Day 4 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered one of the most dramatic sessions of the Games so far, headlined by Team USA's historic 5-0 demolition of Canada in women's ice hockey. First-time Olympian Hannah Bilka led the American onslaught with two goals, while Caroline Harvey contributed a goal and two assists. Kirsten Simms and Laila Edwards also found the net as goalkeeper Aerin Frankel recorded 20 saves for the shutout. The United States outshot Canada 11-4 in the first period and 22-10 through two, marking the largest margin of victory in the storied Olympic rivalry and the first time Canada has ever been shut out by the Americans at the Games. The result cemented Team USA's perfect 4-0 record atop Group A, while a Canadian squad missing injured superstar Marie-Philip Poulin faces serious questions heading into the knockout stage.
Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo claimed the men's sprint classic title to secure his seventh career Olympic gold medal, finishing in 3 minutes 39.8 seconds. The victory places Klaebo just one gold behind legendary compatriot Bjoern Daehlie's record of eight, a mark he could surpass before these Games conclude. In a breakthrough moment for American cross-country skiing, Vermont's Ben Ogden captured silver, finishing just 0.8 seconds behind Klaebo and ending a 50-year medal drought for US men in the discipline. The last American man to medal in Olympic cross-country skiing was Bill Koch, who took silver at the 1976 Innsbruck Games. Norway's Oskar Opstad Vike completed the podium with bronze. In the women's sprint classic, Sweden's Linn Svahn dominated with a commanding victory in 4 minutes 3.05 seconds, leading a Swedish podium sweep.
The host nation thrilled home fans when Italy won gold in the short track speed skating mixed team relay. The victory added to the remarkable legacy of Arianna Fontana, who collected yet another Olympic medal at her sixth consecutive Games, extending her record as the most decorated short track speed skater in Olympic history. The Italian crowd at the arena erupted as their team crossed the finish line first, delivering one of the most emotionally charged moments of the Milan Cortina Games so far.
Germany's Julia Taubitz captured gold in the women's singles luge, finishing nearly a full second ahead of Latvia's Elina Bota across four runs in a display of consistent excellence. Team USA's Ashley Farquharson claimed bronze. In curling, Sweden's Rasmus and Isabella Wrana delivered a dramatic finish to win mixed doubles gold, defeating Team USA 6-5 after Isabella scored two crucial points with her final stone in the last end, giving Sweden its first-ever Olympic mixed doubles curling title. Slovenia produced a surprise in ski jumping, winning the mixed team event with a total of 1069.2 points, powered by siblings Domen and Nika Prevc. In alpine skiing, Austria's Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber edged Germany by just 0.05 seconds to claim gold in the women's team combined, with the American pair of Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan taking bronze.
In figure skating, American sensation Ilia Malinin topped the men's short program standings with a score of 108.16, positioning himself as the clear favorite heading into the free skate. Nine sets of medals were awarded on Day 4, with Norway extending its commanding lead in the overall standings at 6 golds and 12 total medals. Germany sits second with 3 golds and 6 total, followed by Switzerland with 3 golds and 5 total. Italy has 2 golds and 11 total medals boosted by a collection of bronzes, while Team USA has climbed to 2 golds, 2 silvers, and 3 bronzes for 7 medals total after its strongest single day of competition.
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