Milan Cortina: What to watch today in the Winter Olympics — Chloe Kim hits halfpipe as U.S. chases gold in speed skating, ice dance (2/11)

The Winter Games have begun in Italy. From the rink to the slopes, a new generation of stars has emerged to chase gold. We’ll keep you connected to all of the thrilling moments and top stories as we track the medal race each day of the Games.

The United States is up to seven total medals so far in Italy, and they’ll have several opportunities to add to that count in Day 5 of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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Jordan Stoltz will attempt to continue his dominant run throughout speed skating in the 1,000 meters, and the women’s double luge will have its first ever gold medal awarded at the Olympics later today. Madison Chock and Evan Bates are back in action with their final ice dancing event, too. Oh, and Chloe Kim will hit the halfpipe for the first time, too.

Here are the top five things to watch on Wednesday at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics:

1. Jordan Stoltz looks to defend world record in speed skating

It’s time for Jordan Stoltz to take the ice in Italy. The Team USA speed skating star will open with the 1,000 meters on Wednesday, the event in which he already holds the world record. He made his Olympics debut in Beijing four years ago and only finished 14th in the 1,000 meters, though he’s widely considered a medal favorite every time he takes the ice in these games.

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But the 1,000 meter is his best event. Stoltz has five wins at that distance already this season, and has won 14 races in a row in that distance on the World Cup level. Stoltz will also compete in the 500 meters, 1,500 meters and mass start.

2. Chloe Kim hits the halfpipe

Chloe Kim is ready for her first event in Italy. The top name in the sport will open her quest to become the first person to win three straight gold medals in the halfpipe, starting with qualifying today. Kim was 17 when she won gold in South Korea in 2018, and she backed it up in Beijing four years ago, too. But Kim is now dealing with a torn labrum, which she suffered during training in Switzerland.

If she can get through qualifying, the final of the women’s halfpipe is set for Thursday.

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3. U.S. team chasing first ever women’s double luge gold

The women’s doubles luge was added to the Olympics for the first time this year after more than six decades on the men’s side. It’ll be up to Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby to lead the way for the United States.

The duo, who are the only American women’s pairing, won bronze at the first ever world championship back in 2022. They’ve looked good so far, too, with a top five time in five of their six training runs. But it’s Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Kipp who are the favorites, as they both lead the World Cup standings and have won three training runs so far.

4. Chock and Bates chasing gold in ice dance

Madison Chock and Evan Bates will enter tonight’s ice dance free skate in second place, so they’ll have to rally a bit in order to pull off the gold medal. They trailed France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron by less than half a point after the rhythm dance portion of the competition on Monday.