troy podmilsak: Day 11 Drama at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics — Frostad Tops Big Air as U.S. Posts Mixed Results
Day 11 at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics produced one of the most electrifying freeski finals in recent memory, sharp swings in the figure skating standings and mixed results for U. S. squads across the ice. Heavy snowfall in Livigno reshuffled the schedule and set the stage for a busy medal day ahead on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET).
Freeski Big Air delivers an all-time final
The men’s freeski big air final in Livigno lived up to the hype, with Norway’s Tormod Frostad nailing a pressure-packed last jump to claim gold. Frostad’s near-flawless night produced a combined total that left him just shy of perfection and ahead of Team USA’s Mac Forehand, who captured silver after an equally bold run of tricks.
Forehand vaulted into contention with a blistering second-to-last jump — a nose butter triple cork 2160 that drew a roar from the crowd and a near-maximum score for the effort. He held the lead briefly, only to be edged out by Frostad’s final effort. Austria’s Matej Svancer completed the podium with bronze, capping a final that will be replayed and analyzed within the sport for years.
Figure skating and speedskating: highs, stumbles and missed podiums
On the ice in Milan, the U. S. enjoyed promise and pain. Alysa Liu produced a season-best short program in the women’s singles, skating her way into third place heading into the free skate and staking a strong claim for a medal. Her teammate Amber Glenn, who had hoped to join the leaderboard surge, fell on a basic jump and slid down to 12th, leaving her with long odds to reach the podium.
Speedskating brought more mixed feelings for American fans. The U. S. men took silver in the team pursuit after a dramatic race against the host nation, a result that felt like an upset given pre-Games expectations. The U. S. women's pursuit team missed the podium entirely, losing the bronze-medal race to Japan. Meanwhile, Canada celebrated back-to-back golds in the women’s team pursuit, reinforcing their depth in that discipline.
Hockey, weather and what’s next
The men’s hockey qualification playoffs produced crucial quarterfinal matchups: the Czech Republic and Sweden advanced and will face Canada and the United States, respectively, in the next round on the tournament calendar. One intriguing subplot will be NHL teammates who could now face off on opposing Olympic teams in a rare head-to-head at this level.
Weather played a decisive role on Day 11. Heavy snowfall in Livigno forced organizers to postpone multiple mountain events, concentrating a heavy load of competition on the schedule for Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). Organizers and teams are bracing for a day that could hand out as many as nine gold medals as postponed events are rescheduled and mountain venues attempt to recover from fresh snow.
As the Games move deeper into their second week, a mix of unforgettable performances and unexpected setbacks is shaping medal tallies and narratives. Athletes who rose to the moment in Livigno will carry momentum forward, while others have a narrow window to regroup before more decisive rounds begin. Expect the medal board to shift again quickly as Wednesday’s condensed program unfolds.
