Day 4 of the 2026 Winter Olympics delivered a mix of triumphs, surprises, and emotional moments that left fans buzzing. But here's where it gets controversial: did the U.S. women’s hockey team’s dominant 5-0 win over Canada signal a shift in the sport’s power dynamics, or is this just another chapter in their storied rivalry? Let’s dive into the highlights and let you decide.
The Athletic’s live coverage (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/winter-olympics-2026-milano-cortina-live-updates-day-four-schedule-events-scores-results/jk6wv0H7wzyr/) captured the day’s most electrifying moments, from the ice rink to the slopes. If you missed the action, here’s a recap that’ll have you feeling like you were right there in Milano-Cortina.
USA Women’s Hockey Rolls On, Leaving Canada in the Dust
The highly anticipated clash between the U.S. and Canada in women’s hockey was expected to be a nail-biter. Instead, it turned into a showcase of American dominance as the U.S. team blanked their northern rivals 5-0. This wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. The U.S. has now outscored Canada 24-7 across four Rivalry Series victories in November and December, and their Olympic record stands at an impressive 4-0. But is this the end of Canada’s reign, or will they bounce back? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Stars like Caroline Harvey, Hannah Bilka, and Abbey Murphy shone brightly. Harvey, a two-time Olympian and presumptive No. 1 pick in the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft, continued her stellar play with a goal and two assists. Bilka added two goals, while Murphy’s three assists—including a no-look backhand pass that set up Bilka’s second goal—were nothing short of spectacular. The U.S. women now advance to the quarterfinals, where they’ll face Italy.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s Uncharacteristic Struggles Raise Questions
And this is the part most people miss: while Breezy Johnson delivered a gold-worthy downhill run, Mikaela Shiffrin’s uncharacteristic performance in the slalom leg cost the U.S. pair a shot at the podium. Johnson gave Shiffrin a 0.06-second head start, but Shiffrin’s sluggish run placed her 15th out of 18 finishers, dropping the duo to fourth place—just 0.06 seconds behind bronze. Was it nerves, fatigue, or something else? Share your theories below.
Instead, it was Austria’s Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber who claimed gold, with Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Emma Aicher taking silver. Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan stepped onto the podium for the U.S., accepting bronze medals while the favorites watched from the sidelines. Shiffrin now has a few days to regroup before the giant slalom on Sunday.
Ilia Malinin Shines in Men’s Figure Skating Short Program
If there’s one athlete who lived up to the hype, it’s 21-year-old Ilia Malinin. Nicknamed the ‘Quad God,’ Malinin landed two quadruple jumps—including a jaw-dropping quad Lutz into a triple toe loop—and even added a backflip for good measure. His score of 108.16 puts him in prime position for gold. But can he maintain this momentum in the free skate? Let’s discuss.
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and France’s Adam Siao Him Fa trail Malinin in second and third place, with scores of 103.07 and 102.55, respectively. The next phase of the competition takes place on Friday, and the crowd is already buzzing with anticipation.
Sweden Edges U.S. in Mixed Doubles Curling Thriller
In a heart-stopping final, Sweden’s sibling duo, Isabella and Rasmus Wranå, narrowly defeated Americans Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin 6-5 to claim gold. The match came down to the final stone, with Thiesse and Dropkin taking silver. Was this Sweden’s brilliance or a missed opportunity for the U.S.? Weigh in below.
For Thiesse, this silver medal is historic—it’s the first Olympic curling medal for a U.S. woman and the first U.S. medal in mixed doubles curling since its debut in 2018. ‘We just needed to be a little bit sharper today,’ Thiesse said after the match, ‘but we’re not going to let that game take away from the week that we had.’
Norwegian Biathlete’s Medal Moment Turns Emotional
In one of the day’s most unexpected moments, Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid won bronze in the 20km individual biathlon race—but his tears weren’t for his Olympic achievement. In a shocking confession on live TV, Laegreid revealed he had cheated on his girlfriend. ‘It’s been the worst week of my life,’ he said, hoping she’d see his public mea culpa as proof of his love. Was this a brave act of accountability or an inappropriate use of the Olympic stage? Share your perspective.
Laegreid finished behind Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn (gold) and France’s Eric Perrot (silver). His personal drama aside, the race was a testament to the intense competition in biathlon.
For a complete rundown of the day’s events, check out our live updates blog (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/winter-olympics-2026-milano-cortina-live-updates-day-four-schedule-events-scores-results/jk6wv0H7wzyr/) and medal tracker (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/interactive/2026-winter-olympics-medal-results/). From record-breaking performances to emotional revelations, Day 4 had it all. What was your favorite moment? Let us know in the comments!
