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Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn results: Fight highlights

Claressa Shields successfully defended her championships with a victory over Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Detroit on Sunday, Feb. 22.

Shields won by unanimous decision in a fight that attracted 18,000 to Little Caesar’s Arena.

Crews-Dezurn put together a strong start in the opening round of the fight, but it was Shields who managed to pull away with the fight in the rounds that followed. Both fighters were aggressive early on, but Shields found her stride later in the fight by landing multiple combinations against an exhausted Crews-Dezurn. Crews-Dezurn tried to fight back in the later rounds but there wasn’t much more she could do to get back into the fight.

It’s Shields’ second victory over Crews-Dezurn. The first came back in the champions’ debut in 2016.

Shields is now 18-0 in her professional career. Crews-Dezurn falls to 10-3.

USA TODAY Sports had you covered with updates, analysis and highlights from the Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn card here:

Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn highlights

Claressa Shields def. Franchon Crews-Dezurn: Round-by-round analysis

Round 10: Both fighters go the distance and this will come down to the judges’ scores. It should be Shields who wins the fight with ease.

Round 9: Crews-Dezurn and Shields are slowing down a bit but it’s still Shields who has the advantage.

Round 8: Shields continues to show her dominance. The round was closer than some of the more recent rounds. The challenger showed some life, landing a pair of power punches in the round against Shields.

Round 7: Shields picks up where she left off from the previous round with more combinations. Crews-Dezurn might be running out of gas here.

Round 6: Shields continues to be aggressive and lands several combinations throughout the round. Shields is in full control.

Round 5: Crews-Dezurn was trying to work the body of Shields, but Shields caught her with a shot to the jaw.

Round 4: Shields is trying to pull away with the lead here in the fourth. Shields is clearly delivering punishment to the face of Crews-Dezurn.

Round 3: Both fighters are being aggressive and not pulling punches early in the fight. Their conditioning will be tested. This fight is fairly even so far.

Round 2: Shields has been able to display her speed early in the field. Crews-Dezurn continues to work Shields back against the corner or the ropes. Crews-Dezurn finished out the round with a jab and overhand shot.

Round 1: Crews-Dezurn took the first round of the fight after spending time backing Shields into the corner. Crews-Dezurn managed to delievered mutlipe shots.

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn: Time, PPV, streaming for fight

Claressa Shields will face Franchon Crews-Dezurn on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Date: Sunday, Feb. 22
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn main event ringwalks: 11 p.m. ET (estimate)
  • Stream: DAZN

Watch Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn fight with DAZN

Atif Oberlton def. Joseph George

Joseph George and Atif Oberlton were slotted as the co-main event on the Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn card.

Oberlton won the opening round of the fight, but things would take on a different tone before the second round.

George collapsed off his stool between the first and second rounds and was down on the mat. He was in his corner drinking water before falling out of his stool.

George was quickly attended to by doctors at the ringside and the fight was waved off. Oberlton looked very surprised and confused about what happened.

It appeared that George and Oberlton may have accidentally bumped heads late in the first round.

George was still in need of assistance as he made his way out of the ring. He was sat down on a stretcher to be wheeled out. Oberlton was declared the winner by TKO.

‘I know I was being defensively responsible, if he fell in and a head butt happened, I just know I avoided the shot,’ Oberlton told DAZN’s Chris Mannix after the fight. ‘I’m glad he got on his feet and he’s OK.’

Che Kenneally def. Danielle Perkins

Kenneally managed to take the first round using a flurry of punches and counter-punches. Perkins bounced back in the second round and has taken control of the fight.

Perkins delivers a strong right hook in the final seconds of the sixth round to knock down the champion. Kenneally tried to make it back up, but the referee stopped the fight. Perkins wins the WBA women’s light heavyweight title.

Pryce Taylor def. James Evans

Taylor was in control of the fight early through the first two rounds. The first round featured a slow pace and not much activity. While the fighters did exchange body shots, both are still getting a feel for one another early.

Evans would show some fight in the third round, but Taylor would knock him down in the fourth round. The referee also ended up on the floor in the round. Taylor would pop Evans again in the fifth round. Evans took several shots from Taylor before taking a knee. The referee calls an end to the heavyweight fight.

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn: Full fight card

Fight card via DAZN.

  • Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn; For Shields’ IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO women’s heavyweight titles
  • Atif Oberlton vs. Joseph George; Light heavyweight
  • Che Kenneally vs. Danielle Perkins; For Kenneally’s WBA women’s light heavyweight title
  • Pryce Taylor vs. James Evans; Heavyweight

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn odds

All odds are for moneyline bets as of Saturday, via BetMGM

  • Claressa Shields (-3000) vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn (+1000)

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn full fight card odds

All odds are for moneyline bets as of Saturday, via BetMGM

  • Claressa Shields (-3000) vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn (+1000); For Shields’ women’s heavyweight titles
  • Atif Oberlton (-1400) vs. Joseph George (+600); Light heavyweight
  • Che Kenneally (-225) vs. Danielle Perkins (+160); For Kenneally’s WBA women’s light heavyweight title
  • Pryce Taylor (-1600) vs. James Evans (+700); Heavyweight 

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn predictions

Josh Peter, USA TODAY: ‘A decade ago, in her professional debut, Claressa Shields defeated Franchon Crews-Dezurn by unanimous decision. Since then, Shields has won 16 fights in a row, world titles in four weight classes and the right to… fight Crews-Dezurn again? The pairing is a headscratcher. While Shields, 30, looks to be in her prime, Crews-Dezurn, 38, looks to be headed for retirement. Crews-Dezurn owns the WBA and WBC women’s super middleweight titles. But she looked vulnerable in her last fight — a disputed majority-decision victory over Citlalli Ortiz, who had only five previous pro fights. Unless Crews-Dezurn knows something we don’t, the only thing in question is whether the fight will end by decision or stoppage. Prediction: Shields by KO, 10th round.’

Claressa Shields’s career record

Claressa Shields comes into Sunday’s fight with a perfect 17-0-0 record, having recently beaten Lani Daniels in a unanimous decision on July 26, 2025.

Franchon Crews-Dezurn’s career record

Franchon Crews-Dezurn comes into his fight with Shields holding a 10-2-0 record. Her most recent win took place back in June, 2025 in a majority decision over Citlalli Ortiz. She previously faced Shields in her debut bout back in 2016, a unanimous decision loss.

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn main card, ring walk start times

  • Main card start time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Main event ring walks: 11 p.m. ET (approximate)

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn live stream, price

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn will stream exclusively on DAZN. The boxing match can be viewed on DAZN subscription ($19.99 a month, monthly installments or $29.99 monthly flex plan).

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Boxer collapses during fight on Shields vs. Crews-Dezurn card

Joseph George and Atif Oberlton were slotted as the co-main event on the Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn card. Oberlton won the opening round of the fight, but things would take on a different tone before the second round.

George collapsed off his stool between the first and second rounds and was down on the mat. He was in his corner drinking water before falling out of his stool.

George was quickly attended to by doctors at the ringside and the fight was waved off. Oberlton looked very surprised and confused about what happened.

It appeared that George and Oberlton may have accidentally bumped heads late in the first round.

George was still in need of assistance as he made his way out of the ring. He was sat down on a stretcher to be wheeled out. Oberlton was declared the winner by TKO.

‘I know I was being defensively responsible, if he fell in and a head butt happened, I just know I avoided the shot,’ Oberlton told DAZN’s Chris Mannix after the fight. ‘I’m glad he got on his feet and he’s OK.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Olympics closing ceremony: Highlights as Winter Olympics close

MILAN — The 2026 Winter Olympics are wrapping up today with the closing ceremony at Verona Olympic Arena.

Hockey captain and gold medalist Hilary Knight and ice dance silver medalist Evan Bates are the flag bearers for Team USA.

The United States will leave the Milano Cortina Games with 33 medals (12 gold, 12 silver, 9 bronze), second in the standings behind Norway (41).

USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates from the closing ceremony. Follow along.

LA28 preview: Kate Hudson has us ‘California Dreamin’

After the close to these Winter Olympics, NBC shifted to summer dreams with a commercial for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. And with it, we all got Kate Hudson singing The Mamas & the Papas’ famous ‘California Dreamin.”

Arrivederci, Milano Cortina Games

The opera characters return one last time. Rigoletto knows his work is done, and he can returnto rest in the depths of the arena, where the costumes and scenery from hundreds of shows are crammed. With a wave, he disappears into the ‘magic box’ where he rests, awaiting a new and extraordinary adventure.

And that will put a bow on the closing ceremony.

French Alps, you’re up

Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee, officially closes the book on these Milano Cortina Games. And the French Alps are officially on the clock.

And the closing ceremony party kicks up a notch with Major Lazer, led by Diplo, performs. Along with MØ, Nyla and Alfa.

Final medal count Olympics 2026

The final medal tally from the 2026 Winter Olympics:

  • 1. Norway: 41 Total (18 Gold, 12 Silver, 11 Bronze)
  • 2. United States: 33 Total (12 Gold, 12 Silver, 9 Bronze)
  • 3. Italy: 30 Total (10 Gold, 6 Silver, 14 Bronze)
  • 4. Germany: 26 Total (8 Gold, 10 Silver, 8 Bronze)
  • 5. Japan: 24 Total (5 Gold, 7 Silver, 12 Bronze)
  • 6. France: 23 Total (8 Gold, 9 Silver, 6 Bronze)
  • 6. Switzerland: 23 Total (6 Gold, 9 Silver, 8 Bronze)
  • 7. Canada: 21 Total (5 Gold, 7 Silver, 9 Bronze)
  • 8. Netherlands: 20 Total (10 Gold, 7 Silver, 3 Bronze)
  • 10. Austria: 18 Total (5 Gold, 8 Silver, 5 Bronze)
  • 10. Sweden: 18 Total (8 Gold, 6 Silver, 4 Bronze)
  • 12. China: 15 Total (5 Gold, 4 Silver, 6 Bronze)
  • 13. South Korea: 10 Total (3 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze)
  • 14. Australia: 6 Total (3 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
  • 14. Finland: 6 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 5 Bronze)
  • 16. Czech Republic: 5 Total (2 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
  • 16. Great Britain: 5 Total (3 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
  • 18. Slovenia: 4 Total (2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
  • 18. Poland: 4 Total (0 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze)
  • 20. Spain: 3 Total (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Bronze)
  • 20. New Zealand: 3 Total (0 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
  • 22. Latvia: 2 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
  • 22. Bulgaria: 2 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Bronze)
  • 24. Brazil: 1 Total (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
  • 24. Kazakhstan: 1 Total (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
  • 24. Denmark: 1 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)
  • 24. Estonia: 1 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)
  • 24. Georgia: 1 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)
  • 24. Individual Neutral Athletes: 1 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)
  • 24. Belgium: 1 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze)

Olympic flag handover ceremony

The mayors of Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo present the Olympic Flag to the President of theInternational Olympic Committee, who then hands off to the hosts of the next WinterGames, French Alps.

The French flag is raised by the Italian Air Force’s Guard of Honour.

Where are the 2030 Winter Olympics?

The next Winter Games will be held in the French Alps, involving the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions. The four main clusters that will be used will be Nice, Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Briançon. The 2030 Winter Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 1-17, 2026.

What is ‘Il Mondo’?

The song playing during the ‘Water Cycle’ portion of the closing ceremony is ‘Il Mondo.’ The song was released in 1965 and performed by Jimmy Fontana and arranged by Ennio Morricone.

The song has become a part of popular culture, appearing in the soundtracks of many films. It isone of the most well-known Italian songs internationally, ranking third on the list of the 250 best Italian songs.

Final Olympic medals awarded

The tradition of awarding the final Olympic event during the closing ceremony was first introduced at the 2004 Athens Games, following the victory of Italian athlete Stefano Baldini in the men’s marathon.

At the Milano Cortina Games, it is the women’s and men’s 50 km classic mass start cross-country skiing. Sweden’s Ebba Andersson won the women’s race, while record-breaking Norwegian Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won the men’s race.

Verona Arena

The closing ceremony for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games are being held at the iconic Verona Olympic Arena, which is located in Verona, Italy — roughly two hours away from Milan and roughly three hours from Cortina d’Ampezzo, the two host cities of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Verona Olympic Arena is the third-largest Roman amphitheater in Italy, and was built in 30 AD to host gladiator battles. — John Leuzzi

Olympics rings

The Olympic Rings are five interlocking rings – blue, black, red, yellow and green – createdby Pierre de Coubertin in 1913. They are symbolic of the unity of the five inhabited continents and the coming together of athletes from all over the world. They were presented at the 1914 Olympic Congress in Paris and first displayed at the 1920 Antwerp Games.

Contrary to popular belief, it is the five rings themselves that represent the five continents, not the colors of these rings. In fact, the six colors represented on the Olympic Flag – which includes the white background – werechosen because at least one of these colors can be seen on the flag of every nation.

Closing ceremony broadcasters

NBC’s broadcasters for the closing ceremony are Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weird, along with reporters Andrea Joyce and Lewis Johnson.

Alysa Liu on her future

The NBC crew caught up with Team USA star Alysa Liu, who won two gold medals at these Games, and asked her about her future in figure skating.

‘I have no plans to leave yet,’ she said. ‘I can’t imagine not skating next year.’

Liu had previously called competing at the 2022 Beijing Games ‘a job,’ but said the Milano Cortina Games were ‘definitely not a job.’

‘I just feel so lucky that I get to do this, and I love being an athlete. It’s the coolest thing in the world,’ she said.

Who is Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo?

Why does Greece go first at Olympics?

It’s tradition! Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games and holds this honor at every Olympics.

‘It was at Amsterdam 1928 that the tradition of the Greek delegation marching first was introduced – owing to the status of the founding country of the ancient Olympic Games,’ the official Olympics website reads.

Olympic flame arrives

The Flame, the very one that lit the cauldrons in Milano and Cortina after a 12,000 km journey, has arrived inVerona. Indeed, into the Verona. It’s time for the Olympic athletes to enter the arena.

Who is playing the Italian anthem?

Paolo Fresu, one of the world’s most influential trumpeters, begins the Italian anthem as the flag is hooked to the flag pole and raised. Fresu has recorded more than 500 albums since the 1980s.

The Choir of the Fondazione Arena di Verona sings from the Teatro Filarmonico, the second venue for thisceremony.

Celebrating Italy

The Italian flag arrives and the anthem of Italy is played.

Inside the Teatro Filarmonico

The Teatro Filarmonico di Verona is one of Italy’s leading opera houses, and features performances by the Choirand Orchestra of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, which has presented opera, ballet and symphonic music for more than 50 years.

The theater is owned by the Accademia Filarmonica, founded in 1543, the oldest active musical institution in Europe. The theater opened on Jan. 6, 1732 with Antonio Vivaldi’s La Fida Ninfa. It was rebuilt and reopened after a fire in 1754, it also hosted Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Destroyed by bombing in 1945, it was rebuilt to faithfully reflect its original layout.

Closing ceremony opens at the opera

The closing ceremony begins with a behind the scenes look at the world of the opera, with characters spilling out to the arena to welcome the athletes. Iconic characters such as Rigoletto, Figaro, Aida and Madama Butterfly perform.

What time is Olympics closing ceremony?

The closing ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics begins at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Where to watch Olympics closing ceremony?

NBC is broadcasting the closing ceremony, and Peacock is live streaming it.

USA flag bearers for closing ceremony

Hilary Knight and Evan Bates have been chosen as Team USA’s flag bearers for the 2026 Winter Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday.

Knight is the captain of the gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team, and her third-period goal against Canada ended up sending the game into overtime, where Megan Keller’s goal four minutes into the extra period gave the U.S. a 2-1 victory and their third gold medal in the event.

‘I’m so, so honored to be part of this team. You guys are all so wonderful. And I think I can speak for Evan and myself when I say we are all so proud of everything you guys have accomplished and the people that you are and the people that you’ve become to be here today,’ Knight said.

Bates also won a gold medal in the figure skating team event and another silver medal in ice dance with his partner and wife, Madison Chock.

Closing ceremony flag bearers

  • Greece: Maria Eeni Tsiovolou (Alpine skiing)
  • Albania: Volunteer
  • Andorra: Volunteer
  • Saudi Arabia: Volunteer
  • Argentina: Veronica Maria Ravenna (luge), Franco Dal Farra (cross-country skiing)
  • Armenia: Volunteer
  • Australia: Danielle Scott (freestyle skiing), Cooper Woods (freestyle skiing)
  • Austria: Janine Flock (skeleton), Alessandro Haemmerle (snowboard)
  • Azerbaijan: Volunteer
  • Belgium: TBD
  • Benin: Nathan Tchibozo (Alpine skiing)
  • Bolivia: Timo Juhani Gronlund (cross-country skiing)
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina: Volunteer
  • Brazil: Edson Luques Bindilatti (bobsled)
  • Bulgaria: TBD
  • Canada: TBD
  • Czechia: Martina Sablikova (speed skating), Metodej Jilek (speed skating)
  • Chile: Stephanie Joffroy (freestyle skiing)
  • China: Su Yiming (freestyle skiing)
  • Cyprus: Yianno Kouyoumdjian (Alpine skiing)
  • Colombia: Volunteer
  • Korea: Choi Minjeong (short-track speed skating), Hwang Daeheon (short-track speed skating)
  • Croatia: Tena Hadzic (cross-country skiing), Marko Skender (cross-country skiing)
  • Denmark: Anne Buenemann de Besche (biathlon), Viktor Hald Thorup (speed skating)
  • Ecuador: Volunteer
  • UA Emirates: Piera Hudson (Alpine skiing), Alexander Astridge (Alpine skiing)
  • Eritrea: Shannon Abeda (Apline skiing)
  • Estonia: Niina Petrokina (figure skating), Marten Liiv (speed skating)
  • Philippines: Tallulah Proulx (Alpine skiing), Francis Ceccarelli (Alpine skiing)
  • Finland: Iida Karhunen (figure skating)
  • Georgia: Nino Tsiklauri (Alpine skiing), Luka Berulava (figure skating)
  • Germany: Tobias Wendl (luge), Tobias Arlt (luge)
  • Jamaica: Volunteer
  • Japan: Kaori Sakamoto (figure skating), Wataru Morishige (speed skating)
  • Great Britain: TBD
  • Guinea-Bissau: Winston Tang (Alpine skiing)
  • Haiti: Richardson Viano (Alpine skiing)
  • Hong Kong: Volunteer
  • India: Stanzin Lundup (cross-country skiing)
  • Iran: Sadaf Savehshemshaki (Alpine skiing)
  • Ireland: TBD
  • Iceland: Dagur Benediktsson (cross-country skiing)
  • Israel: TBD
  • Kazakhstan: Mikhail Shaidorov (figure skating)
  • Kenya: Issa Gachingiri Laborde Die Pere (Alpine skiing)
  • Kosovo: Drin Kokaj (Alpine skiing)
  • Kyrgyzstan: Volunteer
  • Latvia: Patricija Eiduka (cross-country skiing), Roberts Kruzbergs (short-track speed skating)
  • Lebanon: Samer Tawk (cross-country skiing)
  • Liechtenstein: Volunteer
  • Lithuania: Meda Variakojyte (figure skating), Modestas Vaiciulis (cross-country skiing)
  • Luxembourg: Matthieu Osch (Alpine skiing)
  • North Macedonia: Volunteer
  • Madagascar: Mialitiana Clerc (Alpine skiing), Mathieu Gravier (Alpine skiing)
  • Malaysia: Aruwin Salehhuddin (Alpine skiing)
  • Malta: Volunteer
  • Morocco: Volunteer
  • Mexico: Sarah Schleper (Alpine skiing), Donovan Carrillo (figure skating)
  • Republic of Moldova: Iulian Luchin (cross-country skiing)
  • Monaco: Volunteer
  • Mongolia: Ariuntungalag Enkhbayar (cross-country skiing), Achbadrakh Batmunkh (cross-country skiing)
  • Montenegro: Volunteer
  • Nigeria: Samuel Uduigowme Ikpefan (cross-country skiing)
  • Norway: Aurora Grinden Lovas (speed skating), Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (cross-country skiing)
  • New Zealand: TBD
  • Netherlands: TBD
  • Pakistan: Muhammad Karim (Alpine skiing)
  • Poland: Gabriela Topolska (short-track speed skating), Vladimir Semirunniy (speed skating)
  • Puerto Rico: Volunteer
  • Portugal: Jose Cabeca (cross-country skiing)
  • Romania: Julia Sauter (figure skating)
  • San Marino: Rafael Minin (Alpine skiing)
  • Serbia: Volunteer
  • Singapore: Faiz Basha Munwar Basha (Alpine skiing)
  • Slovakia: Rebeka Cully (ski mountaineering) Jakub Siarnik (ski mountaineering)
  • Slovenia: Lila Grace Lapanja (Alpine skiing)
  • Spain: Ana Alonso Rodriguez (ski mountaineering), Oriol Cardona Coll (ski mountaineering)
  • South Africa: Thomas Weir (Alpine skiing)
  • Sweden: Volunteer
  • Switzerland: TBD
  • Chinese Taipei: Sophia Tsu Velicer (cross-country skiing)
  • Thailand: Karen Chanloung (cross-country skiing), Mark Chanloung (cross-country skiing)
  • Trinidad and Tobago: De Aundre John (bobsled)
  • Turkey: Volunteer
  • Ukraine: Anhelina Brykina (freestyle skiing), Dmytro Kotovskyi (freestyle skiing)
  • Hungary: Maria Pavlova (figure skating), Alexei Sviatchenko (figure skating)
  • Uruguary: Volunteer
  • Uzbekistan: Volunteer
  • Venezuela: Volunteer
  • United States: Hilary Knight (ice hockey), Evan Bates (figure skating)
  • France: TBD
  • Italy: Lisa Vittozzi (biathlon), Davide Ghiotto (speed skating)

Are the Olympics over?

Technically, no. The closing ceremony will mark the official end to the Milano Cortina Games. However, there are no more events on the schedule. Competition ended with Team USA’s 2-1 overtime win against Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game.

Why are so many countries skipping the closing ceremony?

There’s going to be even fewer athletes at the closing ceremony than usual.

Twenty-eight of the 92 countries at 2026 Milano Cortina Games won’t have an athlete flagbearer because none of their athletes will be at the ceremony. Another 35 will have only one flagbearer because they won’t any athletes of the other gender present.

The United States will have both flagbearers, hockey captain Hilary Knight and ice dancer Evan Bates.

While not having enough athletes to be flagbearers is a bit out of the ordinary, it’s also not necessarily a surprise. The closing ceremony always has a smaller athlete contingent because so many leave when their events are over. That’s especially true at the Winter Games, because many World Cup circuits resume a few days after the Olympics end and several sports have world championships within the next month.

The women’s Alpine speed skiers, for example, have a race on Friday, Feb. 27. The speed skating world championships begin March 5.

But the widespread footprint of these Games also makes it difficult for athletes in the mountain clusters to get to Verona, site of the closing ceremony.

It’s a four-hour plus trip from Livigno to Verona, and three hours from Cortina. Both sites had events earlier Sunday – the women’s freeski halfpipe final was in Livigno while the women’s curling gold medal game and four-man bobsled were in Cortina – making it near-impossible for those athletes to make it to closing in time.

For countries that don’t have a male or female athlete available to be a flagbearer, a volunteer will carry the flag. For those that only have either a male or female athlete, there will only be one flagbearer. — Nancy Armour

Olympic closing ceremony time

The closing ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics begins at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Who won men’s ice hockey gold medal game?

Who is Johnny Gaudreau?

Johnny Gaudreau was a former NHL star who was on track to play for the United States during these 2026 Winter Olympics. Unfortunately Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, died in a cycling accident in New Jersey on Aug. 29, 2024, after the pair were struck by a drunk driver.

The U.S. men’s hockey team paid homage to him throughout the tournament, hanging his jersey in their locker room. Gaudreau’s family members were also in attendance for Sunday’s gold medal game, and when Jack Hughes scored the golden goal in overtime, the Americans wasted no time parading Gaudreau’s jersey around the ice, honoring him as part of the championship team. — Jon Hoefling

Jack Hughes teeth

Team USA men’s ice hockey hero Jack Hughes slapped the game-winning goal in the gold medal game against Canada, but his ear-to-ear smile was missing something in the postgame celebration.

‘My first thought was, I looked down on the ice and saw my teeth,’ Hughes said, giving media members a big toothless grin on Sunday. ‘Like, here we go again…  I know the last time that happened, wasn’t really fun.’ — Cydney Henderson, Steve Gardner

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Cygnus targets resource growth with start of new drilling and geophysics programs

Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project, Canada

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Cygnus sets up value drivers for 2026 with exploration and resource growth a high priority
  • At Cedar Bay, Downhole Electromagnetics (‘DHEM’) is in progress to identify follow-up targets from recent intersections1 such as:
    • 28.9m at 2.5g/t AuEq (1.0g/t Au, 1.0% Cu & 12.0g/t Ag) (CDR-25-16)
    • 10.6m at 4.1g/t AuEq (3.6g/t Au, 0.3% Cu & 2.8g/t Ag) (CDR-25-11W1)
  • This is the first time DHEM is being used at Cedar Bay in over 20 years
  • Drilling has started at Golden Eye to test extensions below the current resource, which stands at 0.5Mt at 5.6g/t AuEq for 91koz AuEq (Indicated) and 1.2Mt at 4.6g/t AuEq for 182koz AuEq (Inferred)2
  • At Joe Mann, a detailed Induced Polarisation (‘IP’) survey is underway to identify walk-up drill targets analogous to IAMGOLD’s Nelligan Complex deposits which contain 4.3Moz Au (M&I) and 7.5Moz Au (Inferred)3 located just 10km west of Joe Mann
  • Permits are being submitted for the Gwillim prospect for drilling in the coming quarter; This will co-funded by 50% JV partner Alamos Gold, which has a market capitalisation of ~C$25B. Initial targets will follow up historic intersections4 of:
    • 7.6m @ 38.1g/t Au from 314.9m (87-KOD-18);
    • 15.2m @ 9.4g/t Au from 155.1m (87-KOD-1); and
    • 16.4m @ 8.3g/t Au from 168.3m (87-KOD-10).
  • Cygnus believes there is significant potential to continue growing the Chibougamau resource, which stands at 6.4Mt at 3% CuEq for 193kt CuEq (M&I) and 8.5Mt at 3.5% CuEq for 295kt CuEq (Inferred)2

Cygnus Executive Chairman David Southam said: ‘There is overwhelming evidence which points to the potential for substantial resource growth at Chibougamau. The resources remain open in many places and we have a pipeline of compelling targets to test.

‘We have devised an extensive program of drilling and geophysics to unlock this upside. This will include brownfields drilling as well as testing new targets. After growing the resource by 29 per cent last year, we are confident that our exploration strategy will deliver more strong results and create more value for shareholders.

‘We are now drilling at Golden Eye and Cedar Bay, which provide substantial resource upside.

‘Joe Mann and Gwillim have excellent discovery potential and have been materially overlooked for the last 20 years. With this potential and the current gold price we are excited to commence exploration on these targets’.

Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5; TSXV: CYG,OTC:CYGGF; OTCQB: CYGGF) (‘Cygnus’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the start of extensive exploration programs aimed at growing the resources at its Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project in Quebec.

Resource growth and discovery remain a key pillar of Cygnus’ growth strategy as the Company continues to unlock the Chibougamau district. A key focus is brownfields exploration, including extensions to deposits such as Cedar Bay and Golden Eye.

At Cedar Bay, Downhole Electromagnetics (‘DHEM’) is in progress to define follow up drill targets from recent exploration drilling1 which returned:

  • 28.9m at 2.5g/t AuEq (1.0g/t Au, 1.0% Cu & 12.0g/t Ag) (CDR-25-16)
  • 10.6m at 4.1g/t AuEq (3.6g/t Au, 0.3% Cu & 2.8g/t Ag) (CDR-25-11W1)

Recent drilling successfully demonstrated extensions to the current resource at Cedar Bay of 0.3Mt at 8.1g/t AuEq for 67koz (M&I) and 0.8Mt at 7.8g/t AuEq for 205koz (Inferred).2 DHEM aims to define resource extensions as well as identifying high grade shoots which are typically associated with semi massive sulphides. This will be the first time DHEM is being used at Cedar Bay in over 20 years, presenting a huge opportunity for Cygnus.

At Golden Eye, drilling has commenced with three rigs to grow the Indicated Resource and extend the resource below the currently defined depth of just 450m. Golden Eye was a new resource defined by Cygnus last year of 0.5Mt at 5.6g/t AuEq for 91koz (Indicated) and of 1.2Mt at 4.6g/t AuEq for 182koz (Inferred)2 and remains open at depth with one of the deepest intersections5 from last year of:

  • 2.9m @ 10.2g/t AuEq (8.3g/t Au, 1.4% Cu & 3.3g/t Ag) from 463.8m (LDR-25-08)

The Company also has a strong focus on defining new resources and making discoveries. Two key areas identified as high priority are gold targets Joe Mann and Gwillim.

At Joe Mann, the Company has commenced a detailed Induced Polarisation (‘IP’) survey along major structures to identify walk-up drill targets for Q2 this year. Cygnus is targeting analogous mineralisation to IAMGOLD’s Nelligan Complex, which is located just 10km west of the project and contains 4.3Moz Au (M&I) and 7.5Moz Au (Inferred).3

This survey will help to generate further drill targets in addition to some of the high-grade historic intersections which also require follow up.4 These include:

  • 0.7m @ 480.2g/t Au from 92.3m (H-118);
  • 3.8m @ 20.8g/t Au from 287.2m (H-214); and
  • 8.4m @ 6.3g/t Au from 175.6m (H-374).

At Gwillim, permits are underway for drilling to commence in the coming quarter. Drilling at Gwillim will be co-funded by 50% JV partner Alamos Gold, which has a market capitalisation of ~C$25B. Gwillim is just 12km from the Chibougamau processing facility and has high potential for defining new resources. Initial drilling will focus on following up high-grade historic intersections4 such as:

  • 7.6m @ 38.1g/t Au from 314.9m (87-KOD-18);
  • 15.2m @ 9.4g/t Au from 155.1m (87-KOD-1); and
  • 16.4m @ 8.3g/t Au from 168.3m (87-KOD-10).

The Chibougamau area has well-established infrastructure, giving the Project a significant headstart as a copper-gold development opportunity. This infrastructure includes a 900,000tpa processing facility, local mining town, sealed highway, airport, regional rail infrastructure and 25kV hydro power to the processing site. Significantly, the Chibougamau processing facility is the only processing facility within a 250km radius.

Figure 1: Exploration progressing across mutiple fronts with a focus on both resource extensions and discovery

Figure 2: Joe Mann IP survey covering key structures from IAMGOLD’s major deposits Nelligan and Phillibert3

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of Cygnus.

David Southam
Executive Chair
T: +61 8 6118 1627
E: info@cygnusmetals.com 		Nicholas Kwong
President & CEO
T: +1 647 921 0501
E: info@cygnusmetals.com 		Media:
Paul Armstrong
Read Corporate
T: +61 8 9388 1474


About Cygnus Metals

Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5, TSXV: CYG,OTC:CYGGF, OTCQB: CYGGF) is a diversified critical minerals exploration and development company with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. The Company is dedicated to advancing its Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project in Quebec with an aggressive exploration program to drive resource growth and develop a hub-and-spoke operation model with its centralised processing facility. In addition, Cygnus has quality lithium assets with significant exploration upside in the world-class James Bay district in Quebec, and REE and base metal projects in Western Australia. The Cygnus team has a proven track record of turning exploration success into production enterprises and creating shareholder value.

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements and projections regarding estimates, resources and reserves; planned production and operating costs profiles; planned capital requirements; and planned strategies and corporate objectives. Such forward looking statements/projections are estimates for discussion purposes only and should not be relied upon. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Cygnus’ control. Cygnus makes no representations and provides no warranties concerning the accuracy of the projections and disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements/projections based on new information, future events or otherwise except to the extent required by applicable laws. While the information contained in this release has been prepared in good faith, neither Cygnus or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors give any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information, opinions and conclusions contained in this release. Accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted by law, none of Cygnus, its directors, employees or agents, advisers, nor any other person accepts any liability whether direct or indirect, express or limited, contractual, tortuous, statutory or otherwise, in respect of the accuracy or completeness of the information or for any of the opinions contained in this release or for any errors, omissions or misstatements or for any loss, howsoever arising, from the use of this release.

End Notes

  1. Refer to Cygnus’ ASX announcements dated 30 October 2025 and 8 December 2025.
  2. Refer to Cygnus’ ASX announcement dated 17 September 2025 and subsequent technical report dated 31 October 2025 titled ‘NI 43-101 Technical Report Chibougamau Hub and Spoke Complex, Québec, Canada’ prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (‘NI 43-101’) and the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code (2012 Edition).
  3. Refer to IAMGOLD’s news release dated 17 February 2026.
  4. Refer to Cygnus’ ASX announcement dated 20 January 2026.
  5. Refer to Cygnus’ ASX announcement dated 8 May 2025.

Qualified Persons and Compliance Statements

The scientific and technical information in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Mr Louis Beaupre, the Quebec Exploration Manager of Cygnus, a ‘qualified person’ as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The information in this release that relates to the Mineral Resource Estimate for the Chibougamau Project reported in accordance with the JORC Code (2012 Edition) and NI 43-101 was released by Cygnus in an announcement titled ‘Major Resource Update’ released to the ASX on 17 September 2025 and subsequent technical report dated 31 October 2025 titled ‘NI 43-101 Technical Report Chibougamau Hub and Spoke Complex, Québec, Canada’ prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (‘NI 43-101’) and the JORC Code (2012 Edition). Details of the Mineral Resource Estimate are included in Appendix A.

The information in this announcement that relates to previously reported Exploration Results at the Company’s projects has been previously released by Cygnus in ASX Announcements as noted in the End Notes.

Individual grades for the metals included in the metal equivalents calculations for the Mineral Resource Estimate, as well as the price assumptions, metallurgical recoveries and metal equivalent calculations themselves, are in Appendix A of this release. Individual grades for the metals included in the metal equivalents calculation for the exploration results are in the original market announcements. Metal equivalents for exploration results have been calculated at a copper price of US$8,750/t, gold price of US$2,350/oz and silver price of US$25/oz, with copper equivalents calculated based on the formula CuEq(%) = Cu(%) + (Au(g/t) x 0.77258)+(Ag(g/t) x 0.00822). Metallurgical recovery factors have been applied to the copper equivalents calculations for the exploration results, with copper metallurgical recovery assumed at 95% and gold metallurgical recovery assumed at 85% based upon historical production at the Chibougamau Processing Facility, and the metallurgical results contained in Cygnus’ announcement dated 28 January 2025. It is the Company’s view that all elements in the copper and gold equivalent calculations have a reasonable potential to be recovered and sold.

Cygnus is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information in these announcements, and in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons’ findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

APPENDIX A – Mineral Resource Estimate for the Chibougamau Project as at 17 September 2025

Cu
Project		 Classification COG
CuEq		 Tonnage Average Grade Contained Metal
Cu Au Ag CuEq AuEq Cu Au Ag CuEq AuEq
% Mt % g/t g/t % g/t kt koz koz kt koz
Corner Bay Indicated 1.2 4.9 2.5 0.3 8.4 2.8 4.1 124 43 1,316 137 638
Inferred 5.4 2.7 0.2 8.9 3.0 4.3 146 41 1,543 159 744
Devlin Measured 1.5 0.1 2.7 0.3 0.5 2.9 4.7 4 1 2 4 19
Indicated 0.6 2.0 0.2 0.2 2.1 3.4 13 4 5 13 69
M&I 0.8 2.1 0.2 0.3 2.3 3.6 16 5 7 17 88
Inferred 0.3 2.0 0.2 0.3 2.1 3.4 7 2 3 7 36
Joe Mann Inferred 2.0 0.7 0.2 6.0 – 4.6 6.3 2 143 – 34 151
Cedar Bay Indicated 1.8 0.3 1.6 6.0 9.9 6.4 8.1 4 50 82 16 67
Inferred 0.8 2.0 5.1 11.8 6.1 7.8 17 134 309 50 205
Golden Eye Indicated 0.5 1.0 4.3 9.9 4.4 5.6 5 69 161 22 91
Inferred 1.2 0.9 3.4 7.9 3.6 4.6 11 134 313 45 182
Project Classification Tonnage Average Grade Contained Metal
Cu Au Ag CuEq AuEq Cu Au Ag CuEq AuEq
Mt % g/t g/t % g/t kt koz koz kt koz
Hub and Spoke Measured 0.1 2.7 0.3 0.5 2.9 4.7 4 1 2 4 19
Indicated 6.3 2.3 0.8 7.8 3.0 4.3 146 166 1,563 189 865
M&I 6.4 2.3 0.8 7.6 3.0 4.3 149 167 1,565 193 884
Inferred 8.5 2.1 1.7 7.9 3.5 4.8 182 454 2,168 295 1,318


Notes:

  1. Cygnus’ Mineral Resource Estimate for the Chibougamau Copper-Gold project, incorporating the Corner Bay, Devlin, Joe Mann, Cedar Bay, and Golden Eye deposits, is reported in accordance with the JORC Code and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (‘CIM’) (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.
  2. Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term copper price of US$9,370/t, gold price of US$2,400/oz, and silver price of US$30/oz, and a US$/C$ exchange rate of 1:1.35.
  3. Mineral Resources are estimated at a CuEq cut-off grade of 1.2% for Corner Bay and 1.5% CuEq for Devlin. A cut-off grade of 1.8 g/t AuEq was used for Cedar Bay and Golden Eye; and 2.0 g/t AuEq for Joe Mann.
  4. Corner Bay bulk density varies from 2.85 tonnes per cubic metre (t/m3) to 3.02t/m3 for the estimation domains and 2.0 t/m3 for the overburden. At Devlin, bulk density varies from 2.85 t/m3 to 2.90 t/m3. Cedar Bay, Golden Eye, and Joe Mann use a bulk density of 2.90 t/m³ for the estimation domains.
  5. Assumed metallurgical recoveries are as follows: Corner Bay copper is 93%, gold is 78%, and silver is 80%; Devlin copper is 96%, gold is 73%, and silver is 80%; Joe Mann copper is 95%, gold is 84%, and silver is 80%; and Cedar Bay and Golden Eye copper is 91%, gold is 87%, and silver is 80%. 
  6. Assumptions for CuEq and AuEq calculations (set out below) are as follows: Individual metal grades are set out in the table. Commodity prices used: copper price of US$9,370/t, gold price of US$2,400/oz and silver price of US$30/oz. Assumed metallurgical recovery factors: set out above. It is the Company’s view that all elements in the metal equivalent calculations have a reasonable potential to be recovered and sold.
  7. CuEq Calculations are as follows: (A) Corner Bay = grade Cu (%) + 0.68919 * grade Au (g/t) + 0.00884 * grade Ag (g/t) ; (B) Devlin = grade Cu (%) + 0.62517 * grade Au (g/t) + 0.00862 * grade Ag (g/t); (C) Joe Mann = grade Cu (%) + 0.72774* grade Au (g/t); and (D) Golden Eye and Cedar Bay = grade Cu (%) + 0.78730* grade Au (g/t) + 0.00905 * grade Ag (g/t).
  8. AuEq Calculations are as follows: (A) Corner Bay = grade Au (g/t) + 1.45097* grade Cu(%)+0.01282* grade Ag (g/t); (B) Devlin = grade Au (g/t) + 1.59957* grade Cu(%)+0.01379* grade Ag (g/t); (C) Joe Mann = grade Au (g/t) + 1.37411* grade Cu (%); and (D) Cedar Bay and Golden Eye = grade Au (g/t) + 1.27016 * grade Cu (%) + 0.01149 * grade Ag (g/t).
  9. Wireframes were built using an approximate minimum thickness of 2 m at Corner Bay, 1.8 m at Devlin, 1.2 m at Joe Mann, and 1.5 m at Cedar Bay and Golden Eye.
  10. Mineral Resources are constrained by underground reporting shapes.
  11. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
  12. Totals may vary due to rounding.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9f3d9271-0c1d-4946-b6b7-907187bb4f3a

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bf51280f-9701-4436-8255-c21949f90dfe

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

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Editor’s Picks: Gold, Silver End Week Higher, Experts Share Next Price Targets

Gold and silver prices experienced declines early in the week, but ended higher.

The yellow metal closed the week at US$5,111.88 per ounce, while silver finished at US$84.65 per ounce, buoyed by reignited tariff uncertainty out of the US.

On Friday (February 20), the US Supreme Court stuck down tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He quickly responded by announcing a new 10 percent global tariff and then increasing it to 15 percent, ramping up trade tensions.

Earlier in the week, Wednesday (February 18) brought the release of the US Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes, which show that although officials largely agreed with the January decision to hold interest rates steady, they aren’t aligned about the path forward as 2026 continues.

What’s received more attention is the Lunar New Year holiday.

Most Asian markets are closed for the occasion, and will reopen next week. I asked Ole Hansen of Saxo Bank about the significance of the closure, and he said that in his view, the more important question is what will happen when they’re back in business next week.

Here’s how he thinks that could play out:

‘I think … if they come back to more or less unchanged prices, they will see that probably as a buying opportunity. Simply — well, they probably hope that they might be able to pick it up cheaper in the absence. But if we can manage to hold these levels, then there could be a positive story building as we as we see China reopen.’

Hansen is bullish on gold this year, saying he sees it reaching US$6,000 in the next 12 months.

But interestingly, he has a different take on silver — he thinks the white metal’s upside could be limited by demand-side factors like substitution and higher supply from scrap material.

‘Gold over time can go to US$10,000, it can go to US$20,000 — it’s a monetary metal, which doesn’t really depend on demand from areas where demand could be negatively impacted with the price.

‘Silver hasn’t got that luxury. And that basically means if gold moves towards US$6,000, I would believe that — I would think that silver, at some point, will struggle to keep up, and we will see basically gold relatively outperform silver. But when that point, when that time comes, I can’t see. Again it’s very unclear, especially given the speculative demand, which can carry on for a while longer.’

I also heard this week from Christopher Aaron of iGold Advisor and Elite Private Placements, who has a much brighter outlook for silver — he said given that the metal has just broken out of a 45 year consolidation period, it still has much further to go:

‘Now that whole process, the 45 year consolidation breakout and now coming back, that is — for a number of people here — that is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime breakout. We’re talking a multi-generational breakout happening in silver right now. And it’s really important to — I mean, the bottom line is this: After 45 years of consolidation, a market doesn’t end just two months after a breakout and then kind of withering and petering out for the next 45 years. Again, that’s not how 45 year breakouts happen when we look back.’

Ultimately Aaron sees US$250 to US$350 as a reasonable price level for silver.

Bullet briefing — TSX Venture 50, BHP/Wheaton deal

Gold, silver dominate TSX Venture 50

The latest TSX Venture 50 list was released on Wednesday, with gold and silver juniors dominating. In fact, of the companies included, only three fall outside the mining sector.

The list ranks TSXV companies’ annual performance by market cap growth, share price performance and Canadian consolidated trading value. Taking the top spot was Santacruz Silver Mining (TSXV:SCZ,NASDAQ:SCZM), which had an impressive share price increase of over 1,100 percent.

As a group, the companies on the list delivered a share price increase of 431 percent.

We’ll have to wait and see whether these types of gains are repeated — or exceeded — in 2026, but the list definitely underscores the strength in gold and silver prices, and shows that their momentum is boosting not just the majors, but also the juniors.

BHP, Wheaton sign streaming deal

On the M&A side, BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) has entered into a long-term streaming agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM).

Under the deal, which was signed by subsidiaries of BHP and Wheaton, BHP will receive an upfront payment of US$4.3 billion in exchange for the delivery of silver from the Peru-based Antamina mine, plus ongoing payments when metal is delivered. According to BHP, this is the most valuable streaming transaction to date based on upfront consideration received.

Antamina is a joint venture between commodities giants BHP, Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTCPL:GLCNF), Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK) and Mitsubishi (TSE:8058,OTCPL:MSBHF), and Wheaton already has a silver stream in place with Glencore. Once the BHP arrangement closes, Wheaton will receive a combined 67.5 percent of the mine’s silver.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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3 Mins Read

Armbruster Humphries adds to bobsled legacy with 6th Olympic medal

One of the most successful bobsledders in Olympic history teamed with a rookie to add another piece of hardware to the USA’s 2026 medal count.

Pilot Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and push athlete Jasmine Jones finished third in the two-woman bobsled event Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Cortina Sliding Center, giving Armbruster Humphries her sixth Olympic medal. The medal was also Armbruster Humphries’ second bronze of these Games following her third-place finish in monobob earlier this week, while Jones collects her first.

Armbruster Humphries’ medal count now equals that of fellow bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor and legendary speed skater Bonnie Blair as the most decorated American women in Winter Olympic history with six medals apiece.

‘This is the first mom duo that gets to be on an Olympic podium,’ said Armbruster Humphries, who had son Aulden in June 2024, of herself and Jones, who had daughter Jade in Feb. 2021. ‘It really is special to team up with Jasmine this year, this season. But to share this moment together with her, to know what it took from all of our families to be able to support us, not just as athletes, but within our mom journeys as well, it really took everything we had. And I’m so proud of how Jasmine pushed and kept me in the game fighting.’

Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi of Germany successfully defended their 2022 gold. Their countrywomen Lisa Buckwitz and Neele Schuten took silver.

The first three medals of Armbruster Humphries’ Olympic career came during her time with Team Canada before she began competing for Team USA in 2019. In her first Olympics with the U.S., Armbruster Humphries won gold in the monobob in the 2022 Games in Beijing before adding monobob bronze behind Meyers Taylor’s gold here in Cortina on Feb. 16.

After two runs in two-woman Friday, Team USA had two of three sleds in the top five.

Humphries and Jones were third with a two-run time of 1:54.16, 0.23 seconds off leaders Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi of Germany. Kaysha Love and Azaria Hill were fifth with a time of 1:54.55, 0.39 seconds behind their closest teammates. Elana Meyers Taylor, the 2026 monobob gold medalist, and Jadin O’Brien were 12th at 1:55.13 after a disastrous second run that pushed them from 0.22 seconds behind the leader to 1.03.

Both Armbruster Humphries and Love held their position in the third run, while Meyers Taylor zoomed to sixth. Love finished fifth, while Meyers Taylor wasn’t able to overcome the second run and tied Swiss sliders Debora Annen and Salome Kora for seventh. It was the first non-podium finish of her Olympic career.

Jones was a sprinter at Eastern Michigan, where her coach nominated her for an All-American Award in 2018. That’s when Meyers Taylor reached out to Jones via email. Five years later, Jones made her IBSF World Championship debut. Three years after that, she won gold as Armbruster Humphries’ push athlete in an IBSF World Cup race in St. Moritz. 

Now, she’s an Olympic medalist.

This story will be updated.

Reach USA TODAY Network sports reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com, and follow her on X @petitus25.

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Team USA wins record 11th Winter Olympic gold with mixed aerials repeat

  • The U.S. mixed aerials team won gold at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
  • This victory marked Team USA’s 11th gold medal, a new record for a single Winter Olympics.
  • The team consisted of Chris Lillis, Connor Curran, and Kaila Kuhn.

LIVIGNO, Italy – The record-setting 11th gold medal for Team USA at these 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics came in high-flying fashion.

The United States mixed aerials team won gold, with Chris Lillis, Connor Curran and Kaila Kuhn flying and contorting themselves to the top of the podium.

The 11 gold medals in Italy are the most for the entire team at any Winter Olympics, surpassing the 10 won during the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Alerted of the news in the mixed zone as gold medals hung at chest-level, the trio reacted with a mixture of pleasant surprise and glee.

The U.S. won the first mixed aerials event four years ago at the 2022 Beijing Games. As the lone member on both of those teams, Lillis has thought about why the Americans succeed in the team event but stumbled during the individual side. A lot of the athletes grew up playing team sports, he said. They can use one another for motivation.

“I think that really helps us, especially in aerial skiing,” Lillis said. “In aerials skiing, it can feel really lonely up there.”

They vibed off each other. From the beginning, they asserted dominance and departed the first round of finals in pole position. But scores reset and didn’t matter with four teams left in the field.

Kuhn set the tone. Curran squashed the nerves. Lillis delivered the haymaker – a jump that he had no issue with since it’s one he’s landed for 10 years.

Switzerland took silver and China finished with bronze. According to Lillis, the average aerials skier crashes on 60 percent of their jumps. For the Americans to go 6-for-6 while at least one skier from the six other countries competing was more than clutch.

Coming into the Olympics, the team figured to be Kuhn, Lillis and Quinn Dehlinger – the defending world champions in the event. But Dehlinger reaggravated a knee injury during training that forced him to not participate in both the individual and team event. Snow, wind and fog in the area for the last week also drastically altered the training schedule and made for underprepared jumpers.

Curran found out with the rest of the team that he’d be part of the trio around 6:30 p.m.

“I want to perform for my team,” he said. “It’s bigger than me. I’m glad I got to perform my best.”

Kuhn took gold at the 2025 world championships and also won the mixed aerials event with Lillis. She advanced alongside teammate Winter Vinecki to the six-person finals in the individual event, but both messed up their final jump to miss the podium.

On the men’s side, Curran and Lillis advanced to the 12-person final but didn’t make it past the six-person cutdown.

Kuhn said the team were “pretty crushed” by not medaling in the individual competitions.

“None of us really performed at our highest degree that we could have,” she said.

But the opportunity to bounce back was there. They used it as motivation, she said.

“It worked out in our favor,” Kuhn said.

But calling it redemption didn’t sit right with Lillis. It doesn’t erase what had happened less than 24 hours ago.

“I’ve fallen just short twice now, and it hurts, and I know that I’m capable of more,” said Lillis, who has 15 World Cup podium finishes. “And we’ll see, maybe in the future, I’ll be able to get that monkey off my back and get on the individual podium.”

Nor does it negate the joy of another gold medal, he said.  

“It’s so great to get Olympic gold with my teammates, and to do it for them, and them doing it for me,” Lillis said. “I couldn’t describe how special it is to bring home a gold for the U.S.”

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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