2026 Winter Olympics Day 6 results: Chloe Kim comes up short in three-peat bid, USA men's hockey rolls

One of Kim's proteges upended the two-time defending gold medalist

Chloe Kim's incredible run atop the Olympic women's snowboard halfpipe world came to a dramatic end Thursday as 17-year-old Korean Gaon Choi -- who has called Kim her idol and mentor -- pulled off a stunning win amid snowy conditions at the Livigno Snow Park.

It hardly looked like Choi would even get a chance to compete with Kim, much less beat her. Choi took a brutal landing on her first run and was nearly out of the competition; Kim laid down a strong 88.00 first run, which put her into the lead. But Choi came back for her second run and then put down a huge third-run 90.25. Kim, who fell on her second run, had one final chance to beat Choi with her final run of the night, but she fell again.

Kim finished with the silver, ending her pursuit of becoming the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic golds in any single competition.

Kim's silver was one of two medals for the United States on Thursday. Jessie Diggins battled through bruised ribs to win bronze in the women's cross country 10km ski with a tremendous late effort. It's the first time a U.S. athlete has ever medaled in the event.

The U.S. has now moved into a tie with Norway for second-most medals these Olympics (14), behind host Italy (17).

2026 Olympics medal count: USA finishes with its most winter gold medals, best overall performance in 76 years

Austin Nivison

In the afternoon, the men's hockey team crushed Latvia 5-1 in its opening game of the preliminary round. The U.S. had two goals waived off in the first period, and the game was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes. It proved to be only a matter of time, though, before the dams broke. Brock Nelson (twice) and Tage Thompson scored in a second-period barrage, and captain Auston Matthews added a tally in the third period.

Team USA will return to action Saturday against Denmark.

Friday brings a bevy of medal events, including the men's figure skating free skate, where U.S. star Ilia Malinin looks to close out a gold medal; he leads after the short program. Furthermore, Team USA women's hockey, which cruised in the preliminary round, faces Italy in a quarterfinal matchup.

Here's a roundup of all highlights and analysis from a loaded Day 6:

[Feb 12, 2026 at 5:42 pm ET · Sam Cooper]

Things felt a bit tenuous early in Team USA's Olympic men's hockey opener against Latvia. The score was 1-1 after the first period -- a period in which the Americans had two goals taken off the board after reviews. 

And by the midway point of the second, the score was still tied until Brock Nelson took matters into his own hands. His goal at the 10:38 mark of the second period broke the tie, and an offensive onslaught followed. 

Team USA's lead was 4-1 by the time the second period horn sounded with Tage Thompson scoring on a nifty top-shelf backhand and Nelson adding another. 

Auston Matthews tacked on another in the third period and the Americans cruised to a comfortable 5-1 win to open Group C play in style. 

Next up for Team USA is a meeting with Denmark on Saturday. 

[Feb 12, 2026 at 3:08 pm ET · Zachary Pereles]

Chloe Kim's attempt to become the first snowboarder -- man or woman, in any discipline -- for an Olympic gold three-peat came up just short, and in dramatic fashion.

Korea's Gaon Choi posted a massive 90.25 third run that was enough to stun the American legend in the women's snowboard halfpipe. It was an incredible show of talent and toughness from Choi, who had a huge fall on her first run. Choi has called Kim an idol and a mentor.

Kim, who suffered a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum during a training run last month, had one final opportunity but was unable to land a double cork 1080. Kim won bronze with the 88.00 she posted on her first run; she also fell on her second run.

Japan's Mitsuki Ono (85.00 on first run) won bronze.

[Feb 12, 2026 at 4:43 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

After having multiple goals overturned, Team USA has taken control and opened up a 4-1 lead over a pesky Latvia team in its first game of the tournament. 

At the 10:38 mark of the second period, the U.S. got in on the forecheck and made good things happen. Jack Hughes took possession of the puck behind the net, and when two Latvian players pursued him, he slipped a pass to Brock Nelson driving to the net. Nelson took care of the rest to give his team a 2-1 lead.

Later in the second, the U.S. tacked on two more goals in the span of 2:13. First, Tage Thompson buried a backhand top shelf on the power play to make it 3-1. Soon after, Nelson added another to increase the lead to 4-1 going into the third period.