US men's hockey gold medal and Eileen Gu's halfpipe victory highlight final day of Winter Olympics

MILAN (AP) — Jack Hughes’ overtime goal against Canada gave the United States its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980 — and on the 46th anniversary of the “ Miracle on Ice ” no less.

Hughes, who had lost a tooth or two from a high stick during the game, scored off a pass from Zach Werenski early into 3-on-3 overtime to clinch a 2-1 victory Sunday.

“It doesn’t matter about the goal. Just an unbelievable team, unbelievable team win,” Hughes said. "We’re just so proud to win for our country.

“The best experiences I have are playing for my country, playing to break the golden drought with this group of guys and for us to win gold here at the Olympics, just an unbelievable moment," he added.

There was a hint of sadness amid the joy as Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried a Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 jersey around the ice in tribute to the beloved player who died in August 2024 along with his brother when they were struck by an SUV while riding bicycles.

The Americans' victory Sunday was their 12th gold of the Milan Cortina Games. The US women's hockey team had also won gold — also in a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the final.

Norway topped the final medal count with 18 golds and 41 medals overall — best in both categories.

Eileen Gu is now six-for-six in Olympic medal events after another halfpipe victory.

The 22-year-old Gu, American-born but competing for her mother’s homeland of China, is already the most decorated freeskier in the short history of the sport at the Olympics. She also captured two silver medals at the Milan Cortina Games, to pair with two golds and a silver from the Beijing Games.

Gu won her last event on the strength of her second run, a clean, technically sound pass. She got even better in her final run — pumping his ski poles after landing the final trick — and finished with a score of 94.75. Her teammate, Li Fanghui, took silver and Zoe Atkin of Britain was third.

The event was rescheduled to Sunday following a big snowstorm the night before.

First, Ebba Andersson pulled away from the pack to win the 50-kilometer mass start cross-country ski race and earn redemption for her crash that cost Sweden a gold medal in the team relay.

“I’ve dreamed about this day for a long time now and it’s almost unbelievable that everything went as planned,” she said.

And then Sweden’s curling moms beat Switzerland to give the Scandinavian nation another gold.

Jessie Diggins finished fifth in the 50-kilometer mass start cross-country ski race. Just a few seconds shy of one more medal.

She's OK with that.

“I can confidently say I could not possibly have tried harder or gotten more out of my body,” the 34-year-old Diggins said.

It marked the final Olympic event for an athlete who transformed American cross‑country skiing and became a symbol of endurance.

In bobsled, Germany’s Johannes Lochner added the four-man gold to his two-man title.

Lochner — who announced his retirement months ago — capped his career with his second gold medal of these Olympics, winning the four-man event over two-time defending Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich by 0.57 seconds.

“It’s just such a dream. … It’s indescribable,” Lochner said. “A moment for eternity. A perfect finish, the most perfect finish ever.”

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

Jessie Diggins, of the United States, competes in the cross country skiing women's 50km mass start classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Sweden's Anna Hasselborg, left, and Sara McManus celebrate winning a women's curling gold medal match between Switzerland and Sweden, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Gold medalist China's Eileen Gu poses with her medals after winning the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Canada's Sidney Crosby (87) stands with his teammates during the medal ceremony following Canada's overtime loss to the United States in the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

United States' Jack Hughes (86) poses with teammates after a men's ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

LILLE, France (AP) — France moved to the brink of back-to-back Six Nations titles after straining to subdue Italy by a flattering 33-8 under the roof in Lille on Sunday.

The French have maximum points after three rounds and can clinch the championship with a game to spare with another bonus-point win against its nearest challenger, Scotland, in Edinburgh on March 7.

France has not won successive titles since 2006-07.

While France's impressive defense was too good for Italy, the attack labored after racking up 13 tries against Ireland and Wales.

France was 19-0 ahead inside 30 minutes. But two of the three early tries came from Italy errors, including the opener to winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who became the first man to score a try in eight consecutive matches in the championship's 143-year history.

Italy cut the lead to 19-8 by halftime and was in the match but after the break France didn't give Italy a sniff. Italy stalemated France, too, until the 71st minute, when winger Louis Lynagh was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.

It was bad timing. Fullback Ange Capuozzo was off the field treating a shoulder issue and the Italy staff were too slow to replace him.

Facing only 13 men and an open backfield, France put the result to bed when Thomas Ramos' kick-pass bounced to right winger Gaël Dréan for a walk-in try on debut. Ramos also assisted on the fifth and last try for center Émilien Gailleton.

“It was a tough match as expected, very tight, against an opponent who put us under pressure, especially in the rucks,” France coach Fabien Galthié said. “At one point it became a real arm wrestle.”

Italy captain Michele Lamaro lamented their failure to be more clinical in the first half, notably in a 10-minute spell when they had France reeling but missed four chances in the 22, two of them because of defensive pressure by France captain Antoine Dupont.

“France were unbelievably good at taking their opportunities, especially in the first half,” Lamaro said. "We couldn't build pressure in the second half and that took us to 70 minutes when we got the yellow card.

“You are playing one of the best teams in the world, you have to be precise, you have to be concrete and you have to be playing at a high level. There were moments where we had been there but there was a lot of moments where we weren't able to execute enough.”

France flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert pulled out on Saturday night with a minor calf injury, causing a backline shuffle. Ramos switched to flyhalf, Théo Attisssogbe moved from wing to fullback and Dréan was given a debut at 25. The Toulon flyer was the French league's breakout player last season.

Dupont took an Italian tap back from a contestable kick and chipped for Bielle-Biarrey to claim the first try in the fourth minute, his fourth try this month, and 24th try in 25 tests.

Man-of-the-match lock Emmanuel Meafou then barged over for his first test try. Meafou and Thibaud Flament were recalled to the second row to give the scrum more ballast but Italy still won four scrum penalties from them.

“There were a few scrums where we were pushed back a bit but we're happy,” Meafou said.

An Italy lineout overthrow was claimed by Gailleton, who charged into the Italy 22 and fed Ramos to wriggle over in the left corner. At 19-0 with Ramos' extras, France looked like it might repeat last year's 73-24 win in Rome.

But France loosened up and Italy fired back with a Capuozzo try and a Paolo Garbisi penalty.

The game was stop-start from there. Italy blew six lineouts and compensated with 16 turnovers. Nobody found a gap until Lynagh’s yellow card.

“It wasn't our most complete performance,” Ramos said. “Italy really fought hard, we were not surprised by their intensity. We have two matches left to go and get the title.”

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

France's Charles Ollivon, center, hold s the ball during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

France's Gaël Dréan on his way to score a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Italy's Leonardo Marin, center, is tackled by France's Charles Ollivon during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

France's Emmanuel Meafou, left, scores a try as Italy's Louis Lynagh tries to defend during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

France's Emilien Gailleton, right, goes over to score a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)