All the U.S. needed was a solid performance from Chris Lillis, and the Pittsford native delivered, helping Team USA win a gold medal Saturday, Feb. 21, in mixed team aerials at the 2026 Olympics at Livigno Aerials and Moguls Park in Italy.
The U.S. finished first with a score of 325.35, successfully defending their gold medal title. Switzerland won a silver medal with 296.81 points. China earned a bronze with 279.68.
Lillis, 27, who finished eighth in men's aerials on Friday, was paired with Kaila Kuhn, 22, who finished fifth in the women's aerials, and Connor Curran, 21, who finished 12th in men's aerials.
The U.S. team faced stiff competition from a stacked Chinese team with two gold medalists paired with a bronze medalist. But the U.S. athletes were cool under pressure, pulling into the lead on the second jump in the medals round. Meanwhile, China came undone on the second jump, falling into third place.
All Lillis needed to do on his last jump was nail his landing and the U.S. would clinch the gold medal. Instead, Lillis was better than that, delivering a score of 117.19.
The U.S. team finished No. 1 after first round of the final with a combined score of 351.23, followed by China with 315.02, Australia with 289.04 and Switzerland with 278.48. Kuhn put the U.S. in the lead in the first round with a score of 106.89. Curran followed with a fantastic score of 120.36. But it was veteran Lillis who had the best jump, with a score of 123.98.
Bill Wolcott is a producer who helps cover the Buffalo Bills, high school and Rochester sports in general. The lifelong New Yorker has been a journalist for 32 years.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Chris Lillis is golden again at the Olympics in mixed team aerials