Top-ranked Canada beats US for bronze medal in women's curling at the Olympics

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Top-ranked Canada beat the United States for the bronze medal in women’s curling at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Saturday after being upset by Sweden in the semifinals.

Rachel Homan’s team won 10-7 to deny the American women their first medal in the event.

The Canadians had to overcome a 1-3 start to round-robin play.

“I’m really proud of our week and our fight,” Homan said. “We were never giving up right to the end, pulling for each other and when things were hard we just pulled closer together and tried to figure out how to make the next one.”

Sweden will play Switzerland for gold on Sunday.

In the men’s competition, Canada’s controversial team — which was accused of cheating during the round-robin stage — was set to face Britain’s all-Scottish squad for gold later Saturday. Switzerland beat Norway for bronze on Friday.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Canada's Rachel Homan celebrates winning the women's curling bronze medal match against the United States, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

United States' Cory Thiesse, left, and Tabitha Peterson compete during a women's curling bronze medal match between Canada and the United States, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Canada's Rachel Homan, Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes celebrate after winning the women's curling bronze medal match against the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Canada's Rachel Homan competes during a women's curling bronze medal match between Canada and the United States, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Canada's Rachel Homan, Tracy Fleury, Sarah Wilkes and Emma Miskew celebrate winning their women's curling bronze medal match against the United States, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — The women's Olympic freeski halfpipe final at the Milan Cortina Games was postponed Saturday because of heavy snow in the Italian Alps.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation said the snow that has accumulated on the halfpipe made it impossible “to ensure a safe and fair competition for all athletes.”

The federation said officials are working to reschedule the event. The Olympics conclude on Sunday.

The final had been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time on Saturday. Officials then pushed that back to 9:00 p.m. before saying it was off.

Snowstorms this week have caused delays and events to be reshuffled twice already in Livigno, where the Olympic freeski and snowboarding events are being held.

The women’s halfpipe final is the final event of the action sports events at the 2026 Games.

The final will feature defending champion Eileen Gu going for her third medal of these Games and her sixth in as many career Olympic events.

The 22-year-old Gu, who was born in the United States and competes for China, has won two silvers in Italy, finishing second in both slopestyle and big air.

Four years ago, Gu became the first freestyle skier to win three medals in a single Olympics after she won gold in halfpipe and big air and silver in slopestyle at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Trying to stop her from repeating as the halfpipe champion will be Amy Fraser of Canada, the only skier to beat Gu in a major contest since she won Olympic gold four years ago. Zoe Atkin, an American-born skier who competes for Britain, is also eyeing the podium after she finished first in Thursday’s qualifying.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Heavy snow falls on shovels during a weather delay before the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Workers blow snow off the course during the men's ski cross final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

A worker clears snow from the course before the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)