Forget the Super Bowl, Day 9 of the Winter Olympics is Where the Real Action's At!
While football fans might be mourning the absence of the big game this Sunday, sports enthusiasts have a thrilling alternative: Day 9 of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The Athletic is your go-to source for live coverage (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/winter-olympics-2026-milano-cortina-live-updates-day-nine-schedule-events-scores-results/7Nj8vhUTjQkZ/), bringing you all the heart-pounding moments from Italy.
Team Spirit Takes Center Stage:
Day 9 is all about the power of teamwork. Witness the fierce rivalry between the U.S. and Canada as their men's hockey and curling teams clash on the ice. But here's where it gets even more intriguing: can Mikaela Shiffrin, the American alpine skiing star, finally break her Olympic medal drought? She's been chasing gold since 2018, and this giant slalom event could be her moment.
Events You Can't Miss:
Alpine Skiing: Women's Giant Slalom (Medal Event): Shiffrin faces stiff competition from Sweden's Sara Hector, the reigning Olympic and World Cup champion, and Italy's Federica Brignone, the 2022 silver medalist. Will she rise to the challenge? (First run: 4 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. Italy; second run: 7:30 a.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. Italy, Peacock)
Men's Ice Hockey: Canada vs. France (Preliminary): Canada, led by the unstoppable Connor McDavid, aims to continue their dominant run after crushing the Czech Republic and Switzerland. (10:40 a.m. ET / 4:40 p.m. Italy, Peacock)
Men's Ice Hockey: U.S. vs. Germany (Preliminary): The Americans, boasting a star-studded lineup including Auston Matthews and the Hughes brothers, look to maintain their perfect record after a thrilling comeback win against Denmark. (3:10 p.m. ET / 9:10 p.m. Italy, Peacock)
Beyond the Headliners:
Curling: Men's & Women's Round Robin: The U.S. men's and women's curling teams battle it out in the round robin stage, aiming to secure their spots in the medal rounds. (Men's: First session 3:05 a.m. ET / 9:05 a.m. Italy; second session 1:05 p.m. ET / 7:05 p.m. Italy, Peacock. Women's: 8:05 a.m. ET / 2:05 p.m. Italy, Peacock)
Cross-Country Skiing: Men's 4x7.5km Relay (Medal Event): Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Norway's cross-country skiing phenom, seeks to solidify his legacy by breaking the record for most Winter Olympic gold medals. (6 a.m. ET / noon Italy, Peacock)
Skeleton: Mixed Team (Medal Event): Witness the debut of this exciting new Olympic discipline, where teams of one male and one female athlete race head-to-head in a thrilling display of speed and precision. (Noon ET / 6 p.m. Italy, Peacock)
Ski Jumping: Women's Large Hill Individual (Medal Event): Nika Prevc, fresh off her silver medal in the normal hill competition and team gold, aims to add another medal to her collection. (11:35 a.m. ET / 5:35 p.m. Italy, Peacock)
And this is the part most people miss... The Winter Olympics isn't just about the big names. It's about the dedication, the sacrifice, and the sheer athleticism of athletes from around the world. Who will be the breakout star of Day 9? Will Shiffrin finally claim her gold? Will Klæbo make history? Tune in and be a part of the Olympic spirit!
Controversial Question: With the rise of new disciplines like mixed team skeleton, are the Winter Olympics becoming too focused on novelty events, or is this evolution necessary to keep the Games fresh and exciting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
