Team USA reached a brand new summit on the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics by securing a record 12 gold medals. This performance surpassed the previous national best set through the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, and amongst essentially the most historic achievements was the lads’s hockey team capturing gold for the primary time since 1980. Jack Hughes emerged because the national hero, netting the decisive game-winner just 1:41 into time beyond regulation to defeat Canada 2-1.
In 2019, before the NHL draft, ESPN asked Jack Hughes to write a letter to his future self. Seven years later, one passage stands out since it perfectly predicted this historic achievement. Within the letter, he wrote concerning the potential honor of representing the US on the Olympics and maybe winning a gold medal together together with his brothers.
This dream was realized in Milan, where the Hughes brothers were essential to the team’s success, and his brother Quinn previously scored a key time beyond regulation goal against Sweden.
In 2019, before the NHL draft, ESPN asked Jack Hughes to jot down a letter to his future self.
Seven years later, one passage stands out 🇺🇸
Read Jack’s full letter to his older self here: https://t.co/MriOFDo5h1 pic.twitter.com/IBb8RDVAoA
— ESPN (@espn) February 23, 2026
Nonetheless, the trail to the gold medal was nearly derailed late within the third period when Hughes took a high-sticking penalty. He later admitted that while sitting within the penalty box, he visualized negative headlines from Barstool Sports, fearing he would develop into the person America hated if Canada scored on the ability play.
Fortunately, the American penalty kill remained perfect, allowing Hughes to return and secure the golden goal. Barstool founder Dave Portnoy later dismissed these fears, officially labeling Hughes an American hero.
The celebration in the world was massive, with fellow gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin supporting the team from the stands. Shiffrin, who reclaimed her own slalom gold during these Games, shared the electrical atmosphere on social media with a selfie from the hockey rink.
Between the lads’s victory and the ladies’s hockey team’s time beyond regulation win against Canada, the Milan Games established a brand new pinnacle for American winter sports accomplishment.