By: Key Jones-Ford
Running from Feb. 6-22, this year’s Winter Olympics took place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. It introduced ski mountaineering as an Olympic event and the first games to be overseen by the new International Olympic Committee president, Kirsty Coventry.
The United States of America (Team USA) took home 33 medals total, including 12 gold medals. The Guardian reported this as the highest number of medals ever taken by Team USA in a Winter Olympics.
Of those 12, eight medals were won by female athletes, as reported in an Instagram reel posted by Impact.
Among gold medalists was Alysa Liu, who won the first women’s figure skating gold medal for the U.S. in 24 years. Liu has gained attention with her personal style and refusal to conform. This includes her unique halo hairstyle and her ruling that she will lead and make final creative choices on all her performances. Her performance of Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” netted her first place.
After placing sixth in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at 16, Liu announced her retirement from the sport. However, after a break, she chose to come back on her own terms.
“No one tells me what I’m gonna wear. No one tells me how my hair is gonna be. No one’s gonna try to change me,” Liu said to Cosmopolitan in January ahead of the competition.
Liu was joined on the podium by Japanese figure skaters Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai, who won silver and bronze, respectively.
Beyond her skating abilities, Liu has also been open about her views on competing in adulthood. In an interview with NBC Sports, she said, “Winning isn’t all that, and neither is losing. It’s just something that happens. It’s the outcome. But what matters is the input and the journey. And I would say take a break. I take breaks even now, and I think that’s the way to do it.”
The other successes of the U.S. came from the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams, which both took home the golds winning against the Canadian hockey teams.
A leaked video showed the US men’s team on a call with the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump, after winning, in which he invites them to the White House and made a comment regarding the women’s hockey team.
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team. You do know that. I do believe I probably would be impeached [if I didn’t.].”
Several players can be heard laughing and joking back with him. One player can be heard yelling, “two-for-two,” allegedly in reference to inviting both teams to the White House.
The video has received public backlash, with women’s team captain Hilary Knight telling The Guardian, “I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke, and unfortunately that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats.”
Men’s team goaltender Jeremy Swayman regretted the initial laughter and said the men “should’ve reacted differently.”
“We know that we’re so excited for the women’s team, we have so much respect for the women’s team,” said Swayman. “To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for.”
The men’s hockey team met with President Trump for dinner ahead of the State of the Union on Feb. 24, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck received a Presidential Medal of Freedom. According to The Athletic, he was awarded the medal for saving a “record” 41 shots of 42 during their decisive game. The Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for any civilian and is usually awarded for exceptional lifetime achievements in the arts, science, sports, and other fields.
Hellebuyck joins the 19 recorded Olympians in earning a Medal of Freedom for their achievements.
The women’s team declined the invitation to the White House. NBC reported that a spokesperson for the team said that, while the women were “honored to be included and grateful for the acknowledgement,” they could not attend due to prior commitments and scheduling conflicts. Dominik Hašek, a Hall of Fame former NHL goalie, commended them for their response.
“Yes, your president is a big liar and a fraud who abuses his position to insult and bully his fellow citizens,” Hašek wrote on X. “Still, I believe you must have shown a great deal of heroism in making this decision. Thank you for that.”
Rapper and co-founder of hip-hop group “Public Enemy,” Flavor Flav, offered to host the women’s team in Las Vegas on X.
“If there is an interest for the team to come to Las Vegas and celebrate with Flav — we will figure it out on our end and make it a lovely experience.”
This invite has since been opened up to the women’s skeleton and bobsled teams.
Other wins this year included Brazil winning its first gold medal in its Winter Olympic history, and the first South American National Olympic Committee to do so. Norwegian-Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen took home the gold for alpine skiing during the men’s giant slalom.
The next Winter Olympics will be in 2030 and will take place in the French Alps, according to the official Olympics website.