High Stakes as USA Contends for Curling Gold and Luge Medals
Day four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics saw pivotal moments as the United States vied for a curling gold medal in mixed doubles and medalists were determined in women's singles luge. Athletes across multiple disciplines pushed their limits, with Sweden emerging as a strong contender against the USA in curling. Meanwhile, the unpredictable nature of the Games was underscored by close races and unexpected performances.
Schedule and Notable Events: February 10, 2026
The day's agenda was packed with high-stakes competitions:

Curling: The Mixed Doubles Gold Medal Final featured the United States against Sweden.
Luge: The Women's Singles competition concluded with runs three and four, determining medalists.
Alpine Skiing: The Women's Team Combined event took place.
Freestyle Skiing: The Men's Slopestyle final was held.
Short Track Speed Skating: Relay finals were contested.
Biathlon: The Men's 20km Individual race was scheduled.
Cross-Country Skiing: Sprint Classic qualifications, rounds, and finals occurred.
Ski Jumping: The Mixed Team Finals took place.
Figure Skating: The Men's Short Program commenced.
Ice Hockey: Women's preliminary matches continued, including USA vs. Switzerland.
USA's Pursuit of Curling Gold
The United States mixed doubles curling team, represented by Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse, reached the gold medal match after defeating Great Britain in the semi-finals. They faced a formidable Swedish pair, Isabella Wranå and Rasmus Wranå, in a contest for the Olympic title. Both Dropkin and Isabella Wranå achieved podium finishes in their debut Olympic appearances.
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"On Tuesday (10 February), the United States' Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse will take on Isabella Wranå and Rasmus Wranå in a battle for Olympic gold." – Olympics.com
The USA women's hockey team also saw success, defeating Switzerland 5-0 in a preliminary match.

Luge Women's Singles: German Dominance and USA Contenders
The women's singles luge competition reached its climax on day four. After two runs, Julia Taubitz of Germany held the leading time, closely followed by her compatriot Merle Fraebel. Latvia's Elina Bota was in third place.
USA athletes Ashley Farquharson and Emily Fischnaller were positioned within the top ten, indicating their competitive standing.

| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time (1:45.188) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julia Taubitz | Germany | 1:45.188 |
| 2 | Merle Fraebel | Germany | 1:45.249 |
| 3 | Elina Bota | Latvia | 1:45.683 |
| 4 | Verena Hofer | Italy | 1:45.743 |
| 5 | Ashley Farquharson | USA | 1:45.796 |
| 6 | Sandra Robatscher | Italy | 1:45.801 |
| 7 | Lisa Schulte | Austria | 1:45.866 |
| 8 | Emily Fischnaller | USA | 1:45.872 |
| 9 | Anna Berreiter | Germany | 1:46.055 |
| 10 | Natalie Maag | Switzerland | 1:46.199 |
Note: This table reflects standings after two runs as per the BBC report.
Alpine Skiing Team Combined and Other Notable Performances
In the women's Alpine skiing team combined event, Mikaela Shiffrin and her USA teammates Breezy Johnson, Jacqueline Wiles, and Paula Moltzan finished in fourth place. Despite expectations for a medal, the team narrowly missed the podium. Breezy Johnson had previously achieved a gold medal in a separate event, while Shiffrin had experienced a fourth-place finish in the downhill event.
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Cross-country skier Ben Ogden secured a silver medal for the United States in the men's sprint classic.
Expert Analysis and Broadcast Information
Coverage of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games was available across various global broadcasters, including NBC Olympics and Peacock in the United States, BBC Sport in the United Kingdom, and Warner Bros Discovery networks in multiple European countries. The close nature of competitions, particularly in events like luge and curling, underscored the athletes' intense preparation and the inherent drama of the Olympic stage.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Day four of the 2026 Winter Olympics highlighted both the pinnacle of athletic achievement and the challenges faced by competitors. The USA's quest for mixed doubles curling gold against Sweden captivated audiences, while the luge competition demonstrated the fine margins between success and near-victory. The mixed performances in alpine skiing and successes in other disciplines like cross-country skiing illustrated the breadth of competition and the varied fortunes of national teams. As the Games progressed, the medal count reflected the ongoing competitive landscape, with nations like Norway extending their gold medal lead and the United States making gains in figure skating and curling.
Primary Sources and Context
The New York Times: Reported on live updates from Day 4, focusing on mixed doubles curling and alpine skiing. Published approx. 2 minutes prior to the input data cutoff.🔗 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/winter-olympics-2026-milano-cortina-live-updates-day-four-schedule-events-scores-results/jk6wv0H7wzyr/
BBC Sport: Provided live updates for the Winter Olympics, with a specific focus on the women's singles luge medal events. Published approx. 9 hours prior to the input data cutoff.🔗 Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-olympics/live/cew8q22e9ext
Olympics.com: Detailed the upcoming mixed doubles curling final between Sweden and the United States, including team profiles and match context. Published approx. 17 hours prior to the input data cutoff.🔗 Link: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/curling-mixed-doubles-gold-medal-final-sweden-usa
CBS Sports: Offered live updates on Day 4, highlighting the USA's medal aspirations in curling and other key events. Published approx. 17 hours prior to the input data cutoff.🔗 Link: https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/winter-olympics-2026-live-updates-day-4-results/live/
Sporting News: Tracked USA Olympic curling results across different categories. Published approx. 1 day prior to the input data cutoff.🔗 Link: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/olympics/news/usa-olympic-curling-results-2026-scores-mens-womens-mixed-doubles/e7052a2ff01bdf5e544b173b
NBC News: Delivered live blog updates from the Winter Olympics, noting the USA curling team's advancement to the gold medal game and other results. Published approx. 12 hours prior to the input data cutoff.🔗 Link: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/live-blog/2026-winter-olympics-live-updates-rcna256600
Sports Brackets: Provided a live updates and results tracker for the 2026 Winter Olympics, mentioning USA curling's pursuit of gold and luge medal events. Published approx. 6 days prior to the input data cutoff.🔗 Link: https://sportsbrackets.net/2026/02/04/2026-winter-olympics-live-updates-results-tracker/
The Guardian: Published a live blog covering Day 4 of the Winter Olympics, including updates on the Sweden v USA curling final and the luge competition. Published approx. 8 hours prior to the input data cutoff.🔗 Link: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/feb/10/winter-olympics-2026-live-day-four?filterKeyEvents=false
USA Today: Detailed the curling schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics, listing various matches including USA fixtures. Published approx. 6 days prior to the input data cutoff.🔗 Link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2026/02/04/curling-2026-winter-olympics-schedule-tv-channel-time/88496458007/
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