American women dominated the 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina. Female athletes influence these games in ways beyond just times, scores, and margins.
They competed despite injuries, spoke openly about pressure and self-doubt, and came out the other side with gold around their necks. Ultimately, U.S. women gave a dominant performance in Italy, winning eight of the 12 gold medals secured by Team USA and persevering no matter who doubted them.
While the men’s teams earned their share of attention, it was female athletes who powered the United States’ performance in the Italian Alps.
The impact of women was vast, but there was no story from Milano Cortina quite like the one of figure skater Alysa Liu. At only 16, she competed at the Beijing Olympics. She finished in 6th place but felt burnt out and walked away from the sport for what she thought would be forever. She tossed her skates to the side and spent time being a college student and regular kid.
When she returned to the sport she excels at, it was on her own terms. At age 20, in a sparkly gold dress and hair dyed in alternating rings, Alysa delivered a nearly perfect free skate and won two gold medals.
“I’m really grateful that I got the chance to showcase my art and my ideas,” she told NBC afterward.
Her story quickly became widespread due to its deeper message: sometimes stepping away from something and giving yourself a break is exactly what you need in order to come back even stronger.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s journey was similarly inspiring. She overcame tough obstacles and 12 years without an Olympic gold medal, but still returned to the podium during this year’s games and won.
Alpine legend Lindsey Vonn also represented perseverance during these games as she willingly chose to compete despite a recent ACL tear. She ended up crashing once more during her downhill race; however, her story is one to remind us how important it is to push ourselves and dream big.
“It wasn’t a story book ending or a fairy [tale], it was just life,” Vonn said later in a statement on Instagram regarding her status. “I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it.”
At 41, bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor claimed gold in the monobob. She raised a child with special needs and navigated pandemic disruptions and personal setbacks, but still never stepped away from her Olympic dream.
Similarly, at 25, Italian speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida won 2 gold medals. In an era centered around young athletes and early breakouts, these 2 women prove that your goals don’t ever have an expiration date.
Throughout these Olympic Games, another prevalent theme was that authenticity can be a superpower in and of itself. For example, figure skater Amber Glenn, one of the few openly LGBTQ+ women in her sport, helped Team USA win gold at Milano Cortina.
“You shouldn’t have to fear the repercussions of being yourself,” she said in an interview. Her presence on the ice was a statement that being your true self is a genuine source of power.
In a moment that transcended sports entirely, Tallulah Proulx made history as the first Filipina to compete at the Olympic Winter Games. She was able to represent a nation that doesn’t have a deep-rooted winter sports tradition. Even though she didn’t win a medal, she did something even bigger; she paved the way for athletes to come. Progress isn’t measured in gold. It is defined by the courage to show up at all.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina taught us that women persevere regardless of what obstacles may get in their way. They competed through injuries, doubt, burnout, and bias. They raised children, came back from injuries, and won intense games in overtime against their biggest rival. On the world’s biggest stage, female athletes were not only fierce but fully themselves.
