It was a triumphant day for the U.S. at the 2022 Winter Olympics as Team USA recorded its best single-day medal haul so far in Beijing to make a big move up the leaderboard.
The U.S. captured four medals on Monday, winning gold and silver on the bobsled track and adding bronze medals in figure skating and freestyle skiing.
Not to be outdone, the U.S. women’s hockey team won it’s semifinal match, putting the defending Olympic champions back in the gold-medal game against their arch rival Canada.
TV SCHEDULE: What and how to watch Monday night and Tuesday morning events
TEXT WITH US: Sign up for USA TODAY’s Olympics texts to get the latest updates and behind-the-scenes coverage from Beijing
OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT: Track the hardware in Beijing by country
Tuesday’s events include both the women’s and men’s final in snowboard big air, plus the women’s freeski slopestyle final. Mikaela Shiffrin heads back to the slopes to compete in the women’s downhill.
But perhaps most eyes will be on women’s individual competition in figure skating, where Russia’s Kamila Valieva, who tested positive for the heart drug trimetazidine, is expected to compete after the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision that Valieva should not be suspended.
MONOBOB TRIUMPH: Kaillie Humphries, who a little more than two months earlier gained U.S. citizenship, earned the gold medal in the first ever monobob competition. U.S. teammate Elana Meyers Taylor brought home her fourth career Olympic medal with the silver.
Both Humphries and Meyers Taylor battled for more opportunities for women’s bobsled, and monobob was added to the Olympic program for 2022
“It’s a testament to our will and our strength and how hard we’re willing to fight for something,” said Humphries.
THE LAST DANCE: Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue won a bronze medal in ice dancing in what should be their final Olympics. The triumph comes years after their off-ice relationship ended, but they decided to stick together for the sake of competing for more titles.
“There’s no feeling like skating with the perfect partner,” Donohue said. “And I’ve been very fortunate to have that.”
FIRST TIMER FLIES: Megan Nick scored a bronze in women’s aerials, putting up big score on her final jump in her Olympic debut. China took gold and Belarus silver. Four-time U.S. Olympian Ashley Caldwell finished just off the podium in fourth. She’s not leaving Beijing without a medal though – last week, she won the mixed team aerials gold with teammates Christopher Lillis and Justin Schoenefeld.
GOLD-MEDAL REMATCH: The United States women’s hockey team did what they needed to do and beat Finland 4-1 in the semifinals. Goalie Alex Cavallini made 25 saves, and Hilary Knight recorded a goal and an assist as she continues to break records.
Team USA wil next take on Canada for the gold medal on Wednesday. Canada defeated the U.S. in an early round during these Olympics, but the Americans are the defending goal medalists and beat Canada in a shotout in the 2018 PyeongChang games.
STUNNING DECISION: Russia’s 15-year-old superstar Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned drug less than two months ago, but on Monday the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled she is allowed to compete in the women’s individual event. Valieva is favored to win gold in the women’s competition leaving many in the figure skating comunnity angray and dismayed.
“What a slap in the face the CAS decision was for every athlete everywhere who has done the right thing, who has asked to be tested more to prove they are not cheating,” writes USA Today’s Christine Brennan.
NO MEDAL STAND: IOC will not hold medal ceremony for team figure skating event after Kamila Valieva ruling
Chasing Gold is USA TODAY Sports’ Olympics newsletter. Sign up here for updates from Beijing straight to your inbox.
And don’t forget to sign up for our Sports Newsletter as well for coverage of everything else going on in the world of sports during the Olympics and after we say goodbye to Beijing.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chasing Gold🥇: Best day in Beijing? US gets massive medal haul Monday