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Hello from Milan and Cortina, where Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won gold in the men’s giant slalom, making history for all of South America. Plus, American Jordan Stolz continued his march toward potentially winning four speedskating medals at these Games.
Our correspondents have it all covered below and at NBC News. Catch it all streaming on Peacock.
Live from Milan Cortina
In Jordan Stolz’s quest for four speedskating gold medals at these Olympics, he was supposed to face his toughest test today in the 500-meter final. In his pair, Stolz was matched with the Netherlands’ Jenning de Boo, one of his top competitors.
It didn’t matter.
Stolz sprinted to a time of 33.77 seconds, and de Boo ended up 0.11 seconds behind.
After they crossed the finish line, de Boo slipped and slid into a boundary. He sat on the ice as Stolz took a lap and waved to the crowd.
Stolz is now 2 for 2 at these Games. A few days ago, he won gold and set an Olympic record at the 1,000-meter final. He will race in the 1500-meter final and the mass start event next week.
Jordan Stolz competes during the men’s speedskating 500-meter race.Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images
Also: Team USA men’s hockey overcame an early deficit and eventually overpowered Denmark, winning 6-3.
On the slopes, Jaelin Kauf became the most decorated mogul skier in U.S. Olympic history today when she took second in the debut of dual moguls to Australia’s Jakara Anthony. It was the third Olympic silver medal of Kauf’s career, and she wasn’t the only American to medal, as Liz Lemley took bronze. Lemley had won the individual moguls gold medal just days earlier.
Yesterday, in men’s curling, a shouting match erupted after Team Sweden accused Canada of cheating for allegedly touching the stone after it’d been released. World Curling issued a verbal warning to Team Canada “regarding the language used” as it defended itself.
Athlete Spotlight
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Team Brazil celebrates during the men’s giant slalom.Christian Petersen / Getty Images
When it came to earning medals at the Winter Olympics, athletes from South American countries had gone 0 for 102 years.
Until Saturday.
After Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil won the men’s giant slalom, he said he hoped the win would “inspire some kids out there that, despite what they wear, despite how they look, despite where they come from, they can follow their own dreams and be who they really are. Because that is the real source of happiness in life.”
Pinheiro Braathen grew up in Oslo, Norway, to a Norwegian father and a Brazilian mother. He skied for Norway until he retired three years ago at 23.