This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
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It is perhaps inevitable that a major global event such as the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/winter-olympics">Olympic Games</a> will become politicized. From the Nazi appropriation of the 1936 Berlin Games to the long Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, competition has always taken on what Al Michaels <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR56GJ05IMs&amp;t=5s">once called</a> a “nationalistic sense.” But at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games happening now, the media have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-do-olympians-feel-about-representing-the-u-s-at-winter-games">pushed</a> things to a whole new level. Journalists seem intent on turning Olympians into politicians.
The real flashpoint was <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-olympian-hunter-hess-responds-trump-loser/">an interview</a> with Team USA skier Hunter Hess. During a press conference, he was goaded into expressing his personal disagreements with certain Trump administration policies. “Just because I&#8217;m wearing the flag doesn&#8217;t mean I represent everything that&#8217;s going on in the U.S.,” he said. President Donald Trump himself shot back, calling Hess a “real loser.” The whole thing has turned into a media circus, distracting from the excellence all Team USA athletes have been pursuing.
To some extent, the media’s agenda here is pretty straightforward; politicization and incendiary headlines drive clicks and social media views. But there is also a real double standard that ought to outrage all Olympics fans and American citizens. Eileen Gu, a freestyle skier born and educated in the United States but competing for the People’s Republic of China, has mostly escaped questions about the Chinese Communist Party’s totalitarian atrocities. NBC, which broadcasts the Olympics in the United States, has even <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/nbc-lavishes-praise-on-american-born-olympic-skier-competing-for-china/">tried making</a> Gu into a star. The Today show did not ask her about the persecution of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jimmy-lai">Jimmy Lai</a> or the genocide of the Uyghur people, even while NBC has covered statements American athletes have made about U.S. immigration policy or social issues.
Unlike China, the U.S. government does not pay our athletes. The United States Olympic Committee is a federally chartered nonprofit and funded entirely by private sources. American Olympians may receive corporate sponsorships, but putting on the red, white, and blue and competing for our people is a sacrifice in a way that is not the case for other countries. These athletes are not hirelings; they find a way to turn the pursuit of personal excellence into an act of genuine patriotism. Authoritarian regimes can try buying themselves medals by recruiting mercenaries such as Gu, but they will never be able to purchase that genuine Olympic spirit.
There have been plenty of inspiring stories about American athletes at these games, but none provides a starker contrast with Gu than Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu. She was a star as a teenager, but she <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/alysa-liu-rcna252418">retired</a> at the age of 16 to focus on living a normal life. Liu made a triumphant return to the world of figure skating in 2024, and she often <a href="https://usfigureskating.org/news/2026/1/30/national-team-figure-skating-liu-rejects-conventional-wisdom-while-embracing-artistry.aspx">explains</a> that her sport has become a kind of art. Already a gold medalist in the team event, Liu is currently positioned to medal again in the individual competition. Her skating is remarkably beautiful, a true wonder to behold.
Equally fascinating, though, is the political backdrop of Liu’s young career. Like Gu, she is the daughter of a Chinese immigrant to the United States. But unlike the skier, her family holds no illusions about the CCP’s tyranny. Liu’s father Arthur was <a href="https://abc7news.com/archive/6847285/">deeply involved</a> with the Chinese Democracy Movement in the 1980s, joining the protests at Tiananmen Square and witnessing the subsequent massacre firsthand. He has always been a vocal critic of the communist regime and is, in no uncertain terms, a political refugee.
The CCP initially tried recruiting Liu to skate for it under the same “naturalization program” that sponsored Gu’s defection. Given her family’s firsthand experience of communist oppression, though, she understandably rebuffed the effort. The CCP, however, would not take no for an answer. In 2022, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/16/china-targeted-dad-of-olympic-figure-skater-alysa-liu-new-doj-case-says.html">the Department of Justice charged</a> Chinese agents with conducting an intimidation campaign against the Liu family and other Chinese Americans critical of the regime. Apparently, one spy even <a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-sports-crime-figure-skating-beijing-3cd135005bb769b507199012cd5a0d22">pretended</a> to be a USOC official to steal information from the Lius. The State Department even had to take special precautions to protect Alysa Liu when she competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Perhaps the most American part of the story, though, is that Liu has used her massive platform as a figure skating star to shine the light on her father’s sacrifices and the fight for human rights. “Honestly I would just have the main focus be my dad&#8217;s story because his story is so cool and also everything … happened because of what he did,” <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/us-figure-skater-alysa-liu-opens-up-being-targeted-chinese-spying-operation-fbis-protection">she said at a media summit in 2025</a>. “So, like I feel like we got to start with the roots.” 
“We represent the people,” she said in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-NL37UpSRU">another interview</a> when asked about patriotism at the games. Liu is only 20 years old, but already she understands that the flag she competes under means something more than nationalistic pride; it symbolizes the hope of freedom for millions worldwide. 
Authoritarian regimes in places such as China, Iran, and Russia have always sought to use the Olympic Games to promote their ideologies, and the commercial media are all too willing to turn a blind eye or even become complicit. But stories such as Liu’s, and those of other patriotic American athletes, demonstrate in no uncertain terms how incompatible that goal is with the true Olympic spirit. The freedom American athletes enjoy — even to criticize their own country — is in fact the reason why we consistently embody such excellence at the games. And that’s nothing to apologize for.
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Michael Lucchese is the founder of <a href="http://www.pipecreekconsulting.com/">Pipe Creek Consulting</a>, an associate editor of <a href="https://lawliberty.org/author/mluccheselibertyfund-org/">Law &amp; Liberty</a>, and a contributing editor to <a href="https://providencemag.com/authors/michael-lucchese/">Providence</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Figure Skating – Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 1

The Olympics Controversy That’s Suddenly About America Itself

China

Media

Olympics

Patriotism

Upstream

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

Sports

World

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

“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.
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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>
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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

Some LGBT advocates and media have celebrated the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Winter Olympics as a “<a href="https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/02/swedish-skier-elis-lundholm-will-make-history-as-the-first-out-trans-athlete-in-a-winter-olympics/">major milestone</a> in trans sports.”
Elis Lundholm, a woman who identifies as a transgender man, will compete for Sweden at the Milan-Cortina Olympics as part of the ski team. But here’s the interesting part: Lundholm will take part in the women’s category, not the men’s. 
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The skier began identifying as a transgender man five years ago and <a href="https://www.aftonbladet.se/senastenytt/ttsport/sport/a/j0BoeL/identifierar-sig-som-man-moter-kvinnor-i-os">told</a> the Swedish outlet Sportbladet that she “has never had a problem competing as a woman.” 
Social media users pointed out the implications of Lundholm remaining in the women&#8217;s category, which is based on biological sex under current rules.
“Lundholm is female, identifies as trans, uses he/him pronouns and has not gone through medical transition, competes in the female category,” British professor Jon Pike <a href="https://x.com/runthinkwrite/status/2018270959677968618">posted</a> on X.
“Lundholm is a walking/skiing refutation of the claim that it’s unreasonable to require TiM [Transgender identifying Male] athletes to compete in their sex category,” he said. “It’s said that this is the equivalent of ‘banning them from sport.’ Lundholm competes in the correct sex category, even though this is not the category into which Lundholm identifies, and has ‘no problem with this.’”
Most social media commenters didn’t have an issue with Lundholm competing with other women, noting how the only thing that could make competition unfair is if she had been using testosterone.
Last summer, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee changed its policy to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order banning men from competing against women, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-olympic-committee-bans-men-in-womens-sports">reported</a>. The committee posted an update stating that it would “&#8230;ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment,” consistent with the executive order.
This change followed years of controversy in the world of sports. 
In the 2024 Summer Games, Imane Khelif of Algeria, a boxer who had failed gender tests, dominated the women’s welterweight division and won the gold medal. Khelif’s success in Paris drew outrage across the globe. 
In 2021, trans-identifying man Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand competed against women in weightlifting in the Tokyo Games. Chelsea Wolfe, a man who identifies as a woman, was also at the Tokyo Olympics as a reserve cyclist for the U.S. women’s BMX Freestyle team.

Elis Lundholm

Trans-Identifying Woman To Compete Against Fellow Women In Olympic Ski Event

Woman Who Identifies As Trans Will Compete In Olympics Ski Event Against Other Women

LGBT

skiing

Social Issues

Sweden

Transgender

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

Hockey

Women's Hockey

American downhill skier Lindsey Vonn was airlifted from the slopes in Cortina D&#8217;Ampezzo, Italy, after a devastating crash just a few seconds into her downhill run on Sunday.
Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist in the sport, had opted to compete despite rupturing her the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee a week prior to the start of the Winter Olympic Games, and had successfully completed a training run on the course one day prior — but just after the start of her race on Sunday, she hooked her right arm into a gate on the course. She attempted to compensate, but catching her arm had thrown off her balance enough that she was <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2026/02/08/womens-downhill-results-highlights-lindsey-vonn/88568928007/">unable to recover</a>.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z08Foql49w">She fell</a> first to one side, and then face first into the snow. She could be heard screaming from the course as medics rush to where she lay face down, and she remained on the course with first responders at her side for about 13 minutes until a helicopter arrived to transport her out.
<div id="attachment_1040635" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040635" class="wp-image-1040635 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2259959653-865x576.jpg" alt="" width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2259959653-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2259959653-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2259959653-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2259959653.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" />A giant screen shows US&#8217; Lindsey Vonn receiving assistance after a crash in the women&#8217;s downhill event during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d&#8217;Ampezzo on February 8, 2026. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP via Getty Images)</div>
&#8220;That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see and it happened quick and when that happens, you&#8217;re just immediately hoping she&#8217;s okay. And it was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, it&#8217;s not a good sign,&#8221; Vonn&#8217;s sister <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4poD06FlaAg">Karin Kildow</a> told NBC News just after the crash. &#8220;But she really &#8230; she just dared greatly and she put it all out there. So it&#8217;s really hard to see, but we just really hope she&#8217;s okay. She does have all of her surgeons and her PT staff here and her doctors, so I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll give us a report and we&#8217;ll meet her at whatever hospital she&#8217;s at.&#8221;
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team issued a brief statement via X, saying, &#8220;Lindsey Vonn fell in the Olympic downhill and will be evaluated by medical staff.&#8221;
&#8220;We don&#8217;t know anything really yet,&#8221; Team USA’s Head Speed Coach Paul Kristofic <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/live-blog/2026-winter-olympics-live-updates-lindsey-vonn-compete-downhill-injury-rcna256599"> told reporters</a>. &#8220;She&#8217;s with a medical team in the hospital. She&#8217;s getting evaluated right now in Cortina. And then, obviously, depending on the severeness of the injury, they&#8217;re going to make decisions where to put her.&#8221;
Vonn&#8217;s teammate Bella Wright commented on the devastating turn of events, saying, &#8220;Things just happen so quick in this sport. It looked like Lindsey had incredible speed out of that turn, and she hooked her arm and it&#8217;s just over just like that.&#8221;
Teammate Breezy Johnson ultimately took gold in the downhill event, but her thoughts were with Vonn even as she went to receive her own medal.
&#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine the pain that she&#8217;s going through. And it&#8217;s not the physical pain. We can deal with physical pain, but the emotional pain is something else. I wish her the best and I hope that this isn&#8217;t the end,&#8221; Johnson said, likely reflecting on her own experience missing the Beijing Olympics herself after crashing in Cortina, Italy. &#8220;I hope for the best for her. My heart aches for her. It&#8217;s such a brutal sport sometimes.&#8221;
During a news conference, Johnson said she&#8217;d been told that Vonn was <a href="https://people.com/lindsey-vonn-cheered-breezy-johnson-from-helicopter-after-crash-winter-olympics-2026-11902256">cheering her on</a> even as the helicopter lifted her away.

Alpine Skiing – Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 2

Lindsey Vonn Airlifted From Olympic Slope After Devastating Crash

There’s a potential scandal in the world of Olympic ski jumping as some athletes are being accused of injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid to achieve greater distances in competition.
“Penisgate” was first reported by the German newspaper Bild and is now being investigated by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The idea behind this method is to increase the surface area of the crotch on competitors, requiring athletes to be given a larger, looser suit, which leads to a reduced descent rate due to a larger surface area, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/05/penis-injection-doping-claims-in-winter-olympics-ski-jumping-investigated-by-wada" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a> previously reported.
World Anti-Doping Agency Director General Olivier Niggli said he was unaware of this method before the accusations went viral. 
“I’m not aware of the details of ski jumping — and how this can improve [performance] — but if anything was to come to the surface we would look at anything if it is actually doping related,” Niggli said.
“We don’t do other means of enhancing performance but our list committee would certainly look into whether this would fall into this category. But I hadn’t heard about that until you mentioned.”
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), which oversees ski jumping at the Winter Olympics, initially <a href="https://www.fis-ski.com/inside-fis/news/2025-26/ski-jumping-charges-brought-against-norwegian-officials-and-athletes">investigated</a> &#8220;allegations of illegal equipment manipulation&#8221; by the Norwegian ski jumping team in 2025.
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Everyone is sharing this like it’s self-evident. I think it raises more questions than it answers. <a href="https://t.co/0H5Jg5C1xA">pic.twitter.com/0H5Jg5C1xA</a>
— Joe Bernstein (@Bernstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bernstein/status/2019594899327537312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Two Olympic medalists from Norway, Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang, faced three-month suspensions after it was discovered that their ski suits were altered in the crotch area at the 2025 World Ski Championships to achieve a similar effect.
Both competitors denied knowledge of the altered suits and will compete in the Olympics. One of Norway’s head coaches and two other staffers were also suspended in connection with the scandal, which was dubbed “Crotchgate.”
A recent study <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1693699/full">found</a> that every 2 centimeters in suit size circumference reduced drag by 4% and increased lift by 5%, resulting in an extra 5.8 meters in jump length.
There are now more stringent inspections being done on ski jumping suits ahead of the competition. Per <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ski-jumping-suit-scandal-norway-crotch-a15ae26420ff0261b72fd8fdf57ac6ec">Associated Press</a>, two FIS controllers and a doctor will use improved 3-D measurements to evaluate the athletes wearing their uniforms. 
The suits must pass this checkpoint before they are given tamper-proof microchips, which would make alterations impossible. These chips will be scanned and remain in place at all times, the outlet noted.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, commonly known as Milano Cortina 2026, kick off Friday in Italy.

Marius Lindvik

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