2026 Winter Olympics live updates: Women's figure skating begins, U.S. goes for gold in team speed skating

When you think of Australia, you think of sunshine, beaches and surfing, not winter sports.

The Australian athletes at Milan Cortina, however, may begin to change your mind.

With several days of competition still ahead, the nation has already had its most successful Winter Olympics to date. The 53-athlete roster — the second-largest Australian Winter Olympic contingent — has brought home five total medals, surpassing the previous best of four that was achieved at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Though Australia entered the 2026 Games with just 20 total Winter Olympic medals, the nation has been consistently represented for the last several decades. The first Aussie podium finish was in the 5000m short track speed skating relay at the 1994 Lillehammer Games, when the team of Steven Bradbury, Kieran Hansen, Andrew Murtha and Richard Nizielski took home the bronze.

Team USA's men's curlers have been beaten by China this morning in a blow to their hopes of making the medal playoffs.

Things looked bleak for Team USA after conceding three points in the eighth end to put them 5-2 down with two ends to go. But a big response from the U.S.team made sure they got those points straight back, levelling it up going into the final end.

China's Fei Xueqing, and United States' Aidan Oldenburg in action during the men's curling round robin session today. Misper Apawu / AP

But China had the hammer in the final end, and they used it to devastating effect as they claimed three points to seal an 8-5 victory. The U.S. team slipped to 4-3 with the defeat, tied with Great Britain for fourth place. The top four progress to the playoffs.

China were 1-5 coming into this match-up, so this will go down as a disappointing result for Team USA. They will have a chance for redemption later on when they take to the ice for their penultimate round-robin match against Italy at 1:05 p.m. ET. Win that and their final match against Great Britain tomorrow, and the U.S. will progress. Lose any of them, and the U.S. are likely in trouble.

In better news for Team USA, Germany, another of the teams in the mix for a playoff position, suffered a surprise defeat to Czechia this morning, who came from behind in the final end to win 9-7 for their first win in the tournament.

Snow is coming down heavily in Livigno, and that is causing scheduling chaos at the moment.

Today's women's snowboard slopestyle final, scheduled for 7 a.m. ET, has been postponed, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has announced, after athletes were unable to practice this morning. It is unclear whether it can take place today or another day.

A cameraman moves his equipment as the Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Final in Livigno is postponed due to adverse weather. David Ramos / Getty Images

Staff move fences as the Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Final is postponed due to heavy snow in Livigno. David Ramos / Getty Images

Qualifying for aerials is also postponed for now. Both events involve skiers flipping through the air, and the heavy snow means poor visibility, making it too dangerous to go ahead.

The men’s and women’s team pursuits will finish today at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. 

The United States, which has never won a gold medal in the team pursuit (men’s or women’s), is the gold-medal favorite in the men’s event. The U.S. men will race against China in the semifinals. 

The trio of Ethan Cepuran, Casey Dawson and Emery Lehman are the reigning world champions and set the world record in November. The team won a bronze medal in this event in Beijing. 

Elana Meyers Taylor talks to Mike Tirico about how her two sons continue to motivate her, the sacrifices her family has made to allow her to win a gold medal and more.

The freeskiers are about to take to the skies in Livigno as they take part in qualifying for the Aerials.

This event sees athletes launch themselves off a jump — known as a "kicker" — as they twist and flip through the air before landing. A panel of judges gives scores based on the tricks performed, form and landing. Think of it essentially as skiing’s equivalent of gymnastics’ vault.

In qualifying, the top six out of the 25-strong field advance to the finals after the first qualifying run. For those who don't progress, the scores reset, and they get a second go to compete for the remaining six spots in the final.

Kaila Kuhn of Team USA participates in Freestyle Skiing Aerials training on Saturday. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

The women will be going first this morning with Kaila Kuhn, who won the world title in this event last year, and Winter Vinecki, being Team USA's strongest medal hope, though both have had rocky seasons in the build-up to the Games.

Men's qualifying follows at 7:30 a.m. ET with Quinn Dehlinger, who is dating Kuhn, on paper the strongest of the four Team USA skiers competing. China won gold in both the men's and women's events in Beijing four years ago, and is a strong contender for the podium again.

Taylor Swift is all in on the hype for Team USA’s three figure skaters set to compete in the women’s individual event today.

The “Opalite” singer provided an introduction to Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito in an NBC Olympics promotional video for the women who call themselves the “Blade Angels.”

“Three American showgirls on ice who will capture your heart with their stories,” Swift said.

Team USA is locked in a tight contest with China in men's curling right now.

At the halfway stage of this contest, Team USA holds a narrow 2-1 lead as it looks for a fourth straight victory in round-robin play.

Ben Richardson, Daniel Casper and Aidan Oldenburg of Team USA compete during the Men's Round Robin Session against Team China today. Julian Finney / Getty Images

Lindsey Vonn is back at home in the United States after leaving a hospital in Italy following a devastating crash in the women's downhill that left her with a broken left leg.

"Haven’t stood on my feet in over a week," Vonn posted on X overnight. "Been in a hospital bed immobile since my race. And although I’m not yet able to stand, being back on home soil feels amazing."

Vonn shared video on her Instagram account yesterday showing her in the hospital being looked after by friends, family and medical staff as she recovered from her crash.

U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin appeared to address his subpar performance at the Olympics in a social media post yesterday.

Ilia Malinin of Team USA after competing in the men's single skating in Milan on Friday. Andy Cheung / Getty Images

Writing in a caption on Instagram, Malinin alluded to “invisible battles” he has been fighting. After his free skate in the men’s single skating event last week dropped him from first to eighth place (in an event he was heavily favored to win), Malinin admitted his head was flooded with negative thoughts before he was set to perform.

“On the world’s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside,” Malinin posted on Instagram on Monday. “Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by the noise. Vile online hatred attacks the mind and fear lures it into the darkness, no matter how hard you try to stay sane through the endless insurmountable pressure. It all builds up as these moments flash before your eyes, resulting in an inevitable crash.”

Arguably, the main event of the Winter Olympics begins today: women’s figure skating. Americans Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito will take the ice in Milan for the short program. 

All times are in Eastern, and an asterisk signifies a medal event:

3:05 a.m.: Curling, men’s round robin (Switzerland vs. Sweden, USA vs. China, Czechia vs. Germany)

4:45 a.m.: Freestyle skiing, women’s aerials qualification 1

5:30 a.m.: Freestyle skiing, women’s aerials qualification 2

6:10 a.m.: Men’s hockey, qualification playoff (Germany vs. France, Switzerland vs. Italy)

7 a.m.: Snowboard, women’s slopestyle*

Team USA's men's curlers are on a three match winning streak, and they are back in action already this morning as they look to strengthen their position as we get toward the end of round-robin play.

USA's Aidan Oldenburg, left, and team mate compete in the curling men's round robin against Switzerland on Thursday. Odd Andersen / AFP via Getty Images

They are taking on China this morning and lead 1-0 after the first two ends of the match.

Coming into this one, Team USA are 4-2 and are tied for third place in the table.

Snoop Dogg and Mike Tirico run through some of the top Winter Olympic moments thus far, sparking some hilarious reactions from the pop culture icon.

This date 16 years ago at the Vancouver Winter Games was a day to remember for Team USA as they took home a haul of six medals — three gold, one silver and two bronze. It's the most they have ever won on a single day of winter competition.

The day started off with one of Lindsey Vonn's greatest days as she took what is the only Olympic gold medal she has won in her career in the women's downhill. Team USA went 1-2 in that event, with Julia Mancuso joining Vonn on the medal podium.

Lindsey Vonn during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill at the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Feb. 17, 2010. Clive Mason / Getty Images

Then, it was over to the speed skating arena for another double-podium for Team USA — Shani Davis topping the podium in the men's 1000m with Chad Hendrick claiming bronze.

Finally, as night fell on Cypress Mountain, Shaun White delivered gold in the men's halfpipe, with Scotty Lago winning bronze.

Team USA went on to finish the Vancouver Games with 37 medals — still the most medals won in a single Winter Olympics by Team USA. As it stands, the U.S. has won 19 medals in these Games.

Maria Taylor explains why moms ruled the day yesterday for the United States at the Milan Cortina Olympics, with Elana Meyers Taylor headlining the group of mothers who showed out for the red, white and blue.