elana meyers taylor finally wins gold as Day 10 delivers high drama at Winter Olympics
Day 10 of the 2026 Winter Games produced stirring milestones and tense finishes. Elana Meyers Taylor, at 41, broke through for her first Olympic gold in the monobob and reached a career-defining sixth medal, while freeski, women's hockey and other marquee events added to an increasingly unpredictable Olympics. More medals are set to be decided Thursday (ET), including a long-awaited women's hockey final between two North American powers.
Meyers Taylor tops monobob to secure historic first gold
Elana Meyers Taylor completed a long Olympic arc by winning the monobob on Day 10, finally adding the elusive gold to a collection that included five previous medals across four Games. The 41-year-old's victory not only marked a personal milestone — her first Olympic title — it also moved her level with the U. S. record for most Winter Olympic medals by a woman, reaching six and matching one of the nation's all-time greats.
The win capped a career in which she had already been the most decorated Black Winter Olympian in history, and this gold now cements her place among the sport's elite. A teammate also reached the podium: Kallie Humphries claimed bronze, giving the U. S. a strong showing in the event and underscoring depth that has been years in the making.
Freeski, hockey and the bigger picture for Team USA
The freeski big air competition produced its own headline, with Canada taking top honors and Eileen Gu, competing for China but American-born, capturing silver. The discipline showcased the blend of innovation and athletic fearlessness that has become a signature of the freeski field.
On the ice, the women's tournament continued to crystallize a long-expected gold-medal matchup. The United States routed Sweden 5-0 in one semifinal, while Canada survived a scare to edge Switzerland 2-1 in the other. Canada's captain produced both goals in that narrow win and in doing so added to an already impressive Olympic résumé by becoming the tournament's all-time leader in Olympic goals for women's hockey, now with 20. The stage is set for a Thursday (ET) gold-medal showdown between the two rival programs.
Drama, disappointment and the shape of the tournament so far
The Games have been defined by contrast: marquee names who faltered and others who rose to the occasion. Several high-profile setbacks — including a serious crash by a top downhill skier, a high-jumping favorite collapsing mid-competition, and a slalom standout wrestling with remnant Olympic demons — have shifted narratives and opened opportunities for other athletes to claim the spotlight.
Still, some expected stars met the moment. Snowboarding and ice-dance events produced podium performances that lived up to billing, even if gold slipped away for a few headline athletes who settled for silver. Those mixed results have left Team USA with reasons for optimism and questions to answer as the competition moves into its final stretch.
Looking ahead, organizers plan seven gold-medal events for Thursday (ET), with nine medal races in total when bronze-medal contests in the men's and women's speedskating team pursuits are included. With historic achievements, tight knockout games and a cluster of must-watch finals on the calendar, the coming days promise to be decisive in shaping the legacy of these Games.
For elana meyers taylor, the moment on Day 10 is both a culmination and a fresh benchmark: decades of perseverance rewarded with gold, and a legacy elevated at a Games that have already rewritten several early-season expectations.
