Day 12 at 2026 Winter Olympics Delivers Thrilling Medal Moments Across Multiple Sports
The twelfth day of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina was a spectacular showcase of athletic prowess, packed with significant medal events and unexpected outcomes. From the slopes of Cortina to the ice rinks of Milan, athletes competed fiercely in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboard slopestyle, freestyle aerials, men's hockey, and women's curling, providing fans with unforgettable moments.
Alpine Skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin Dominates Women's Slalom
At the Olympia delle Tofane in Cortina, the women's slalom event saw American skier Mikaela Shiffrin deliver a commanding performance during the afternoon session. Shiffrin clocked an impressive time of 47.13 seconds in her first run, establishing a strong lead. She currently holds a 0.82-second advantage over Germany's Lena Duerr, with Sweden's Cornelia Oehlund trailing by one second.
By 3:40 PM GMT+5:30, with ten skiers having completed their second runs, Paula Moltzan emerged with the fastest combined time of 1:41.29. Her second run split of 51.39 seconds was particularly notable, showcasing her skill and determination. Meanwhile, AJ Hurt was positioned 17th after the initial run, and Nina O'Brien did not finish, adding to the drama as the final racers prepared to compete.
Cross Country Skiing: US Duo Secures Silver in Team Sprint
In Tesero, the men's team sprint concluded before 3 PM local time, with Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo securing his tenth Olympic gold medal as his team finished first. Right behind them, American athletes Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher crossed the finish line to claim the silver medal. Schumacher demonstrated remarkable endurance on the final hill, successfully holding off Italy to maintain their position.
Earlier, at 2:15 PM GMT+5:30, the women's team sprint ended with Sweden winning gold, Switzerland taking silver, and Germany earning bronze. For the United States, Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern finished in fifth place, showcasing competitive spirit in a highly contested event.
Snowboard Slopestyle: Jake Canter Earns Bronze Medal
At the Livigno Snow Park, the men's slopestyle final wrapped up just before 2 PM GMT+5:30. Jake Canter scored 79.36 on his final run, a performance that propelled him into the bronze medal position after judges posted Marcus Kleveland's score slightly behind him. Su Yiming of China won gold with a score of 82.41, while Taiga Hasegawa of Japan secured silver.
Other notable performances included Red Gerard finishing sixth after falls on his last two runs, Ollie Martin placing ninth, and Mark McMorris ending in eighth position, highlighting the intense competition in this event.
Freestyle Aerials: Kuhn and Vinecki Advance to Super Final
The women's aerials finals took place in Livigno during the early afternoon. After the second qualifying jump around 1:20 PM GMT+5:30, Kaila Kuhn scored 109.90, moving into third place and qualifying for the super final. Winter Vinecki also advanced with a score of 107.75, demonstrating the depth of talent in the field.
Earlier in the session, Danielle Scott led with a score of 117.19. Tasia Tanner finished 11th, and Marion Thenault placed seventh, narrowly missing the final six, underscoring the high stakes of the competition.
Men's Hockey Quarterfinal: Slovakia Controls Germany
At the Santagiulia Arena in Milan, the men's hockey quarterfinal began earlier in the day. By 12:30 PM GMT+5:30, Slovakia had established a commanding 3-0 lead in the second period. Key plays included Erik Cernak's shot being redirected by Pavol Regenda, Dalibor Dvorsky adding another goal, and Oliver Okuliar contributing a goal and an assist.
Juraj Slafkovsky briefly left the game but returned, while Leon Draisaitl logged heavy minutes for Germany. As Slovakia extended their lead to 4-1, coach Harold Kreis called a timeout in an effort to regroup his team, but Slovakia maintained control throughout the match.
Curling Shock: Britain Stuns United States in Women's Match
In a stunning upset during the women's curling match, Britain defeated the United States 8-7. The game reached the tenth end late in the morning, and at 11:45 AM GMT+5:30, Rebecca Morrison delivered the final stone to steal two points, securing the victory for Britain.
Tabitha Peterson had the hammer for the United States but was unable to clear the guard, leading to the loss. In other curling action, Denmark edged China 8-7, and South Korea beat Sweden 8-3, adding to the day's excitement and unpredictability.
Overall, Day 12 of the 2026 Winter Olympics was marked by exceptional performances, strategic plays, and surprising results, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats as the games continue to unfold.
