Freestyle skiers Connor Curran, Kaila Kuhn and Christopher Lillis represented the U.S. in the big air, bold tricks mixed-team aerials event.
WASHINGTON — Three U.S. freestyle ski competitors rose to the top of the podium Saturday during the mixed team aerials final, winning back-to-back gold for Team USA.
The win sets a new record for the U.S., with 11 gold medals earned during a single Winter Games. The previous record was set in 2002 during the Salt Lake City Olympics. There are 38 more medal events this year than there were in 2002.
The U.S. trio of Connor Curran, Kaila Kuhn and Christopher Lillis performed a remarkable series of near-perfect soaring jumps and bold mid-air tricks, earning them a final score of 325.35.
The Switzerland team took silver with a final score of 296.91 points, and China claimed bronze with a final score of 279.68.
Australia finished fourth in the final group, with a score of 256.04.
The U.S. won gold in the event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Lillis, who teamed with Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld four years ago, is the only member of that trio who returned to compete in the same event in 2026 Winter Games. This is his second time at the Olympics.
Kuhn also competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, but Curran made his Olympic debut in the 2026 Games. Both are taking home their first Olympic medals.
How is mixed team aerials scored?
The freestyle skiing competition of mixed team aerials is a technical jumping competition.
Skiers race down a track with a large jump that launches them into the air, where they are expected to perform a trick. Athletes are judged based on their technical execution during that trick, according to FIS.
A team consists of three athletes, with at least one man and one woman.
Scores are judged by three main components: air, form and landing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.