How this trailblazing group laid the blueprint for modern emergency medical services | Feb. 13, 2026

Summary

From the snowy slopes of Cortina, Italy, CNN reporter Cooy Wire covers the thrilling first week of the 2026 Winter Olympics, highlighting historical moments, Olympic firsts, and heartwarming stories. Norway, Italy, and Team USA are vying for the lead in the medal count, while athletes like Jordan Stoles and Breezy Johnson make history. The segment also touches on the environmental impact of a Lego spill in 1997 and the groundbreaking achievements of the Freedom House Ambulance Service in Pittsburgh. Plus, a fun shout-out to high school students and a look at Olympic skier Henry Rivers IV and his triplet sisters.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 2026 Winter Olympics are taking place in Cortina, Italy, with exciting moments from the first week.
• 😀 Norway, Italy, and Team USA are competing for the overall medal count lead.
• 😀 Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladeslav Horeskovich was disqualified for wearing a helmet depicting athletes killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.
• 😀 American speed skater Jordan Stoles made history with a gold medal in the 1,000 meters, breaking an Olympic record older than him.
• 😀 Ski racer Breezy Johnson won a gold medal and received a proposal from her boyfriend at the Super G finish line.
• 😀 Team USA curlers Corey TC and Corey Dropkin won the first-ever mixed curling medal for the U.S. and made history in the sport.
• 😀 Corey TC became the first American woman to win an Olympic curling medal, highlighting her role in inspiring young girls in the sport.
• 😀 Curling is a physically demanding sport, involving intense lunges, sweeping, and precise movements, which requires strength and endurance.
• 😀 The February 13th, 1997, Lego incident saw millions of Lego pieces lost at sea, sparking a global beachcombing phenomenon.
• 😀 The Freedom House Ambulance Service in Pittsburgh, led by black paramedics in the 1960s, revolutionized emergency medical services in the U.S.
• 😀 Henry Rivers IV from Jamaica competes in alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, supported by his triplet sisters, who cheer for him from the stands.

Q & A

What is the historical significance of Cortina, Italy in the Winter Olympics?

Cortina, Italy is historically significant as the site of the first televised Winter Olympics in 1956, marking a major milestone in Olympic broadcasting. This year, the 2026 Winter Olympics are also being held there, 70 years later.

Who is Vladeslav Horeskovich, and why was he disqualified?

Vladeslav Horeskovich is a Ukrainian skeleton racer who was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics due to his helmet featuring images of fellow athletes killed in Russia's war against Ukraine.

What historic achievement did Jordan Stoles accomplish at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Jordan Stoles, a 21-year-old American speed skater, won his first Olympic medal, a gold in the 1,000 meters, setting a new Olympic record that had stood for longer than he had been alive.

What special moment happened for skier Breezy Johnson during the Olympics?

Breezy Johnson, a skier who already won a gold medal, received a marriage proposal from her boyfriend at the finish area of the Super G event.

What achievement did Team USA curlers Corey TC and Corey Dropkin make at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Corey TC and Corey Dropkin made history by winning the United States' first-ever medal in mixed curling. Additionally, Corey TC became the first American woman to win an Olympic curling medal.

What is the significance of the Freedom House Ambulance Service in Pittsburgh?

The Freedom House Ambulance Service, founded in the 1960s in Pittsburgh's Hill District, was groundbreaking in establishing modern emergency medical services (EMS) by training paramedics to provide pre-hospital care, significantly improving the response time and survival rates.

What environmental issue was highlighted by the 1997 Lego bricks lost at sea incident?

The incident where a cargo ship lost over 5 million Lego pieces at sea in 1997 highlighted the growing problem of plastic pollution in the oceans. The Lego pieces washed ashore for decades, sparking environmental awareness.

How did Lego bricks end up scattered across beaches around the world?

After a cargo ship lost a container filled with nearly 5 million Lego pieces in 1997, ocean currents carried the pieces to beaches around the world, where beachcombers began finding and reporting them, creating a global phenomenon.

What was the impact of the Lego shipping incident on ocean pollution awareness?

The Lego shipping incident became a symbol of plastic pollution in the ocean. Environmentalists use it to illustrate the long-lasting impact of plastic waste, as the Lego pieces can take centuries to decompose and release harmful chemicals.

Who is Henry Rivers IV, and what makes his Olympic journey unique?

Henry Rivers IV is representing Jamaica in alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics. His journey is unique because he is supported by his triplet sisters, who also ski, though only one qualified for the event, while the others are cheering him on from the stands.