In another overtime nail-biter for the United States, the women&#8217;s hockey team defeated Canada to capture their third Olympic gold medal.
Since women&#8217;s hockey made its Olympic debut in 1998, only Canada and the United States have won gold in the event, and this year was no exception. The rivalry was on full display in the arena Thursday when the teams competed in the finals for the seventh time — with Canada having won five of them. But this year, it was America’s turn.
After a scoreless opening period, Kristin O&#8217;Neill broke the deadlock for Canada and they took the 1-0 lead into the third. The gold was just within reach.
The arena then erupted when Hilary Knight tied the game 1-1 — adding to her own <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/2026-winter-olympics-hilary-knight-usa-womens-hockey-scoring-record-canada/">Olympic resume</a> — with just two minutes remaining in regulation. When the third period ended, the teams headed to 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime, a 20-minute period played until the first goal.
But overtime didn’t last long. Just four minutes into the extra frame, Megan Keller danced around Claire Thompson and flipped the puck past goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens for the game-winner.
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TEAM USA TAKES GOLD 🥇
Megan Keller wins it in overtime, helping the U.S. to a 2-1 victory over Canada.
🎥 <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCOlympics</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinterOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinterOlympics</a><a href="https://t.co/1xXQvOnNII">pic.twitter.com/1xXQvOnNII</a>
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/2024590684347679030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Team USA dominated throughout the tournament until Canada pushed them into a tightly contested championship &#8212; but it just wasn&#8217;t enough to derail the Americans.
&#8220;It was a hard-fought game. Canada gave us their best and they&#8217;re an incredible team. Their goaltending was outstanding. A lot of offense, a lot of great defense, so it was hard,&#8221; Keller <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/usa-vs-canada-live-score-womens-hockey-gold-medal-winter-olympics/2oxlnbLTdsUN/">said</a> after the game. &#8220;But really proud of the way our group stuck together. We fought to get into OT and just happy to finish it off.&#8221;
The rival win must feel extra sweet this year, since the last Winter Games in 2022 resulted in a silver medal against Canada. But for six of Team USA&#8217;s players, including Knight, who has said these Olympic games will be her last, this is their second gold medal.
As for the men’s hockey team, they will compete against Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday. If they win, they have a shot at competing — possibly against Canada — to win their first Olympic gold since 1980.

Revenge Served Cold: Team USA Takes Gold Over Canada In Olympic Sudden-Death Overtime

General

Sports

Winter Olympics

Women's Hockey

World

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

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.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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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BOBSLEIGH-OLY-2026-MILANO CORTINA

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

Christian

Family Values

In one of the most stunning upsets in Olympic figure skating history, Team USA figure skater Ilia Malinin lost his expected spot on the podium Friday night in Milan, finishing eighth after entering the men&#8217;s free skate with a head start and expectations of taking home the gold.
The 21-year-old two-time world champion has been undefeated in major competitions since 2023. But that all changed during the men’s free skate program on Friday when <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/13/nx-s1-5713991/ilia-malinin-mikhail-shaidorov-figure-skating-olympics">he fell twice</a> and downgraded multiple jumps in a performance that shocked the sold out arena and millions of fans watching around the world.
Malinin had been nicknamed the &#8220;Quad God,” and was being lauded by the media, which many claim helped contribute to the loss as the immense pressure took a toll on the first-time Olympic competitor.
His free skate started going downhill after he failed to execute the exceedingly difficult quadruple axel. To date, Malinin is the only skater to successfully land a quad axel during a competition, and so far, it’s never been landed on Olympic ice. The skater failed to rotate and popped the jump into a single axel instead.
Later, he fell while attempting a quadruple Lutz and a double Salchow, which was also meant to be a quad.
Following his devastating skate, Malinin described the mental pressure. &#8220;Before getting into my starting pose, those experiences, memories and thoughts and pressure, it just felt so overwhelming,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/usa-s-ilia-malinin-finishes-in-shocking-eighth-place-at-winter-olympics-2026">said</a>.
Malinin also told NBC News that he &#8220;blew it,&#8221; and mentioned the weight of expectations once again. &#8220;All of this pressure, all of the media, and just being the Olympic gold hopeful was a lot,&#8221; the Team USA skater <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/ilia-malinin-olympic-performance-rcna259058">explained</a>.
Kazakhstan&#8217;s Mikhail Shaidorov took home the gold with 291.58 points, earning his country&#8217;s first Winter Games gold medal in over three decades. Malinin is being praised for immediately walking over to Shaidorov to embrace and congratulate him after the results were announced.
Japan&#8217;s Yuma Kagiyama took home silver while Shun Sato, also from Japan, earned the bronze medal. Malinin finished with 264.49 points after being docked 72 points for errors, giving him an eighth-place finish.
Malinin had already secured a team gold medal earlier in the Olympic Games, but had been aggressively seeking an individual gold.

Ilia Malinin

Olympic Heartbreak: ‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin Breaks Under Pressure, Fails To Medal In Milan

Italy

Team USA

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

The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are in for a hefty California tax bill following their 29-13 drubbing of the New England Patriots on Sunday, with some players expected to pay more in taxes than their Super Bowl earnings.
Each Seahawks player receives an individual bonus of $178,000 as negotiated by the NFL Players Association, while Patriots players will each receive $108,000.
Both Super Bowl teams are subject to California’s notorious “Jock Tax” imposed on out-of-state professional athletes, which will tax both respective teams on income from the eight “duty days” spent practicing and playing in the Golden State.
Jeffrey Degner, a research fellow in economics at the American Institute for Economic Research, told FOX Business that this tax alone will cut the average player’s Super Bowl bonuses in half at a minimum — without even taking into account additional state and federal taxes.
&#8220;What that means here is that the winning team, their take-home pay will be approximately $86,000. If you&#8217;re on the losing side, the take-home would be about $49,800,&#8221; Degner <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/super-bowl-lx-players-lose-thousands-californias-jock-tax-athlete-income">told</a> FOX Business.
Each “duty day” includes any day spent in California practicing, participating in team meetings, traveling, playing in a game, or doing media events. The state taxes each player by applying the ratio of their duty days in the state to their total duty days overall, then claiming that share of the player’s income.
&#8220;The players have a really complex tax situation where they can have 10 or more different states that they&#8217;re having to file taxes for,&#8221; Degner said. &#8220;This is why a lot of these young players, it&#8217;s really important for teams to settle them in with sharp financial advisors and tax advisors so that they don&#8217;t lose their shirts, so to speak.&#8221;
Sport business reporter Kurt Badenhausen <a href="https://www.sportico.com/law/analysis/2026/patriots-seahawks-super-bowl-2026-california-taxes-1234883101/">estimates</a> that Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, with 8+ duty days taxed out of his massive three-year, $105 million deal with Seattle and a $178,000 bonus, will pay $249,000 in California state taxes.
Stanford University Finance Professor and Hoover Institution Fellow Joshua Rauh commented on the numbers, sarcastically complimenting California&#8217;s tax system for ensuring the &#8220;incentive to win is preserved&#8221; by taxing the Super Bowl loser more than the winner.
&#8220;If his team wins, Darnold will receive $178k and pay $249k to California in taxes for his time here, losing $71k. If his team loses he gets $103k and still pays over $235k in taxes, losing $135k. I presume California is declaring victory, as his incentive to win is preserved,&#8221; Rauh <a href="https://x.com/joshrauh/status/2020208377515941905?s=20">quipped</a>.
California has the highest state income tax rate in the nation, while several states with NFL stadiums — including Tennessee, Texas, and Florida — impose no income tax on their residents or visitors, leading many to question whether future Super Bowls should be held in California.

Newsom/Lombardi

California Taxes Could Cost NFL Stars More Than Their Entire Super Bowl Paychecks

California Taxes May Cost NFL Stars More Than Their Entire Super Bowl Paychecks

California

Income tax

Super Bowl

Taxes

There is something that goes on in American culture that is highly irritating to me.
If you notice everyone celebrating something that is politically Left-leaning in nature, people tell you that you’re crazy for pointing it out or being upset about it.
I&#8217;m not particularly upset by halftime shows at the Super Bowl, because in the grand scheme of life, who cares? It is not a big deal.
But the reason that some people are concerned or upset today about this year’s halftime show is because of what happened at the end of the performance.
I am not a Bad Bunny fan. I don&#8217;t know whether he&#8217;s a good bunny, a bad bunny, or the worst bunny. I have no gradation, no scale upon which to judge the badness of his bunnyness.
I do not know his music. I didn&#8217;t understand a word he was saying. As a person who does not traffic or listen to his music, I had no idea what he was saying during the halftime show.
I will admit that it felt to me like being in a car crash, and there was a person walking toward me, telling me that I needed to get out my insurance card in a language I did not understand.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2364-a-very-bad-bunny-super-bowl"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974957 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp" alt="DailyWire+" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-300x50.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-768x128.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1536x256.webp 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-2048x341.webp 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
<h3>The Pros</h3>
The show was beautifully produced. The couple getting married and mid-show, the kids falling asleep on the chairs was very, very charming. I have no problem with a lot of Spanish being in the show, because that&#8217;s what a lot of people in the United States speak; that&#8217;s totally cool. A lot of people in the United States speak a lot of second languages. I remember a few years ago Shakira and J. Lo did the halftime show, and I believe they did a song in Spanish. There are tens of millions of Latino Americans who contribute in unbelievable ways to our common project as Americans.
<h3>The Cons</h3>
First: No English at all, so people who don&#8217;t speak Spanish couldn’t understand what was going on. He could have been saying anything, and I would have had no idea what he was saying.
Second: To pretend that Bad Bunny is an apolitical figure is silly.
Bad Bunny is not an apolitical figure. He has never pretended to be an apolitical figure. When he showed himself on the Grammys and gave a Grammy to a little kid who looked precisely like an ICE detainee, don&#8217;t tell me that wasn&#8217;t on purpose. Of course it was.
But the major problem for me came at the very end of the halftime show. Bad Bunny walked through and announced every single country in the Western Hemisphere, starting geographically with Argentina and finishing with Canada. As he did, a bunch of people followed him carrying flags from various other countries that were not the United States.
Here is the problem: One of the truly amazing virtues of America is that you can both assimilate to the values of the United States and still keep the flavor of your old culture. One of the great things about America over the course of the last couple of hundred years is that many cultures merged into the gigantic stream that is the United States, which is why every American has eaten Mexican food, Italian food, and Chinese food.
And that&#8217;s wonderful. That&#8217;s great. The fact that you have weddings where you have people dancing salsa, and you have weddings where you have people dancing the hora, is wonderful.
I don&#8217;t think a whole lot of Americans object to that.
The salient question is this: Are you showing gratitude for America being unique? That’s why people focused on that part of the show.
Where was Bad Bunny&#8217;s gratitude?
There have been other shows where he&#8217;s refused to stand up for the national anthem. He is rich and famous because of the United States. He is living in splendor because of the United States. He&#8217;s one of the greatest recipients of American largesse ever.
If you&#8217;re born in Puerto Rico, you&#8217;re American. If you&#8217;re born in America, that is the greatest privilege that you can receive.
So, it is my opinion that you should show some gratitude for America being unique. It seems to me that American flags should have been all over the place in the middle of this demonstration.
This is something the political Left does that is totally wrong.
It&#8217;s astonishing to me. The political Left has the opportunity to grab the upper hand culturally with a lot of people and simultaneously celebrate the country. He could have done this entire show almost identically, with American flags everywhere, saying America means that you can have salsa dancing at your wedding, but that&#8217;s what&#8217;s amazing about America. You can do all that and still be an American who loves football and still be an American.
Football is a uniquely American sport. You can still be an American who is doing all the American things, and you can also enjoy these cultural variants.
This United Nations routine was not a celebration of America or a celebration of cultures that coexist peacefully in America.
His attempt to say we are all Americans by making some sort of pedantic geographic point that the Americas encompass the continents of North America and South America was silly. No one sees it that way.
When people say American, they believe that you are talking about the United States — as they should. Football is an American event. It is not the world&#8217;s biggest event. It is America&#8217;s biggest event. Not many people in Japan watch the Super Bowl.
This was not the World Cup. This performance at the World Cup or the Olympics would have made perfect sense because those are international events with a bunch of different countries.
What I am concerned about is the innate argument that is being made, that the greatness of America somehow must be subsumed under the rubric of “All countries are awesome, and America is somehow equivalent in some way to other countries.”
We are not. America is exceptional. It&#8217;s unique.
And ignoring that message is un-American.

Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show

A Very Bad Bunny Super Bowl

Bad Bunny

Ben Shapiro

Music

Opinion

Puerto Rico

Hilary Knight had a historic performance over the weekend for Team USA Women&#8217;s Hockey. With her goal in the 5-0 shutout of Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Knight tied the all-time Team USA record in the Olympics with 14 career goals.
Knight scored the team&#8217;s fourth goal of the day Saturday to notch the top spot in Team USA&#8217;s history books, and the captain didn&#8217;t even know she was close to tying the record.
Knight is now in the company of retired United States players Natalie Darwitz and Katie King for the goals record.
&#8220;I had no idea. I just love scoring, and that pure elation of finding the back of the net. It’s a little-kid moment. When you score, it’s pure excitement,&#8221; Knight <a href="https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/hilary-knight-ties-us-olympic-goals-record-finland-shutout">said</a> after the victory. &#8220;Those are legendary players and just to be in the same sentence as them is super special.&#8221;
The 36-year-old scored her first Olympic goal at 20 during the 2010 Vancouver Games. Now in her final Olympics, she can set a new scoring record in Italy.
Her teammate Megan Keller, who had the assist on Knight&#8217;s goal on Saturday, told NBC she is cheering Knight on all the way to the record books.
&#8220;I want her to score more than anyone else,&#8221; Keller said. &#8220;I thought she was going to have it in the third period, she had a good look, but there’s no doubt she is going to break that record any time now.&#8221;
This goal-scoring record would be the second one set at the Olympics for Knight. After stepping on the ice for Team USA&#8217;s first match of the Games, Knight became the first United States hockey player to compete in five Winter Olympics.
But wait — there&#8217;s more. With group play underway and Team USA being the favorite to win it all, Knight could also break the United States Olympic points record. Right now, Knight sits at 29, three points behind Jenny Potter&#8217;s all-time leading point total of 32.
The shutout against Finland marked the 16th time the United States Women&#8217;s Hockey team recorded a shutout during the Olympics.
No time to slow down now. Monday afternoon, Team USA takes on Switzerland in another group-play game. The United States is a 6.5-goal favorite against No. 5-ranked Switzerland.
&#8220;We can definitely get better,&#8221; Knight said. &#8220;There are definitely things that we can work on.&#8221;
Team USA cannot overlook the Swiss matchup, which could be easy to do with arch-rival Canada on the schedule for Tuesday, February 10.
The puck drops for Team USA and Switzerland Monday at 2:40 p.m. ET.

Credit: Sarah Stier via Getty Images

USA’s Hilary Knight Ties Olympic Record, Chases Hockey History

In the weeks preceding the Super Bowl, the prevailing narrative was that conservatives and Christians objected to Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl halftime show because he occasionally wears dresses and performs solely in Spanish — but a closer look at his lyrics tell another tale entirely.
The Daily Wire&#8217;s own Megan Basham shared screenshots of some of Bad Bunny&#8217;s lyrics in an X post, most of which were graphic depictions of body parts, sex acts, drug use, and drug use during sex acts.
&#8220;These are the most obscene lyrics ever to be performed at a Super Bowl half time. And you have professing Christians in the Kentucky senate and at America’s most recognized evangelical magazine saying Christians should have embraced and celebrated this to show love and to show that we are welcoming. Also, the kids would get a &#8216;kick&#8217; out of hearing this Spanish,&#8221; Basham commented.
And while some argued that Bad Bunny had not performed the songs posted by Basham in their entirety — and had thus not delivered some of the most obscene lyrics from the stage at Super Bowl 60 — the horse was already out of the barn, so to speak.
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To be clear, the lyrics were altered for the Super Bowl performance, but some remained and he did perform this song. This is the artist that we’re encouraging people to go listen to and celebrate for his contribution to Puerto Rican culture.
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) <a href="https://twitter.com/megbasham/status/2020798537424949412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Basham addressed that point in a follow up post, saying, &#8220;To be clear, the lyrics were altered for the Super Bowl performance, but some remained and he did perform this song. This is the artist that we’re encouraging people to go listen to and celebrate for his contribution to Puerto Rican culture.&#8221;
An assessment from @grok backed up what Basham was saying: &#8220;Yes, the lyrics in Bad Bunny&#8217;s &#8216;Safaera&#8217; (performed at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime) include explicit references to sexual acts, drug use, and profanity, as claimed. English translations on sites like Genius confirm details like oral sex, a*s-eating, pills for arousal, and erection boasts. Many of his songs have mature themes, but they&#8217;re in Spanish.&#8221;
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Yes, the lyrics in Bad Bunny&#8217;s &#8220;Safaera&#8221; (performed at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime) include explicit references to sexual acts, drug use, and profanity, as claimed. English translations on sites like Genius confirm details like oral sex, ass-eating, pills for arousal, and…
— Grok (@grok) <a href="https://twitter.com/grok/status/2020699359541653797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The overall takeaway was that Bad Bunny had delivered a fair amount of content from the stage that many conservatives and Christians might find objectionable — and all of it was conveniently buried behind the language barrier.

Super Bowl LX: New England Patriots v Seattle Seahawks

EXPLICIT: Here’s What Bad Bunny Was Actually Saying At The Super Bowl

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