Winter Olympic Records (And Who Could Break Them)
The Olympics are already the biggest stage in sports — but records are what turn a great competition into a legendary one. See which athletes are in reach of making history during these Games.
Team USA’s Missing Medal
Across the Winter Olympic events, the United States has earned medals in every sport except one: biathlon. While Team USA has made strides in recent years, a breakthrough podium finish still hasn’t happened. Deedra Irwin posted a 7th-place finish in her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 – the best Olympic result ever by an American biathlete – and she represents Team USA’s best chance yet to finally medal in the sport this year.
The Trio Ready to End the U.S. Figure Skating Drought
The last Winter Olympic medal of any kind for U.S. women’s figure skating in singles was Sasha Cohen’s silver in 2006. The last gold: Sarah Hughes in 2002.
That could change in 2026, with a strong trio of medal contenders for Team USA: Amber Glenn, the reigning three-time U.S. national champion; Alysa Liu, the 2025 world champion and 2026 U.S. runner-up; and Isabeau Levito, the 2023 U.S. champion and 2024 world silver medalist. All three are poised to put Team USA back on the Olympic podium.
Team USA’s Missing Medal
Across the Winter Olympic events, the United States has earned medals in every sport except one: biathlon. While Team USA has made strides in recent years, a breakthrough podium finish still hasn’t happened. Deedra Irwin posted a 7th-place finish in her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 – the best Olympic result ever by an American biathlete – and she represents Team USA’s best chance yet to finally medal in the sport this year.
The Trio Ready to End the U.S. Figure Skating Drought
The last Winter Olympic medal of any kind for U.S. women’s figure skating in singles was Sasha Cohen’s silver in 2006. The last gold: Sarah Hughes in 2002.
That could change in 2026, with a strong trio of medal contenders for Team USA: Amber Glenn, the reigning three-time U.S. national champion; Alysa Liu, the 2025 world champion and 2026 U.S. runner-up; and Isabeau Levito, the 2023 U.S. champion and 2024 world silver medalist. All three are poised to put Team USA back on the Olympic podium.
Three Consecutive Gold Medals in a Snowboarding Event
Despite snowboarding’s relatively short Olympic history since 1998, one record has never been broken: no snowboarder has won three consecutive Olympic golds in the same event. Milano Cortina 2026 gives several athletes a chance to change that.
U.S. snowboarder and TOGETHXR co-founder Chloe Kim could become the first athlete to win three straight Olympic golds in the women’s halfpipe. Austria’s Anna Gasser has won every Olympic women’s Big Air event since its 2018 debut – a third consecutive gold would cement her as the defining Olympic figure in the discipline.
A Record Games for Bobsled’s Most Successful Pilots
Team USA’s Elana Meyers Taylor became the most decorated female bobsledder in Olympic history at Beijing 2022, earning her fourth and fifth career medals. Kaillie Humphries, also competing for Team USA, needs just one more medal to match that mark as the most decorated female pilot.
Both women are on track to shine on the Olympic stage once again, giving Team USA a chance to see two of the sport’s all-time greats add to their legacies.
Three Consecutive Gold Medals in a Snowboarding Event
Despite snowboarding’s relatively short Olympic history since 1998, one record has never been broken: no snowboarder has won three consecutive Olympic golds in the same event. Milano Cortina 2026 gives several athletes a chance to change that.
U.S. snowboarder and TOGETHXR co-founder Chloe Kim could become the first athlete to win three straight Olympic golds in the women’s halfpipe. Austria’s Anna Gasser has won every Olympic women’s Big Air event since its 2018 debut – a third consecutive gold would cement her as the defining Olympic figure in the discipline.
A Record Games for Bobsled’s Most Successful Pilots
Team USA’s Elana Meyers Taylor became the most decorated female bobsledder in Olympic history at Beijing 2022, earning her fourth and fifth career medals. Kaillie Humphries, also competing for Team USA, needs just one more medal to match that mark as the most decorated female pilot.
Both women are on track to shine on the Olympic stage once again, giving Team USA a chance to see two of the sport’s all-time greats add to their legacies.
Chasing the U.S. Alpine Olympic Gold Record
Entering the 2026 Games, Mikaela Shiffrin – the all-time World Cup leader in alpine skiing – has two Olympic golds, tied for the most among U.S. alpine skiers. A gold in Cortina would make her the winningest U.S. alpine skier in Olympic history.
Going for Gold Across the Board
In addition to individual record pursuits, Team USA will enter Milano Cortina 2026 with a major team goal: leading the overall medal count.
The United States has topped the Winter Olympic medal table only twice: in 1932 and 2010. Team USA will be looking to return to the top for the first time since 2010, relying on strong performances by their athletes across all events.
Chasing the U.S. Alpine Olympic Gold Record
Entering the 2026 Games, Mikaela Shiffrin – the all-time World Cup leader in alpine skiing – has two Olympic golds, tied for the most among U.S. alpine skiers. A gold in Cortina would make her the winningest U.S. alpine skier in Olympic history.
Going for Gold Across the Board
In addition to individual record pursuits, Team USA will enter Milano Cortina 2026 with a major team goal: leading the overall medal count.
The United States has topped the Winter Olympic medal table only twice: in 1932 and 2010. Team USA will be looking to return to the top for the first time since 2010, relying on strong performances by their athletes across all events.
