Curling’s Mixed Doubles Delivers Tense Battles (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Milan-Cortina, Italy – Athletes turned the chill of the Italian Alps into competitive fire Thursday as preliminary events at the 2026 Winter Olympics unfolded ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony.
Curling’s Mixed Doubles Delivers Tense Battles
The Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium hosted a full slate of mixed doubles round-robin matches, where precision and strategy ruled the ice.[1]
Team USA, featuring Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, remained unbeaten after rallying for an 8-6 victory over 2022 silver medalists Norway in session two, then topping Switzerland 7-4 later in the day.[2][3] Canada stayed perfect by handing host nation Italy its first loss, 7-2, in session four. Other results included tight contests like Great Britain edging Czechia and Sweden outlasting Estonia.
Earlier Wednesday, play paused briefly due to a power outage just minutes into the first matches, with lights flickering across the venue before organizers restored power and resumed competition.[4][3] The incident, attributed to an energy-related issue, lasted only a few minutes but added an unexpected twist to the Games’ launch.
U.S. Women Dominate Hockey Opener
At Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, the U.S. women’s team opened its preliminary round with a convincing 5-1 win over Czechia in Group A.[2][1] Sweden defeated Germany 3-2 in Group B, while Italy fell 4-2 to France in a lively matchup.
Finland faced Canada later Thursday evening, rounding out the day’s women’s hockey action. The preliminary rounds set the tone for group standings, with top teams advancing toward medal contention.
Snow Sports Training Signals High Speeds Ahead
Training sessions ramped up across disciplines, preparing athletes for intense competition. In men’s downhill Alpine skiing, American Ryan Cochran-Siegle clocked the fastest time of 1:56.08 during the second official run, though women’s downhill training canceled due to poor weather.[3]
Men’s snowboard big air qualification saw Italy’s Ian Mattioli lead with a stunning 93.75 score on his first run, drawing roaring home-crowd support. Luge singles training for men and women proceeded smoothly, as did official sessions for ski jumping normal hill events.[1]
These early runs highlighted course conditions and athlete form, with Lindsey Vonn eyeing a comeback in downhill despite a recent ACL injury.
Early Events Pave Way for Ceremony Spectacle
The packed Thursday schedule underscored how the Olympics expanded beyond the official Feb. 6-22 window to accommodate 116 medal events across 16 disciplines.
- Mixed doubles curling round-robin sessions
- Women’s ice hockey preliminary rounds
- Men’s and women’s downhill Alpine training
- Men’s snowboard big air qualification
- Luge and ski jumping official training
Friday brings more curling, figure skating team events, and additional hockey before the 19:00 opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium, featuring performances by Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, and Andrea Bocelli.[5]
Key Takeaways:
- Team USA starts 2-0 in mixed doubles curling and 1-0 in women’s hockey.
- Power glitch on Day 1 resolved quickly, no major disruptions today.
- Italian fans energized by Mattioli’s snowboard lead and home events.
These preliminary clashes proved the 2026 Games deliver edge-of-your-seat action from the outset, priming global audiences for two weeks of winter mastery. What early Olympic moment has you most excited? Share in the comments.
