Livigno, Italy — Team USA secured two silver medals on Tuesday, maintaining its position in third place in the overall standings of the 2026 Winter Olympics, trailing only Norway and the host country, Italy. American skier Mac Forehand shone brightly during the men’s freeski Big Air final, delivering thrilling performances in a highly competitive event that captivated audiences.
Throughout a snowy evening, Forehand squared off against strong competitors, including Austria’s Matej Svancer and Norway’s Tormod Frostad. He posted impressive scores of 95.00 in his initial two runs but found himself in third place as he prepared for his third attempt. To reclaim the lead, Forehand executed a daring “nose butter triple cork 2160,” a trick he had never used in competition before, scoring an impressive 98.25, which temporarily elevated him to the top of the leaderboard.
However, Frostad responded with equal prowess, also achieving a score of 98.25 on his final run, effectively reclaiming the gold medal for Norway, which marked the nation’s 14th victory in these Games. Despite missing out on gold, Forehand’s silver was celebrated as he was part of what commentators have hailed as one of the most exhilarating Big Air competitions in recent history, showcasing stellar performances from all participants.
In addition to Forehand’s achievement, Team USA’s men’s speedskating team added another silver medal to the tally in the Men’s Team Pursuit. They finished just shy of the gold in a closely contested race against the Italian team. With these two silver medals, Team USA now boasts a total of 21 medals, ranking third overall and two medals ahead of Japan.
While the day was marked by successes, the American men’s curling team faced setbacks, suffering two losses to China and Italy, which significantly undercut their chances of making it to the semifinals. They now sit in sixth place in the standings. Conversely, the women’s curling team fared better, defeating Denmark 10-3, which keeps them tied for second with Switzerland and hopeful for a semifinal berth.
Looking ahead, both curling teams are set to clash with Great Britain, while the USA men’s hockey squad will step onto the ice for quarterfinal action. Team USA is also poised to increase its medal count in upcoming competitions, including the men’s and women’s snowboarding slopestyle events. As the Olympics progress, anticipation builds for more thrilling performances from American athletes across various sports in Livigno.