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The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered all the high-stakes drama we expected, with Team USA bringing the heat across the snow and ice. But once the closing ceremonies wrap up and the athletes start packing their bags, the conversation inevitably shifts from national pride to regional bragging rights. It’s one thing to say America dominated the podium internationally, but it’s entirely different to look at exactly which states are breeding this level of elite winter talent. You can talk about national training facilities all you want, but the reality is that certain zip codes just produce cold-weather warriors better than others.
When you break down the final medal count geographically, a very clear hierarchy emerges. While athletes from all over the country contributed to the overall tally, there are undisputed heavyweight regions when it comes to Winter Olympic glory. From the frozen, character-building winters of the Midwest to the high-altitude, world-class slopes out West, the hardware is heading back to specific states in serious bunches. We’ve tallied up the final numbers to see exactly which states carried the heaviest load for Team USA this time around. If you’ve ever wondered where the real heart of American winter sports beats, the data paints an undeniable picture. We are bypassing the one-off winners to focus purely on the heavy hitters. Here are the top 16 U.S. states that brought home multiple Olympic medals this year, proving once again that when the temperature drops, certain parts of the country just take over.
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jeremy Swayman of United States against Denmark in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 2 total medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Jeremy Swayman (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Alex Hall (Silver, Freeskiing)
There is something poetic about athletes from the most extreme winter state on the map stepping onto an Olympic podium. Alaska doesn’t just experience winter; it is winter, and the athletes it produces carry that unbreakable, frontier-hardened edge everywhere they compete. When you’ve trained in conditions that would sideline most of the world, a little thing like international pressure barely registers on the meter.
MORE: How the Winter Olympics and Super Bowl stack up in global sports viewership
Feb 19, 2026; Milan, Italy; Amber Glenn of the United States reacts after competing in the women’s free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Stats: 2 total medals (2 Gold)
Notable Medalists: Amber Glenn (Gold, Figure Skating)
The Lone Star State isn’t exactly a winter wonderland, which makes its placement on this list an absolute flex. Elite athleticism translates anywhere, and skaters like Amber Glenn have proved Texas can hang with natural-born cold-weather competitors on the ice. It’s a testament to raw talent thriving outside of traditional winter comfort zones.
Feb 20, 2026; Milan, Italy; Corinne Stoddard of the United States celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the women’s short track speed skating 1500m final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Stats: 3 total medals (2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Corinne Stoddard (Bronze, Speedskating)
With Salt Lake City’s enduring Olympic pedigree, Utah remains a perennial powerhouse in winter sports. The Wasatch Front remains a premium training ground, offering some of the best high-altitude access in the world. Their athletes are practically born with skis and skates on, and the results speak for themselves.
Feb 8, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; Breezy Johnson of the United States celebrates on the podium with her gold medal in the women’s downhill alpine skiing race during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Stats: 3 total medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Breezy Johnson (Gold, Alpine Skiing)
Rugged, unrelenting, and unapologetically tough, Wyoming athletes brought that cowboy mentality to the world stage. Headlined by downhill skier Breezy Johnson capturing an emotional gold, they grind out gritty performances in the harshest conditions. When the elements get nasty, this is the exact crowd you want representing you.
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Vincent Trocheck of the United States during the warm-up before the match against Denmark in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 3 total medals (2 Gold, 1 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Vincent Trocheck (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
From the notoriously tough rinks of Philly and Pittsburgh to the local slopes of the Poconos, Pennsylvania brings a blue-collar edge to the Winter Games. These athletes don’t rely on flash; they put their heads down and do the heavy lifting. That working-class mentality consistently translates into clutch podium finishes.
MORE: Top 10 Winter Olympians of Team USA since 2000
Stats: 3 total medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Jordan Stolz (Gold x2, Speedskating)
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jordan Stolz of the United States celebrates after winning the men’s speed skating 500m during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The Midwest chill isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a character-building tool, and Wisconsin athletes use it to forge serious mental toughness. Powered by speedskating phenom Jordan Stolz’s double-gold performance, the state showed it builds competitors who are unflappable under the brightest lights. You can never count out an athlete raised in this kind of deep freeze.
Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Matthew Tkachuk of United States in action with Renars Krastenbergs of Latvia in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 4 total medals (4 Gold)
Notable Medalists: Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Clayton Keller (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
Missouri might fly under the radar as a winter sports hub, but their athletes showed up massive in Milan with a clean sweep of exclusively gold medals. Driven largely by St. Louis-area hockey royalty imposing their will on the international stage, they came into these Games quietly and left with a suitcase full of hardware.
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 18, 2026; Tesero, Italy; Gus Schumacher of United States and Ben Ogden of United States celebrate with their silver medals after finishing second in the men’s cross country skiing team sprint freestyle final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kacper Pempel/Reuters via Imagn Images
Stats: 4 total medals (4 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Ben Ogden (Silver, Cross-Country Skiing)
The Green Mountain State always punches way above its weight class when the snow starts falling. With a legendary local skiing culture and academy systems built for endurance and speed, they are a permanent threat on any alpine or cross-country course. Vermont produces pure racers who know exactly how to ride the edge of disaster.
Jan 31, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (8) moves the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Egor Chinakhov (59) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Stats: 4 total medals (4 Gold)
Notable Medalists: J.T. Miller (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
Deep Midwest roots mean these athletes aren’t afraid of the cold, and Ohio delivered an incredibly efficient, flawless medal haul. Putting up a perfect four golds shows that their athletes bring a focused, business-like approach to their craft. They treated Italy like a business trip and completely delivered on expectations.
Oct 29, 2025; New York, NY, UNITED STATES; Kendall Coyne Schofield poses for a photo during the U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in preparation for the 2026 Milan Olympic Winter Games at Javits Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Stats: 5 total medals (3 Gold, 2 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Kendall Coyne Schofield (Gold, Women’s Hockey)
Powered by the athletic epicenter of Chicago and its surrounding freeze, Illinois churned out consistent podium threats all tournament long. Their athletes have access to elite coaching and facilities, turning raw potential into refined, international-caliber skill. They are a volume-producing state that knows how to finish the job on the ice.
Feb 20, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jack Eichel (9) of the United States celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal during the second period against Slovakia in a men’s ice hockey semifinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 5 total medals (4 Gold, 1 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Matt Boldy (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
New England grit is a very real intangible, and Boston’s sprawling sports culture clearly bleeds into its winter programs. Between the legendary college hockey hotbeds and competitive local rinks, this state produces athletes who thrive under intense pressure. They expect to win, and that swagger was obvious on the podium.
RELATED: Last 8 Winter Olympics women’s ice hockey gold medal winners
Olympic gold medalist, Chris Lillis, a Pittsford native, visited School 19 in Rochester on March 11, 2022 where his mother, Jamie Lillis, teaches and talked about his experience and showed the students his gold medal. He is joined by Olympic teammates Megan Nick, a bronze medalist, and Winter Vinecki. The three competed in aerial freestyle skiing at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. They gave a brief talk about training and perseverance. Lillis has been visiting his mother’s school for years.
Chris Lillis Shows Gold Medal
Stats: 6 total medals (6 Gold)
Notable Medalists: Charlie McAvoy (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Chris Lillis (Gold, Mixed Aerials)
From upstate mountains to Long Island ice rinks, New York’s sheer volume and sporting culture translated into serious international dominance. With a flawless sweep of six gold medals, they proved they aren’t just participating; they are dictating the pace of competition. It’s a massive state with a massive footprint on the Winter Games.
Gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates during the medal ceremony for the women’s slalom during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Stats: 8 total medals (5 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Mikaela Shiffrin (Gold, Alpine Skiing); Elizabeth Lemley (Gold, Moguls); Jaccob Slavin (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
The thin air and legendary Rockies make Colorado the ultimate incubator for alpine events, serving as a prerequisite training ground for greatness. They don’t just host winter sports; it’s a lifestyle permanently etched into their DNA. When you train on top of the world every day, performing on the biggest stage comes naturally.
Alysa Liu of the United States celebrates with the gold medal in the women’s free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Stats: 8 total medals (4 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Alysa Liu (Gold x2, Figure Skating); Cayla Barnes (Gold, Women’s Hockey); Madison Chock (Silver, Ice Dance); Ashley Farquharson (Bronze, Luge)
The Golden State isn’t just surfing and sunshine; its high ranking here is a wake-up call to the rest of the country. Their elite training centers down south and the peaks of Tahoe crank out world-class winter talent with alarming consistency. They have the resources, the weather diversity, and the athletes to completely dominate.
Feb 13, 2026; Milan, Italy; Kirsten Simms of United States in action against Italy in a women’s ice hockey quarterfinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Stats: 11 total medals (6 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Kyle Connor, Connor Hellebuyck, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Dylan Larkin, Zach Werenski (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Kirsten Simms (Gold, Women’s Hockey); Kaila Kuhn (Gold, Mixed Aerials)
Playing a bruising, relentless brand of winter competition, the Great Lakes State is a certified factory for ice-based sports. Michigan’s deep-rooted culture of freezing-weather competition produced an absolute army of hockey gold medalists this year. They show up, do the grueling work, and bring home the metal by the bucketload.
Feb 10, 2026; Milan, Italy; Taylor Heise (27) of the United States skates with the puck against Canada in women’s ice hockey group A play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 13 total medals (8 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Brock Faber, Jake Oettinger, Jackson LaCombe (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Taylor Heise (Gold, Women’s Hockey); Cory Thiesse (Silver, Curling); Jessie Diggins (Bronze, Cross-Country Skiing); Paula Moltzan (Bronze, Alpine Skiing)
The State of Hockey reigns absolutely supreme, proving once again that nobody does winter quite like the folks up north. It takes a different kind of grit to grow up training in sub-zero temperatures, and Minnesota translated that toughness directly to the Olympic podium behind legendary hockey and skiing performances. When you live in the ice, you learn how to conquer it better than anyone else.
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jordan Stolz of the United States celebrates after winning the men’s speed skating 500m during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The beauty of the Olympics is how it brings fifty individual states together under one unified banner, but a little internal rivalry is exactly what fuels the next generation. Minnesota gets to comfortably wear the crown for now, but you can bet the rest of the country is already taking notes and hitting the ice to close the gap. The grind for 2030 starts today, and the map is officially marked.
OLYMPICS: Final 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings
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VIRAL: Watch Johnny Gaudreau’s children join Team USA hockey gold medal celebration
The post Ranking Team USA’s Winter Olympics medals by state, topped by Minnesota appeared first on The Big Lead.
Continue reading...
When you break down the final medal count geographically, a very clear hierarchy emerges. While athletes from all over the country contributed to the overall tally, there are undisputed heavyweight regions when it comes to Winter Olympic glory. From the frozen, character-building winters of the Midwest to the high-altitude, world-class slopes out West, the hardware is heading back to specific states in serious bunches. We’ve tallied up the final numbers to see exactly which states carried the heaviest load for Team USA this time around. If you’ve ever wondered where the real heart of American winter sports beats, the data paints an undeniable picture. We are bypassing the one-off winners to focus purely on the heavy hitters. Here are the top 16 U.S. states that brought home multiple Olympic medals this year, proving once again that when the temperature drops, certain parts of the country just take over.
16. Alaska
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Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jeremy Swayman of United States against Denmark in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 2 total medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Jeremy Swayman (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Alex Hall (Silver, Freeskiing)
There is something poetic about athletes from the most extreme winter state on the map stepping onto an Olympic podium. Alaska doesn’t just experience winter; it is winter, and the athletes it produces carry that unbreakable, frontier-hardened edge everywhere they compete. When you’ve trained in conditions that would sideline most of the world, a little thing like international pressure barely registers on the meter.
MORE: How the Winter Olympics and Super Bowl stack up in global sports viewership
15. Texas
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Feb 19, 2026; Milan, Italy; Amber Glenn of the United States reacts after competing in the women’s free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Stats: 2 total medals (2 Gold)
Notable Medalists: Amber Glenn (Gold, Figure Skating)
The Lone Star State isn’t exactly a winter wonderland, which makes its placement on this list an absolute flex. Elite athleticism translates anywhere, and skaters like Amber Glenn have proved Texas can hang with natural-born cold-weather competitors on the ice. It’s a testament to raw talent thriving outside of traditional winter comfort zones.
14. Utah
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Feb 20, 2026; Milan, Italy; Corinne Stoddard of the United States celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the women’s short track speed skating 1500m final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Stats: 3 total medals (2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Corinne Stoddard (Bronze, Speedskating)
With Salt Lake City’s enduring Olympic pedigree, Utah remains a perennial powerhouse in winter sports. The Wasatch Front remains a premium training ground, offering some of the best high-altitude access in the world. Their athletes are practically born with skis and skates on, and the results speak for themselves.
13. Wyoming
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Feb 8, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; Breezy Johnson of the United States celebrates on the podium with her gold medal in the women’s downhill alpine skiing race during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Stats: 3 total medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Breezy Johnson (Gold, Alpine Skiing)
Rugged, unrelenting, and unapologetically tough, Wyoming athletes brought that cowboy mentality to the world stage. Headlined by downhill skier Breezy Johnson capturing an emotional gold, they grind out gritty performances in the harshest conditions. When the elements get nasty, this is the exact crowd you want representing you.
12. Pennsylvania
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Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Vincent Trocheck of the United States during the warm-up before the match against Denmark in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 3 total medals (2 Gold, 1 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Vincent Trocheck (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
From the notoriously tough rinks of Philly and Pittsburgh to the local slopes of the Poconos, Pennsylvania brings a blue-collar edge to the Winter Games. These athletes don’t rely on flash; they put their heads down and do the heavy lifting. That working-class mentality consistently translates into clutch podium finishes.
MORE: Top 10 Winter Olympians of Team USA since 2000
11. Wisconsin
Stats: 3 total medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Jordan Stolz (Gold x2, Speedskating)
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Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jordan Stolz of the United States celebrates after winning the men’s speed skating 500m during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The Midwest chill isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a character-building tool, and Wisconsin athletes use it to forge serious mental toughness. Powered by speedskating phenom Jordan Stolz’s double-gold performance, the state showed it builds competitors who are unflappable under the brightest lights. You can never count out an athlete raised in this kind of deep freeze.
10. Missouri
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Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Matthew Tkachuk of United States in action with Renars Krastenbergs of Latvia in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 4 total medals (4 Gold)
Notable Medalists: Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Clayton Keller (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
Missouri might fly under the radar as a winter sports hub, but their athletes showed up massive in Milan with a clean sweep of exclusively gold medals. Driven largely by St. Louis-area hockey royalty imposing their will on the international stage, they came into these Games quietly and left with a suitcase full of hardware.
9. Vermont
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[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 18, 2026; Tesero, Italy; Gus Schumacher of United States and Ben Ogden of United States celebrate with their silver medals after finishing second in the men’s cross country skiing team sprint freestyle final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kacper Pempel/Reuters via Imagn Images
Stats: 4 total medals (4 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Ben Ogden (Silver, Cross-Country Skiing)
The Green Mountain State always punches way above its weight class when the snow starts falling. With a legendary local skiing culture and academy systems built for endurance and speed, they are a permanent threat on any alpine or cross-country course. Vermont produces pure racers who know exactly how to ride the edge of disaster.
8. Ohio
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Jan 31, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (8) moves the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Egor Chinakhov (59) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Stats: 4 total medals (4 Gold)
Notable Medalists: J.T. Miller (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
Deep Midwest roots mean these athletes aren’t afraid of the cold, and Ohio delivered an incredibly efficient, flawless medal haul. Putting up a perfect four golds shows that their athletes bring a focused, business-like approach to their craft. They treated Italy like a business trip and completely delivered on expectations.
7. Illinois
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Oct 29, 2025; New York, NY, UNITED STATES; Kendall Coyne Schofield poses for a photo during the U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in preparation for the 2026 Milan Olympic Winter Games at Javits Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Stats: 5 total medals (3 Gold, 2 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Kendall Coyne Schofield (Gold, Women’s Hockey)
Powered by the athletic epicenter of Chicago and its surrounding freeze, Illinois churned out consistent podium threats all tournament long. Their athletes have access to elite coaching and facilities, turning raw potential into refined, international-caliber skill. They are a volume-producing state that knows how to finish the job on the ice.
6. Massachusetts
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Feb 20, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jack Eichel (9) of the United States celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal during the second period against Slovakia in a men’s ice hockey semifinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 5 total medals (4 Gold, 1 Silver)
Notable Medalists: Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Matt Boldy (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
New England grit is a very real intangible, and Boston’s sprawling sports culture clearly bleeds into its winter programs. Between the legendary college hockey hotbeds and competitive local rinks, this state produces athletes who thrive under intense pressure. They expect to win, and that swagger was obvious on the podium.
RELATED: Last 8 Winter Olympics women’s ice hockey gold medal winners
5. New York
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Olympic gold medalist, Chris Lillis, a Pittsford native, visited School 19 in Rochester on March 11, 2022 where his mother, Jamie Lillis, teaches and talked about his experience and showed the students his gold medal. He is joined by Olympic teammates Megan Nick, a bronze medalist, and Winter Vinecki. The three competed in aerial freestyle skiing at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. They gave a brief talk about training and perseverance. Lillis has been visiting his mother’s school for years.
Chris Lillis Shows Gold Medal
Stats: 6 total medals (6 Gold)
Notable Medalists: Charlie McAvoy (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Chris Lillis (Gold, Mixed Aerials)
From upstate mountains to Long Island ice rinks, New York’s sheer volume and sporting culture translated into serious international dominance. With a flawless sweep of six gold medals, they proved they aren’t just participating; they are dictating the pace of competition. It’s a massive state with a massive footprint on the Winter Games.
4. Colorado
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Gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates during the medal ceremony for the women’s slalom during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Stats: 8 total medals (5 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Mikaela Shiffrin (Gold, Alpine Skiing); Elizabeth Lemley (Gold, Moguls); Jaccob Slavin (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
The thin air and legendary Rockies make Colorado the ultimate incubator for alpine events, serving as a prerequisite training ground for greatness. They don’t just host winter sports; it’s a lifestyle permanently etched into their DNA. When you train on top of the world every day, performing on the biggest stage comes naturally.
3. California
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Alysa Liu of the United States celebrates with the gold medal in the women’s free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Stats: 8 total medals (4 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Alysa Liu (Gold x2, Figure Skating); Cayla Barnes (Gold, Women’s Hockey); Madison Chock (Silver, Ice Dance); Ashley Farquharson (Bronze, Luge)
The Golden State isn’t just surfing and sunshine; its high ranking here is a wake-up call to the rest of the country. Their elite training centers down south and the peaks of Tahoe crank out world-class winter talent with alarming consistency. They have the resources, the weather diversity, and the athletes to completely dominate.
2. Michigan
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Feb 13, 2026; Milan, Italy; Kirsten Simms of United States in action against Italy in a women’s ice hockey quarterfinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Stats: 11 total medals (6 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Kyle Connor, Connor Hellebuyck, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Dylan Larkin, Zach Werenski (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Kirsten Simms (Gold, Women’s Hockey); Kaila Kuhn (Gold, Mixed Aerials)
Playing a bruising, relentless brand of winter competition, the Great Lakes State is a certified factory for ice-based sports. Michigan’s deep-rooted culture of freezing-weather competition produced an absolute army of hockey gold medalists this year. They show up, do the grueling work, and bring home the metal by the bucketload.
1. Minnesota
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Feb 10, 2026; Milan, Italy; Taylor Heise (27) of the United States skates with the puck against Canada in women’s ice hockey group A play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 13 total medals (8 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze)
Notable Medalists: Brock Faber, Jake Oettinger, Jackson LaCombe (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Taylor Heise (Gold, Women’s Hockey); Cory Thiesse (Silver, Curling); Jessie Diggins (Bronze, Cross-Country Skiing); Paula Moltzan (Bronze, Alpine Skiing)
The State of Hockey reigns absolutely supreme, proving once again that nobody does winter quite like the folks up north. It takes a different kind of grit to grow up training in sub-zero temperatures, and Minnesota translated that toughness directly to the Olympic podium behind legendary hockey and skiing performances. When you live in the ice, you learn how to conquer it better than anyone else.
The domestic scoreboard resets
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Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jordan Stolz of the United States celebrates after winning the men’s speed skating 500m during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The beauty of the Olympics is how it brings fifty individual states together under one unified banner, but a little internal rivalry is exactly what fuels the next generation. Minnesota gets to comfortably wear the crown for now, but you can bet the rest of the country is already taking notes and hitting the ice to close the gap. The grind for 2030 starts today, and the map is officially marked.
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OLYMPICS: Final 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings
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MLB: MLB Power Rankings as 2026 Spring Training begins
NBA: Updated NBA Power Rankings as a new week begins
VIRAL: Watch Johnny Gaudreau’s children join Team USA hockey gold medal celebration
The post Ranking Team USA’s Winter Olympics medals by state, topped by Minnesota appeared first on The Big Lead.
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