France Takes Ice Dance Gold as 54‑Year‑Old Curler Highlights Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina continued to deliver exciting performances on February 12. France captured gold in ice dance, and veteran competitors made headlines alongside emerging stars. One standout story involves Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old American curling alternate. If he takes the ice, he would become one of the oldest competitors in Winter Olympics history.

In northern Italy, more than 2,900 athletes are competing in 116 medal events. The Games have combined world-class competition with personal milestones. France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron edged the U.S. duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who took silver in a closely contested ice dance final. This victory marked a major achievement in figure skating after days of intense rivalry.

Meanwhile, the United States’ Jordan Stolz set a new Olympic record in the men’s 1000-meter speed skating event. His gold medal signals a rising presence in the sport. Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen claimed his third gold of the Games in the super-G, reinforcing Switzerland’s strength in alpine skiing.

Veteran Presence and Notable Storylines

One of the most compelling narratives of the Games is the participation of Rich Ruohonen. At 54, the American curling alternate demonstrates the broad age range of competitors at Milan-Cortina. Ruohonen, a long-time international curler and personal-injury attorney from Minnesota, joined the Olympic squad after decades of near misses.

Other veteran athletes have also stood out. Austrian snowboarder Claudia Riegler, 52, continues to compete at a high level. Her longevity highlights the dedication required to remain competitive in a sport often dominated by younger athletes.

Competition Highlights and Controversies

• Ice Dance: Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron’s win was a narrow triumph. Chock and Bates earned silver after a high-scoring free dance.

• Speed Skating: Stolz’s Olympic record in the men’s 1000 m revitalized U.S. speed skating and marked his first medal of the tournament following an unbeaten World Cup season.

• Alpine Skiing: Von Allmen’s third gold demonstrates Switzerland’s depth in speed and technical skiing events.

• Skeleton: Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for helmet imagery tied to geopolitical symbols. His team has filed an appeal.

• Canadian Team: Canada’s delegation expressed grief following a deadly school shooting in British Columbia while competing abroad.

Ongoing Action and Medal Tables

Competition remains fierce across Milan-Cortina. Team USA continues in freestyle skiing, Super-G alpine events, and men’s ice hockey, pursuing a gold not won since 1980. Daily results and updated standings reflect the shifting positions of top nations, including Norway, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States, across skiing, luge, speed skating, and snowboarding.

Looking Ahead

The Winter Olympics will continue through February 22 with finals in figure skating, downhill skiing, biathlon, hockey, and snowboarding. On February 12, highlights included the luge team relay and women’s alpine Super-G finals. Many competitions are still to be decided in the coming days.

The 2026 Milan-Cortina Games blend elite performance with inspiring personal stories of resilience and longevity. They showcase the enduring appeal and global reach of winter sports.

– JNews –