Chloe Kim Falls Short, US & Canada Win in Hockey – Olympics Updates

Kim Falls Short of Historic Three-Peat, US Men’s Hockey Wins Opener

Milan Cortina, Italy – February 12, 2026 – American snowboarder Chloe Kim’s bid for a historic third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the women’s halfpipe final came up short on Thursday, as she took home silver behind 17-year-old South Korean Gaon Choi.

Kim, aiming to become the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic gold medals – a feat previously accomplished only by Shaun White – posted a score of 88.00 in her first run. However, a fall during her second attempt left her vulnerable. Choi seized the opportunity, delivering a winning run of 90.25 in the third and final round. Kim was unable to regain the lead, falling again in her final run.

The victory marks Choi as the youngest Olympic medalist at the Milan Cortina Games. She rebounded from a scary crash during the first run of the final to claim the gold.

Elsewhere at the Olympics, the U.S. Men’s hockey team began their quest for gold with a dominant 5-1 victory over Latvia. This marks the return of NHL players to the Olympic games for the first time since 2014.

The Americans overcame an initially tense start to the game, having two goals disallowed after video reviews in the first period. The score was tied 1-1 before Brock Nelson broke the deadlock at the 10:38 mark of the second period. Nelson went on to score two goals in the game, while Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews also found the back of the net. By the end of the second period, Team USA had established a comfortable 4-1 lead.

Matthews added another goal in the third period, solidifying the 5-1 win. Captain Auston Matthews stated that the team’s expectation is “gold medal or bust” this year, reflecting a strong belief in their potential.

Team USA will next face Denmark on Saturday.

The U.S. Men’s hockey team hasn’t won Olympic gold since 1980, but this year’s roster, featuring a strong contingent of NHL players, is considered by many to be among the best in U.S. History.

Meanwhile, Kristen Santos-Griswold, a short track speedskater, experienced a frustrating night, falling multiple times and failing to qualify for the medal final race. This continues a difficult Olympic journey for Santos-Griswold, who also faced heartbreak in Beijing four years prior.