Big Air Thrills, German Power on Ice Define Day 11
News Desk
Day 11 of the 2026 Winter Olympics delivered high drama across the ice and snow, with Team USA earning a podium finish in speed skating, Mac Forehand headlining the men’s freeski big air final, and Germany closing in on another potential bobsled sweep.
The United States captured silver in the men’s speed skating team pursuit, adding another medal to its tally, while the women’s squad narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish.
Meanwhile, attention shifted to the women’s figure skating short program, where the much-anticipated “Blade Angels” took the ice in a tightly contested session.
Forehand Targets Gold in Big Air
In freestyle skiing, American standout Mac Forehand entered the men’s big air final as the top qualifier. After a brief weather delay, the competition began at 1:45 pm ET, with Forehand aiming to land a nose butter triple cork 1980 — a trick he revealed he mastered during training last week.
The US lineup also featured Troy Podmilsak, the reigning world champion and X Games big air champion, and Konnor Ralph, strengthening America’s medal hopes.
Norway’s Birk Ruud, the defending Olympic champion in big air and fresh off a slopestyle gold medal, remained a formidable contender. New Zealand’s Luca Harrington and Austria’s Matej Svancer also entered the final as strong medal threats.
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Germany Nears Bobsled Sweep
Germany continued to assert dominance in sliding sports, targeting a second consecutive Olympic sweep in the two-man bobsled event. With the third and fourth runs scheduled for the afternoon session, German crews were poised to secure another historic finish.
Beyond the medal events, curling once again highlighted the physical demands often underestimated in the sport.
American curler Cory Dropkin, who qualified for his first Olympic Games in mixed doubles alongside Cory Thiesse in February 2025, has balanced an intense competition schedule with preparation for both mixed doubles and men’s team events.
His men’s team would not compete at Olympic Trials until months later, requiring careful scheduling and year-round conditioning.
Balancing multiple tournaments while working full-time as a realtor, Dropkin emphasized the importance of full-body strength and high-intensity interval training.
“When you think of curling, it’s essentially an extended lunge on ice,” Dropkin said. “Lower-body strength and balance are critical, but especially in mixed doubles, when you’re sweeping end-to-end, it becomes a full-body effort.”
During intense sweeping stretches, Dropkin’s heart rate can spike into the 170s and 180s. He must then quickly recover to deliver precise shots, often lowering his heart rate back to controlled levels within minutes.
Former world champion Glenn Howard, now a coach for Swiss Olympic teams, has noted the physical strain of the sport, particularly on shoulders and knees. The repetitive sliding motion and pressure placed on brooms can lead to long-term joint issues, underscoring the need for elite conditioning.
As competition intensifies across disciplines, Day 11 showcased not only athletic excellence but also the rigorous preparation behind every performance at the Winter Games.
