Team USA reached a brand-new Winter Olympics best on February 21, 2026: an 11th gold medal at the 2026 Winter Games, the most winter golds the United States has won at a single Winter Olympics. That record-setting win came from an event called freeski mixed team aerials.
In aerials, skiers zoom up a steep ramp, launch into the air, and do flips and twists before landing on the snow. This event is also a team challenge, which means athletes take turns and their scores add together—like building a big total from several great turns.
The gold-winning U.S. team was Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Chris Lillis, and they competed in Livigno, Italy. Because it’s a team event, everyone’s performance matters, and teammates have to trust one another and stay focused from start to finish.
It also shows how big goals usually come from small, careful steps. Aerial skiers train for years and practice safely using things like trampolines, foam pits, and harnesses, so their bodies learn the moves before trying them on real snow. Watching that kind of preparation can help us remember: records are exciting, but steady practice and teamwork are the real engines behind them.
In aerials, skiers zoom up a steep ramp, launch into the air, and do flips and twists before landing on the snow. This event is also a team challenge, which means athletes take turns and their scores add together—like building a big total from several great turns.
The gold-winning U.S. team was Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Chris Lillis, and they competed in Livigno, Italy. Because it’s a team event, everyone’s performance matters, and teammates have to trust one another and stay focused from start to finish.
It also shows how big goals usually come from small, careful steps. Aerial skiers train for years and practice safely using things like trampolines, foam pits, and harnesses, so their bodies learn the moves before trying them on real snow. Watching that kind of preparation can help us remember: records are exciting, but steady practice and teamwork are the real engines behind them.