2026 Winter Olympics: Follow live updates Friday from Milan Cortina - ESPN

ESPN

by ESPN Staff

February 20, 2026

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The 2026 Winter Olympics continued to heat up on Friday in Milan Cortina, with Team USA at the center of several key events. The U.S. men's hockey team entered the semifinals with high stakes after a thrilling overtime victory over Sweden. Facing Slovakia, a challenging opponent known for its strong defensive gameplay, the Americans aim to replicate their earlier success and advance closer to金牌 glory. Meanwhile, the spotlight also turned to the slopes as Nick Goepper and Alex Ferreira competed in the men's freeski halfpipe final—a moment of significance for both athletes, with Goepper making his debut in this event while Ferreira seeks his first Olympic gold. In hockey, Quinn Hughes' game-winning goal against Sweden set the tone for Team USA's resilience. Slovakia, ranked fourth in the world, presents a formidable challenge, as highlighted by Hughes himself, who described the matchup as "an extremely hard test." The stakes are high for both teams, with a spot in the finals on the line. On the other hand, Goepper and Ferreira showcased their skills in the freeski halfpipe final, delivering impressive performances under the spotlight. Goepper, known for his slopestyle expertise but making his Olympic debut in halfpipe, delivered a standout routine, while Ferreira, a seasoned competitor with past silver and bronze medals, aimed to break through for gold. Elsewhere on Friday, women's curling took center stage as the U.S. team faced Switzerland in the semifinals. The rematch between these two teams, following an

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Originally published on ESPN on 2/20/2026