MILAN, Italy —2026 Winter Olympics Day 11: The atmosphere at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium was electric on Tuesday as the home crowd witnessed a historic performance. In a day defined by high-stakes drama and weather-induced delays, the headlines were dominated by Italy’s resurgence on the ice and a French comeback in the snow.
2026 Winter Olympics Day 11Speed Skating: U.S. World Record Holders Settle for Silver
In one of the most anticipated matchups of the Milan-Cortina Games, the United States men’s team pursuit squad—current world record holders—fell to a relentless Italian trio.
Italy’s Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini, and Michele Malfatti delivered a masterclass in pacing, finishing in 3 minutes and 39.20 seconds. They bested the American team of Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman, and Ethan Cepuran by a significant 4.5-second margin. For Italy, this victory marks their first Olympic title in the team pursuit since the 2006 Turin Games, effectively bookending two decades of waiting with a gold medal on home soil.
The Americans, who had prioritized this event above all others—with Dawson even withdrawing from the 10,000m to stay fresh—led during the early laps. However, the Italians utilized the “pushing method” to devastating effect in the final stages, pulling away as the U.S. skaters visibly tired.
“We know we are the best team around, but today the Italians had that extra gear,” the U.S. team shared in a post-race reflection.
On the women’s side, Canada successfully defended its Olympic title. The veteran team of Ivanie Blondin, Valerie Maltais, and Isabelle Weidemann clocked a time of 2:55.81, finishing nearly a full second ahead of the Netherlands to secure their second consecutive gold.
Biathlon: France Orchestrates a “Last-to-First” Miracle
The men’s 4×7.5km biathlon relay in Anterselva provided perhaps the most dramatic turnaround of the Games. France claimed its first-ever Olympic gold in this event, despite a disastrous start that saw them sitting in 20th place after the first leg.
Fabien Claude struggled early, requiring a penalty lap, but the French team clawed back through heroic legs from Emilien Jacquelin and Quentin Fillon Maillet. The final leg fell to World Cup champion Eric Perrot, who held off Norway’s Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen in a frantic sprint to the finish.
Men’s Biathlon Relay Results
| Rank | Country | Time | Gap |
| 1 | France | 1:19:55.2 | — |
| 2 | Norway | 1:20:05.0 | +9.8s |
| 3 | Sweden | 1:20:52.7 | +57.5s |
| 4 | Germany | 1:21:43.5 | +1:48.3 |
| 5 | USA | 1:22:22.6 | +2:27.4 |
Hockey: Germany and Switzerland Punch Quarterfinal Tickets
The qualification playoffs for men’s hockey concluded with dominant performances from central European powerhouses.
- Germany vs. France: Behind goals from NHL stars Leon Draisaitl and JJ Peterka, Germany cruised to a 5-1 victory. They now prepare for a high-stakes quarterfinal matchup against Slovakia on Wednesday.
- Switzerland vs. Italy: The Swiss defense was impenetrable, outshooting Italy 51-20 in a 3-0 shutout. Devils captain Nico Hischier led the way with a goal and two assists. Switzerland moves on to face Finland.
Nordic Combined: Oftebro’s Golden Streak Continues
Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro confirmed his status as the king of the hills, winning his second gold of the Games in the Large Hill/10km event. Oftebro started 22 seconds behind the leader after the ski jump phase but utilized his superior cross-country speed to “gallop” past his rivals on the final climb.
Austria’s Johannes Lamparter took home his second silver of the week, while Finland’s Ilkka Herola secured the bronze. The highest U.S. finisher was Niklas Malacinski in 13th.
️ Weather Alert: Snowboarding Postponed
The treacherous “Mottolino” mountain weather finally caught up with the schedule in Livigno. A heavy snowstorm dropping over 10 centimeters of fresh powder forced organizers to postpone the Women’s Snowboarding Slopestyle final.
The storm also grounded the air ambulance, a safety requirement for high-risk aerial events, leading to the cancellation of the freestyle aerials qualification. The women’s slopestyle final is now tentatively rescheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Medal Count Standings (End of Day 11)
Norway continues to pull away in the overall count, while Italy’s gold in speed skating has helped them maintain their second-place position.
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Norway | 13 | 8 | 9 | 30 |
| Italy | 9 | 4 | 11 | 24 |
| USA | 6 | 9 | 5 | 20 |
| Netherlands | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 |
| Germany | 4 | 7 | 6 | 17 |
Olympic Insight: “The Blue Lines”
Ever wondered about the blue dye lines on the downhill courses? Introduced to the World Cup in 2001, these markings are essential for safety. They help skiers navigate the “best line” and maintain depth perception when racing at speeds exceeding 80 mph in low-visibility or “flat light” conditions.
Coming Up Tomorrow: The focus shifts to the Women’s Figure Skating Short Program, where American stars Isabeau Levito, Alysa Liu, and Amber Glenn look to break into the top tier.