2022 Winter Olympics Recap: major highlights, events & medal results

The 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing came to a close Sunday, February 20th. Let’s take a look back at a few of the major highlights, achievements, and results.

Figure Skating

15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva took the news by storm after testing positive for a drug/doping test, later cleared by the Olympic Committee to continue competing. This news flooded the media not too long after her record-breaking performance—becoming the first woman to land a quadruple jump at the Olympics. Despite this scandal, there was still much to commemorate on the ice. 

Image Credit: The New York Times

Russia obtained 4 medals out of 5 events, Japan securing 4 medals, and the United States’ three medals each within three events. 

With Nathan Chen and his gold medal win, the U.S. earned its most medals in figure skating in 20 years. Chen became the first Asian American man to win a medal in figure skating singles, breaking Yuzuru Hanyu’s world record of 111.82 in the short program with a score of 113.97. Chen also holds world records in the free skate category.

Snowboarding

This year’s Winter Olympics were extra special in snowboarding, as the infamous Shaun White of the U.S. made his final mark—ending in 4th place for the men’s halfpipe. Chloe Kim returned reaffirming her title, winning her 2nd gold medal in the women’s halfpipe. Kim is now the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the halfpipe. 

Japan’s Ayumu Hirano landed the first two clean triple corks in history winning two silver medals in the event, and gold in the men’s halfpipe. Hirano now has many claiming he’s one of the greatest snowboarders of all time. 

With Lindsey Jacobellis of Austria winning two golds, the U.S. and Austria tied in medals, each with three golds and a silver. 

Alpine Skiing 

Switzerland secured 5 gold medals in alpine skiing. This is the first time a nation has combined for as many victories in Alpine skiing at a single Winter Games. 

Italy’s Sofia Goggia made a remarkable return after partially tearing her ACL suffering only 3 weeks earlier, taking part in the women’s downhill and winning silver. 

The renowned U.S. skier Mikaela Shiffrin shocked the world walking away with no medals—crashing out on her first run of arguably her best event (the giant slalom), as well as her second event (the slalom). Shiffrin however, has brushed this off with the support of her teammates, spreading the message that sometimes things don’t work out the way you may have expected. 

Freestyle Skiing

Image Credit: New York Post

U.S.-born 18-year-old Eileen Gu secured a historic three medals representing China at her first-ever Olympic Games. The U.S. team collected a total of eight medals in Freeski

China claimed four gold medals and two silver with wins in the individual aerials events and Gu’s wins in halfpipe and big air. Gu won silver in slopestyle, as well as China’s mixed aerials team as the U.S. took gold. 

Gu’s two gold medals and silver made her the first-ever athlete competing in freestyle skiing to earn three medals at one Olympics.

Featured Image Credit: The Today Show