​Few moments capture the essence of the American spirit quite like a medal-winning performance at the Olympics. For two Western Pennsylvania athletes who triumphed at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games, the magic lingers five months later, burning brightly in memory.
“It’s literally just a mad rush of how fast you can get on the ice,” said Ava McNaughton, a Seven Fields native who guards the net for Team USA’s women’s hockey team, which earned gold in February. “You can’t not think back and smile about it. It’s truly one of a kind.”
Greensburg’s Jasmine Jones, who earned bronze in the two-woman bobsled, shares a similar recollection. “At the end of our finish, we’re pulling out our American flags to display on our backs; that moment meant the world to me because it was everything I’d ever wanted—to go to the Olympics and represent my country,” she explained.
Life after the podium hasn’t slowed either of them. Jones has returned to her role as a senior airman in the United States Air Force, with the medal serving as fuel for her 2030 Olympic bid in the French Alps. The Pittsburgh area ties keep surfacing in her story: she stores the medal in a custom holder crafted by Johnstown native Daniel Barefoot, who once competed for Team USA in skeleton.
Jones told Channel 11 that their bond grew through sport. “It’s been really cool watching him enter the sport and, in turn, us getting closer, pushing one another,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful friendship.” McNaughton’s gold sits proudly at home as a symbol of achievement and a milestone for a broader movement. She remembers the young girls who filled the Milan venue, their awe reminding her of her own younger self. “They were truly in awe,” she recalled. “It felt like I saw myself in the past. I’m grateful to be able to inspire other girls to look up to and strive toward.”
After the Olympics, McNaughton returned immediately to the University of Wisconsin, where she helped the Badgers capture their third NCAA championship in four years. Yet even with another title on the horizon, her Milan moment remains near impossible to top. “Standing there arm in arm, the medal around our necks—those emotions of patriotism and victory—the moment we came out on top—that was probably the best thing in sports.”
For those who follow these Olympic stories, the Milan triumphs prove that a single moment can echo through a region, linking communities and inspiring the next generation. The two athletes’ journeys—from local rinks to global stages—continue to resonate with fans who witnessed their dedication and the unmistakable spark of the American spirit. As always, updates and breaking news are available through the WPXI News app and on Channel 11’s social channels.