President Donald Trump hosted more than 120 Team USA Winter Olympians and Paralympians at the White House on Aug. 6 to celebrate their record medal haul at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games.
Key Facts:
- Team USA secured 57 total medals, including 12 gold, the most gold medals won by the U.S. in a single Winter Games.
- The Paralympic team brought home 13 gold medals, tying its best performance in two decades, and won a fifth consecutive sled hockey gold.
The event in the Rose Garden included athletes from multiple sports, such as figure skating, curling, luge, speed skating, bobsledding, snowboarding, and alpine skiing. Approximately 40% of Team USA’s Winter Olympians and Paralympians attended, with others unavailable due to training commitments for future competitions.
Athletes Recognized
Trump highlighted several teams, including the men’s and women’s Olympic hockey squads, which both defeated Canada in overtime. He also praised the Paralympic sled hockey team for extending its dynasty with a fifth straight gold medal. Jordan Stolz, a speed skater who won gold, was noted for placing his medal around Trump’s neck at a June rally in Wisconsin.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated that the reception aimed to celebrate the athletes’ achievements, calling their performances a display of “American excellence.” The event followed the U.S. delegation’s historic medal count, which included the most medals ever won by Team USA at a Winter Games held outside North America.
Paralympic Success
The Paralympic team’s performance was particularly notable, with 72 athletes competing across five sports and securing 24 medals, including 13 gold. Their success in sled hockey marked a continued dominance in the sport, a feat Trump described as “one of the greatest dynasties in all of international sports.”
Attendance and Training Commitments
While many athletes attended, some were absent due to preparations for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. A White House official noted that those unavailable were already in training cycles for future Games.
The reception underscored the administration’s emphasis on honoring athletic achievement, with Trump framing the event as a celebration of “patriotic athletes” who “showed the world American excellence.”