a consideration.”
On the other hand, Jasmine Jones is a first-time Olympian competing in bobsled who also served in the Air Force. In an interview with Fox, she said, “Being able to represent my country, as well as being an athlete for my country, it definitely brings a different meaning.”
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to do both.”

Cross-Country Skiing – Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 8

How Do Olympians Feel About Representing The U.S. At Winter Games?

Global Politics

United States

American snowboarder Chloe Kim was poised to make Olympic history this Thursday by becoming the first snowboarder to win three consecutive gold medals, despite a torn labrum in her shoulder.
Kim&#8217;s reign was cut short, however, as 17-year-old Choi Gaon from Korea swooped in and beat her by two points in her Olympic debut. In an ironic twist, Kim first gained global recognition when she was the same age, when she won gold in the women’s halfpipe in the 2018 Winter Olympics. She has continued to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/chloe-kim-winter-olympics-snowboarding-gold-rcna258703">reign</a> in the sport as a three-time world champion, 12-time World Cup winner, and eight-time Winter X Champion.
For most of the night, it seemed like the 25-year-old California native had it in the bag.
Kim started off in the number one slot after a strong first run that earned her 88 points, but crashed in her second run. Gaon, however, had two rocky runs, the first of which left her sitting in the middle of the course with medical assistance for several minutes. At first, it was unclear if she&#8217;d even be able to keep competing. Then, in her last run, Gaon shocked the crowd by delivering an impressive 90.25 points and knocking Kim from her perch in first place.
As the snow pummeled down in Livigno, Italy, Kim&#8217;s last chance at the new title was wiped out when she fell again, solidifying the silver medal for herself and the gold for Gaon.
Regardless of the disappointment, Kim said she is happy about how far she&#8217;s come, &#8220;A month ago I wasn’t even sure I would be here &#8230; this medal means so much to me.&#8221;
Though Kim could only train for two weeks leading up to the Olympics because of the previous injury to her shoulder, she wasn’t worried about competing: “I might be better at snowboarding than I am at walking,” she <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7038240/2026/02/11/chloe-kim-womens-snowboard-halfpipe-qualification-2026-winter-olympics/">said</a> Wednesday morning after landing the top score in the qualifying round. However, Kim did announce that her shoulder would require surgery.
Unlike several other American Olympians, Kim has always said that she is proud to represent her country. When asked by a reporter for a response to President Donald Trump calling fellow Olympian Hunter Hess a &#8220;loser,&#8221; Kim would rather lead with love and compassion. “Obviously, my parents being immigrants, this one definitely hits pretty close to home. I think in moments like these, it is important to unite and stand up for one another, for all that’s going on.”
“I’m really proud to represent the United States,” she <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/video/snowboarder-chloe-kim-responds-after-trump-rips-teammate-257408069845">said</a>. “The U.S. has given my family and I so much opportunity, but I also think we are allowed to voice our opinions on what is going on, and I think we need to love and compassion. I would love to see some more of that.”

Snowboard – Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 6

American Snowboarder Chloe Kim Falls Short Of Historic Gold Medal Threepeat

American figure skater Amber Glenn has faced almost as much criticism from social media as she has from the Olympic judges in the past week — and she has a few choice words for her haters.
Glenn, an outspoken LGBT activist, is a 26-year-old from Texas representing Team USA at the Winter Games in her first Olympic appearance.
In a TikTok post Tuesday, Glenn shared photos with fellow U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu and the caption, &#8220;They hate to see two woke b*tches winning,&#8221; referencing the gold medal won by America in the team event on Sunday, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2026/02/08/amber-glenn-team-event-2026-winter-olympics/88578695007/">despite</a> the fact that it was her third-place free skate routine that almost jeopardized the title.
&#8220;If ‘Woke’ means people who use their platforms to advocate for marginalized communities in the country that they are actively representing …&#8230;. Then yeah sure?&#8221; she wrote.
The post comes after online backlash over comments Glenn made in a pre-Olympics press conference last week, where she said the queer community is having a “hard time” under the Trump administration, leaving them to “fight for [their] human rights.”
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U.S. Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn goes overseas and smears America, melting down over President Trump.
These people do not deserve to be on the team. 
<a href="https://t.co/tMPvxLbSX2">pic.twitter.com/tMPvxLbSX2</a>
— Jack (@jackunheard) <a href="https://twitter.com/jackunheard/status/2020185440612159964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I hope I can use my platform and my voice throughout these games to try and encourage people to stay strong in these hard times,” she said, adding that she was not going to be quiet about it.
According to Glenn, a &#8220;scary amount of hate&#8221; trailed her in a now-expired Instagram <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/american-olympic-medalist-fires-direct-message-critics-they-hate-see-two-woke-b-es-winning">story</a>: “When I chose to utilize one of the amazing things about the United States of America (Freedom of speech) to convey how I feel as an athlete competing for Team USA in a troubling time for many Americans, I am now receiving a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice WHEN ASKED about how I feel.”
She said the backlash was &#8220;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7031453/2026/02/08/amber-glenn-figure-skating-olympics-politics-lgbtq-donald-trump/">outlandish</a>&#8221; and <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/american-olympian-taking-social-media-breather-over-hate-after-trump-criticism">announced</a> she was taking a break from social media. &#8220;I did anticipate this but I am disappointed by it. I will be limiting my time on social media for my own wellbeing for now but I will never stop using my voice for what I believe in.&#8221;
But the controversy didn&#8217;t stop there. On Sunday night, Canadian artist Seb McKinnon took to <a href="https://x.com/SebMcKinnon/status/2020604630657302841?s=20">X</a> after hearing his music playing without his permission in the background of Glenn&#8217;s free skate routine for the team event, adding to her already heated online presence. The issue now seems to be <a href="https://x.com/SebMcKinnon/status/2021206847059853361">resolved</a>.

2026 Winter Olympics – Milan-Cortina

U.S. Figure Skater Amber Glenn Fires Back After Controversial Comments

Olympics

“Mom and Dad, this is for you,” the Jumbotron <a href="https://x.com/jordan_mendoza5/status/2021285599852847355">screen</a> read as 24-year-old Maxim Naumov skated to the center of the rink for his Olympic debut in Milan.
What followed was an emotional figure skating routine in the men’s short program. Naumov held up a picture of himself as a little boy with his parents after his very first routine while he waited for his scores in the kiss-and-cry section. A joyful smile overcame Naumov when he landed a season-best score of 85.65 points, which placed him fourteenth overall in the competition. With tears in his eyes, he pulled the photo to his face and kissed it.
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Maxim Naumov is an Olympian, and ALWAYS will be! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/KC3zFj5hjf">pic.twitter.com/KC3zFj5hjf</a>
— NBC Olympics &amp; Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/2021303085843272076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Since early childhood, former Olympians Vadim and Evgenia Shishkova had a singular goal for their son — that one day he would make it to the Olympics, just as they did in 1994. This Tuesday, that dream came true, but tragically, without them by his side.
On January 29, 2025, an American Airlines plane collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., and crashed into the Potomac River. Sixty-seven people were killed that day, and nearly half of them were from the figure skating community, including Naumov’s parents.
For eight months following the tragedy, Naumov didn’t compete, and he didn’t know if he would ever again. The Olympic skater had a realization as he took over his parents&#8217; skating club for children — on the ice was where he felt closest to them, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/us/maxim-naumov-2026-olympics-dc-plane-crash.html">according</a> to The New York Times. With the support of his community, Naumov began to train and once again turned his gaze to the Olympic stage.
Last month, at the one-year mark of his parents&#8217; death, Naumov posted a moving <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUHUJEViBDM/">tribute</a> on social media: &#8220;It’s hard to believe that it’s already been one full year. The most difficult year of my entire life. I still find myself waking up some days and just wondering why? How could this all have happened? For what reason? Why were they taken away from me so soon? Unfortunately there are always more questions than answers. But, despite all of that I get ready, put on my coat and head out the door. Every. Single. Day. Because I have a job to do.&#8221;
&#8220;I am quickly reminded of the goal we set out to achieve when I was 5 years old. Together. As a family,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;Now, 19 years later, we are here. We did it.&#8221;
In an <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2026/02/10/maxim-naumov-figure-skating-winter-olympics/88603219007/">interview</a> with USA Today after his performance, Naumov said he knew he wasn’t alone on the ice: “I felt almost like a hand on my back pushing me forward, and just feeling my parents guiding me from one element to another, and just kind of keeping me grounded. Almost like a chess piece on a chess board, from one element to another. Unlike any other feeling I&#8217;ve ever felt.&#8221;
Once his routine finished, he said, “It’s almost like I closed my eyes and I opened them again and I was on my knees and just looking up and saying, look what we just did.”
But Naumov’s time on the Olympic ice is not over. On Friday, he will compete in the men’s free skate alongside fellow U.S. figure skaters Ilia Malinin and Andrew Torgashev.

“Legacy On Ice” U.S. Figure Skating Benefit

American Figure Skater Honors Late Parents In Very First Olympics With Heartfelt Tribute

Entertainment

One of the defining names of the Milan-Cortina Olympics is 21-year-old American Ilia Malinin — known as the “Quad God” — who is widely predicted to dominate men&#8217;s figure skating. But as he learned over the weekend, the gold medals won&#8217;t simply be handed to him.
This first-time Olympian from Virginia was already regarded as the most technically gifted skater in the world before he stepped onto Olympic ice.
But the nickname of the two-time world champion comes from his extraordinary skills, particularly his ability to rotate four and a half times in the air. Malinin first completed the quadruple axel in 2022, a feat unmatched by any other skater, and it has remained his signature move ever since.
In terms of raw difficulty, Malinin occupies a space in figure skating similar to Simone Biles in gymnastics. Since debuting the quadruple axel, he has consistently pushed the technical ceiling of the sport.
But that sense of inevitability was challenged over the weekend when Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama delivered a stellar routine, outscoring Malinin by ten points in Saturday&#8217;s men’s short program. The result dropped Malinin to second place and disrupted Team USA&#8217;s pursuit of another gold medal.
The team event, which debuted in 2014, consists of eight figure skating segments: men&#8217;s short program and free skate, women&#8217;s short program and free skate, pairs short program and free skate, and the ice dance rhythm dance and free dance. Each segment awards points to the team, with ten points for first place, nine for second, and so on.
When Malinin lost to Kagiyama, the United States still held a one-point lead. A strong ice dance performance by Madison Chock and Evan Bates on Saturday kept Team USA on track, leaving gold within reach.
But the competition tightened Sunday after Amber Glenn delivered a choppy free skate and placed third, erasing the U.S. lead. The result left Team USA tied with Japan for first place, with only the men’s free skate remaining in the team event.
Malinin was not initially slated to compete in the final event, as he still had individual competitions ahead. But with the two rival countries tied at 59 points, the U.S. faced a simple reality: if it wanted gold, it needed Malinin and his quad jumps.
Malinin was called upon as the &#8220;closer,&#8221; with Team USA’s bid for back-to-back gold resting on his skates.
Under the pressure of his first Olympic medal, Malinin skated onto the ice in a shining black-and-gold costume and delivered five clean quadruple jumps, though he left out his signature quad axel. Despite a small stumble and hand placement on the ice, Malinin showed up with determination and slight vengeance. A hesitant smile overcame him when his score was revealed: 200.03 points, well below his personal best but enough to keep Team USA in contention.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Are you not entertained? 🤯
Ilia Malinin scored 200.03 points to secure the team event gold at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinterOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinterOlympics</a>!
📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/nbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nbc</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/peacock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peacock</a> <a href="https://t.co/V8lwsh3YKY">pic.twitter.com/V8lwsh3YKY</a>
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/2020621002196344997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gold was within reach, with one last roadblock: Japan&#8217;s Shun Sato.
The 22-year-old then delivered a career-best routine, and the crowd waited in anxious anticipation for Sato&#8217;s scores. Sato had done everything he possibly could to win gold for Japan, but when 194.86 points appeared on the screen, it wasn&#8217;t enough, and Team USA clinched Olympic gold.
The spotlight returns to Malinin on Tuesday, when he opens his individual Olympic campaign in the short program, going head-to-head against his other Japanese rival, Kagiyama, who spoiled Malinin&#8217;s debut last weekend.

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final – Grenoble

The ‘Quad God’ Meets Resistance On The Road To Olympic Gold

Team USA

If you haven’t already seen The Daily Wire’s “The Pendragon Cycle &#8211; Rise Of The Merlin,” you’re missing out. The next best thing? The board game inspired by the epic original series.  
&#8220;Pendragon&#8221; is a highly anticipated seven-part cinematic retelling of Stephen R. Lawhead’s novels that reimagine the dawn of the Arthurian legend. The series centers around the rise and fall of kings and the birth of Britain, weaving together themes of love, war, destiny, and magic. 

Designed by The Daily Wire, this narrative-driven game of deduction brings the Arthurian epic to life. Connor Brinton, the game’s co-creator, said the ultimate goal is to give gamers a truly immersive experience into the Pendragon saga, from the iconic locations and legendary characters to the magical abilities and enchantments.
Now, fans of the show can dive beyond the screen and into the Pendragon legend itself.
Brinton says the game took over a year to develop, design and collaborate with creatives and experts to ensure the game would authentically represent the story. Brinton, who also worked on The Daily Wire&#8217;s <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/collections/games/products/yes-or-no">Yes Or No</a> card game, said the reason they created a board game was to give fans a &#8220;real experience&#8221; they can take home.
&#8220;When it came down to what do we make for Pendragon, the natural inclination was to figure out some kind of game that we could provide customers — like, a real experience to take home with them,” Brinton said.
“There’s something fun about people gathering around and playing it,&#8221; he added. &#8220;It’s different than anything that we built before. It’s a lot more ambitious. But I think it melds well with this kind of show.&#8221;
How does the game work?
“Explore the sacred isle. Unearth the hidden truth. Prove yourself worthy of the Grail.”
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Discover the secret: One character, one location, and one weapon are hidden from the truth.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Explore the sacred isle: Roll, move, and face enchantments as you travel the board.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deduce the truth: Make calculated guesses to reveal what your opponents are hiding.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Use your powers: Each character has one special ability you can use.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Claim victory: Go to the correct location and make a final guess, if you dare — the right answer wins.</li>
</ol>
&#8220;If you are a fan of the show, you&#8217;re really going to enjoy the game,&#8221; Brinton said.
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1028937" style="width: 586px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1028937" class="wp-image-1028937 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Pendragon-game-key-art-1-576x576.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Pendragon-game-key-art-1-576x576.jpg 576w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Pendragon-game-key-art-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Pendragon-game-key-art-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Pendragon-game-key-art-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Pendragon-game-key-art-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Pendragon-game-key-art-1.jpg 2000w" sizes=" (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" />Daily Wire Pendragon Game</div>
Available for pre-order now, you can purchase the game <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/collections/games/products/pendragon-game">HERE</a>. 
And if you haven’t yet watched “The Pendragon Cycle &#8211; Rise Of The Merlin,” check it out <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-pendragon-cycle">HERE</a>.

Pendragon-Game-article-thumbnail-16×9

The Daily Wire Releases New Pendragon-Inspired Board Game

board games

gamers

King Arthur

Merlin

Stephen R. Lawhead

The Daily Wire

The Pendragon Cycle

Jonathan Gerlach, a 34-year-old Pennsylvania man, was arrested on Tuesday after vandalizing a cemetery — only later did police discover human remains in his basement and storage unit, including more than 100 skulls, several long bones, mummified feet, and decomposing torsos.
The <a href="https://x.com/FOXLA/status/2009736991189979136">arrest</a> follows a months-long investigation of burglaries at graves and mausoleums. From November 7 to early January, 26 underground vaults and mausoleums were broken into or damaged, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Surveillance footage from Mount Moriah Cemetery on January 6 shows the suspect&#8217;s car with “numerous bones and skulls in plain view in the back seat,” Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said. From there, police observed Gerlach leaving the cemetery with a crowbar and a burlap bag filled with the skeletal remains of two small children, skulls, and other bones. He was taken into custody and, according to police, confessed to stealing roughly 30 sets of human remains. Authorities say a Monster drink was also found nearby and was later processed for DNA and fingerprints.
It is still unclear what Gerlach was doing with the bones, Rouse noted, some of which were more than a century old.
“Very simply, detectives have recovered an awful lot of bones at this point, and we are still trying to piece together who they are, where they are from, and how many we are looking at, and it’s going to be quite some time before we have a final answer,” Rouse said.
He called the sight &#8220;horrific,&#8221; adding, “Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life in that home.”
Yeadon Borough Police Chief Henry Giammarco also said it was one of the worst things he had witnessed in his 30-year career. &#8220;When people are laid to rest, that&#8217;s important,&#8221; he added. &#8220;The remains, they&#8217;re so old, but still, when they lived, they had a life, they mattered. It was important to us to get justice, and that&#8217;s working with the DA&#8217;s office. Hopefully justice will be served.&#8221;
Gerlach is charged with more than 300 counts, including 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, multiple counts of desecrating a public monument, desecrating a venerated object, desecrating a historic burial place, burglary, trespassing, and theft. He is also accused of stealing jewelry, possibly taken from human remains.
He is jailed on a $1 million bond with no lawyer listed in court records, and an arraignment hearing is scheduled for January 20.

Human Bones

Hands, Feet, And Hundreds Of Bones Found In Pennsylvania Man’s Basement And Storage Unit

Crime

Death

Law Enforcement

Pennsylvania

U.S.

NASA is cutting short the Crew-11 mission aboard the International Space Station due to a crewmember&#8217;s medical issue, and canceling the first spacewalk of the year that was originally planned for Thursday.
“I have come to the decision that it&#8217;s in the best interest of our astronauts to return Crew-11 ahead of their planned departure,” NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said Thursday in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffcV3jCwwPk">press conference</a>, adding that their return would take place “in the coming days.”
The space agency released no further details on the name of the crewmember or of the medical situation, but reiterated that the astronaut is now fully stable.
Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief health and medical officer, said, “It’s not an emergency evacuation, but we are erring on the side of caution for the crew member.”
The spacewalk was to be performed by American astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, who would exit the orbiting lab for almost 7 hours and &#8220;finish preparing a power channel where a new solar array is set to be installed on the ISS,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/nasa-cancels-spacewalk-and-considers-early-crew-return-from-iss-due-to-medical-issues">Live Science</a>. It would have been Cardman&#8217;s first spacewalk, and Fincke&#8217;s ninth.
The other two astronauts were Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russia’s Oleg Platonov.
The American-Japanese-Russian crew first arrived on the ISS in August 2025 and was scheduled for at least a sixth-month stay. The group was then supposed to be replaced with Crew-12 in mid-February, but this is now up in the air due to the early departure. Isaacman said they may &#8220;potentially pull [the crew] forward.&#8221;
&#8220;It is unclear what returning Crew-11 home early would mean for the ISS, as such changes to the usual rotation are highly unusual,&#8221; Live Science reported.
There are also three other astronauts currently living on the space station who launched from a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November and are due back to Earth in the summer.
NASA announced it will provide further details regarding the upcoming crew in the next 48 hours.

NASA

NASA Cancels Spacewalk After Astronaut’s Medical Issue, Crew To Return Home

Health

Medical

Outer Space

Nick Reiner, the son of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner, was <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/12/19/nick-reiner-diagnosed-with-schizophrenia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> diagnosed with schizophrenia just weeks before he allegedly killed his parents and had been placed on a new medication, which made him &#8220;erratic and dangerous.&#8221;
A long-time drug addict who was frequently in rehab, Nick Reiner, 32, had been seeing a psychiatrist when his behavior had grown &#8220;alarming&#8221; after his medication was changed three to four weeks before the couple was found with their throats slit in their Los Angeles home. According to a TMZ report, the new meds drove Reiner “out of his head.”
&#8220;Our sources say doctors were trying to adjust the medications so Nick stabilized, but it wasn&#8217;t working,&#8221; the outlet reported. &#8220;Our sources also say Nick&#8217;s substance abuse was worsening the schizophrenia.&#8221;
Reiner had been receiving costly care at a Los Angeles rehab facility, with a monthly charge of $70,000, the report said.
The additional information on Reiner&#8217;s mental state comes just days after he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, with special circumstances attached since there were multiple murders and he allegedly attacked with a deadly weapon.
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Nick Reiner&#8217;s two siblings — Romy, 28, and Jake, 34 — issued a statement after their brother&#8217;s first court appearance: “Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day. The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”
Reiner, who was arrested hours after his parents’ bodies were discovered, did not enter a plea. After confirming that he understood he was waiving his right to a speedy arraignment, the judge granted a continuance, rescheduling the proceeding for Jan. 7, 2026.
He has retained <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nick-reiner-taps-heavyweight-defense-attorney-is-not-medically-cleared-for-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-powered defense attorney</a> Alan Jackson, whose past clients include actor Kevin Spacey and disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Rob Reiner, Nick Reiner

Nick Reiner Diagnosed With Schizophrenia Before Parents Were Killed: Report

California

Los Angeles

Nick Reiner

Rob Reiner

Brianna Aguilera, a 19-year-old Texas A&amp;M student from Laredo, was found dead outside an apartment complex on Saturday at 12:47 a.m., after attending a Texas A&amp;M vs. UT tailgate in Austin. Police say she was pronounced dead on the scene, with “no indications of suspicious circumstances.”
But Stephanie Rodriguez, Brianna’s mother, insists there is far more to the story.
“This was not accidental someone killed my brie,” Rodriguez wrote in a Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.rodriguez.298465/posts/pfbid0Ym4qw84Up3hKyYS6BSddhyBmKiVoZ5UkqTTt4kjcDPeitek7xjqyV51hQ9ZYP1Tyl">post</a>. “My daughter would not jump 17 stories from a building and to be labeling this as a suicide is insane.”
“My daughter loved life and was excited to graduate and pursue her career in Law,” she added.
The Austin Police Department said in a statement, &#8220;At this time, the incident is not being investigated as a homicide, and there are no indications of suspicious circumstances.&#8221;
However, the details surrounding Aguilera’s death are not adding up for Rodriguez, and she believes foul play was involved.
For starters, Rodriguez said she had been trying to contact the police department for several hours before getting the call at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday that her daughter was in the morgue and had been identified through fingerprint analysis.
“No one reached out to me, I was the one who had to place several calls to Austin PD because I couldn’t locate her,” Rodriguez said, adding that she was told she could not file a missing person&#8217;s report because it hadn’t been 24 hours.
Rodriguez’s concern for her daughter started when Aguilera’s phone went on Do Not Disturb around 6:00 p.m. on Friday, which she says was “weird.”
“We always had this rule that if she was going to go out, she had to have her phone on ‘location on’ and answer her text[s] to at least let me know she was OK,” Rodriguez told <a href="https://www.kgns.tv/2025/12/02/mother-demands-answers-after-daughter-found-dead-following-ut-vs-texas-am-tailgate/">KGNS</a>.
What makes this case particularly intriguing is that Aguilera’s phone was later found in a friend&#8217;s purse by a creek, the location where Rodriguez initially told the police it was &#8220;pinging.&#8221;
Rodriguez also told <a href="https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2025/12/01/mother-questions-circumstances-surrounding-death-of-daughter-a-texas-am-student-in-austin/">KSAT</a> that Aguilera had been fighting with another student earlier that day, saying that she even provided text messages to the detectives. She said there were around 15 people in the apartment, but it was a bystander who stumbled upon the body.
In her Facebook post, Rodriguez addressed those she believes are involved, “&#8230; all the group of friends [had] a lot of time to come up with the same story … How is it that certain friends left immediately and the person who was living at the apartment complex vacated her apartment ASAP.”
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A GoFundMe set up by Aguilera&#8217;s family echoes the continuing confusion regarding the case: &#8220;The details surrounding what happened next remain unclear, and her mother is still awaiting answers.&#8221;
While the case is not being investigated as a homicide, the investigation is ongoing, and the police are waiting on an official cause of death from the Travis County Medical Examiner&#8217;s Office.

Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera

A Texas A&M Student Was Found Dead After A College Tailgate. Her Mother Is Demanding Answers.

Texas A&M Student Found Dead After College Tailgate, Mother Demands Answers

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Andie Valdes