On Friday, August 7th, 2026, President Donald Trump welcomed more than 120 Team USA Winter Olympians and Paralympians to the White House to recognize their outstanding achievements at the Milano Cortina Games earlier this year.

The United States team, comprising 300 athletes, returned home with a total of 57 medals, including 12 gold medals. This marked the most gold medals ever won by U.S. athletes in a single Winter Games year and the highest medal count (33) for Team USA at a Winter Olympics held outside North America.

Additionally, 72 Paralympians competing across all five sports secured 24 medals, including 13 golds. Notably, the Paralympic sled hockey team earned their fifth consecutive gold medal, extending one of the greatest dynasties in international sports.

President Trump praised the athletes, highlighting the men’s and women’s Olympic hockey teams and the history-making women’s hockey team, stating, "We can’t forget and never would — and nobody would have the courage to forget either because they are amazing. This team left everything on the ice."

The celebration took place in the East Room of the White House, where Trump posed with medal-winning athletes and honored their accomplishments. Earlier in the year, he had also invited members of the men’s Olympic hockey team to his State of the Union address shortly after their gold medal victory.

Megan Keller and Hannah Bilka were among the athletes celebrated for their gold medal win in women’s ice hockey after defeating Canada at the Milano Cortina Games.

Sources