2026 Winter Olympics Updates and Controversies

American snowboarder Chloe Kim won silver in the women's halfpipe event at the Winter Olympics, falling short of her bid to become the first Olympic snowboarder to win three consecutive gold medals. Choi Gaon of South Korea took gold, while Japan's Mitsuki Ono claimed bronze. Kim, who had injured her shoulder four weeks prior, competed with a brace and considered her silver medal a victory given her injury. Kim had encouraged Choi throughout her young career and was proud to see her succeed.

American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates won silver at the 2026 Winter Olympics, behind French duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron in a controversial decision. Chock expressed concerns about the judging, suggesting that judges should be 'vetted and reviewed' to ensure fairness. The French team's win was disputed due to Cizeron's mistake during the twizzle element and perceived inconsistencies in scoring, including a large margin in scores between the French and American judges.

The U.S. men's hockey team won their first game of the 2026 Winter Olympics, defeating Latvia 5-1. The team dominated the game, outshooting Latvia 38-18 and showcasing their depth with multiple players scoring and assisting. Brock Nelson scored twice, and four players had two assists apiece. The team's performance was praised by players and coaches, with winger Jake Guentzel stating that the team's depth was a key factor in their success. The U.S. team will next play Denmark on Saturday night before wrapping up the preliminary round against Germany.

A controversy has erupted at the 2026 Olympics ice dancing competition after French judge Jézabel Dabois' scores were called into question. Dabois' scoring gave the French duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron a narrow victory over American pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates. The scoring difference was significant, with Dabois being the only judge not to give Chock and Bates more than 130 points in the free dance event. Figure skating fans have raised concerns over a possible scandal, with some suggesting that Dabois' scoring showed bias towards France. The French pair's win was also marred by controversy surrounding their past, including allegations against Beaudry's former skating partner and Cizeron's former on-ice partner.

The article provides a recap of Day 6 of the 2026 Winter Olympics, highlighting several key moments and athletes. Choi Gaon, a 17-year-old South Korean snowboarder, won the gold medal in the women's halfpipe event, edging out reigning champion Chloe Kim. Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the men's skeleton competition for wearing a helmet with images of athletes killed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and is appealing the decision. The US men's hockey team defeated Latvia 5-1, and Dutch speedskater Xandra Velzeboer set a world record in the 500-meter short track event before winning gold.

Gaon Choi of South Korea won the gold medal in the women's halfpipe snowboarding event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, defeating Chloe Kim who took silver. Despite suffering a hard fall during her opening run and injuring her knee, Choi pulled off a stunning victory with a score of 90.25 on her third run. Choi's win was attributed to her consistent amplitude and clean execution, with experts like Kelly Clark and Rick Bower praising her performance. Chloe Kim, on the other hand, made history by becoming the first female snowboarder to land a cab double 1080 in an Olympic halfpipe final.