Our Favorite Moments From the 2026 Winter Olympics
Over the course of two weeks, many of the best athletes in the world converged in Italy for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. As the biggest winter sports event in the world, the Italian slopes and ice rinks saw the best of the best compete in displays of Olympic athlete-level prowess and talent for a coveted spot on the podium and an Olympic medal. This year’s Games had no shortage of memorable moments that had everyone talking, from athletes breaking records to more lighthearted moments that show how the Olympics can be fun, too. It was a Games to remember, and as it comes to a close, we rounded up some of our favorite highlights from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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Tallulah Proulx Making History
At just 17 years old, Filipino-American Tallulah Proulx wasn’t just basking in the achievement of competing in her first Olympic Games, but also in the fact that she was making history as the youngest Filipino and first Filipina to compete at the Winter Olympics. Ultimately, Tallulah finished 52nd in the giant slalom event and 50th in the slalom event, but it’s still an effort worth celebrating. And together with Francis Ceccarelli, the two proudly represented the Philippines at the Games.
Alysa Liu’s Iconic Comeback
If there was a star of the 2026 Winter Olympics, there’s a strong case to be made that it was American-Chinese figure skater Alysa Liu. It should be noted that the Gen Z athlete retired from the sport after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, only to return a few years later, but under her terms, which resulted in her claiming the world title last year.
Alysa continued her hot streak when she bagged two gold medals at the Games, notably becoming the first Olympic women’s figure skating champion from the US since 2002. And the best part is that she did all that while staying true to her beliefs, personality, and artistry. It goes without saying that Alysa Liu is one of the coolest women in the world right now.
The Opening Ceremony Honoring Giorgio Armani
The opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics was a grand, Italian spectacle of culture, art, music, and performance. But it also took the time to honor the late great Giorgio Armani. That manifested in the form of sixty models dressed in white, green, and red who formed the Italian flag. It also featured the appearance of Italian supermodel Vittoria Ceretti, who was dressed in a custom white Armani Privé gown.
The Tiramisu Guy
@jonas.hasler Missed slopestyle finals by a couple of spots but my Italian fam who adopted me took good care of me 🫶🏼 🇮🇹 #tiramisuman #wintersport #milanocortina2026 #olympics ♬ GTA San Andreas Theme (Remake) – Ben Morfitt (SquidPhysics)
If the 2024 Paris Olympics had the chocolate muffin man, the 2026 Winter Olympics had the tiramisu guy. That distinction went to Swiss snowboarder Jonas Hasler, who went viral on social media for his vocal appreciation of the Italian dessert that was served at the Olympic Village. And honestly, we don’t blame him for how he gets to enjoy authentic tiramisu from its origin country for free.
Amber Glenn’s Display of Sportsmanship
“Dude I know it’s their job but they will get all up in your business when you clearly need space it’s wild”
— Amber Glenn Updates (@AmberGlennDaily) February 20, 2026
͢ Amber’s comment on a TikTok of her comforting Kaori Sakamoto after her free skate.
🎥: antonausberlin
pic.twitter.com/lzH6wsQsI9
American figure skater Amber Glenn can hold her head high knowing that she has a gold medal at the Games, becoming the first openly queer woman to do so in Olympic figure skating. But as the true champion that she is, Amber was also spotted helping her fellow athlete out when she was seen comforting Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto after her free skate. She even told the cameraman to stop filming her, knowing that she was in a vulnerable state.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen Makes History
Since tropical countries never experience snow, seeing athletes from the region not only compete but also win at the Winter Olympics is an accomplishment worth celebrating. Such is the case with Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. He earned a spot in the history books when he won the gold medal in the men’s giant slalom, making it Brazil’s first gold medal at the Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics Gold medal for a South American country, and the first ever Winter Olympics gold medal for a tropical country. Now that’s how you do it.
The Exhibition Gala
In case you didn’t know, at the end of the Winter Olympics, the organization holds a figure skating exhibition gala where athletes are free to perform whatever they like without the pressures of competition and scores. This year, the athletes took advantage of that with lighthearted performances, such as Olympic gold medalist Misha Shaidorov skating while dressed in a panda costume, which concluded with him getting a hug from Jackie Chan, and Alysa Liu skating to PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s Stateside remix. But we also want to highlight Niina Petrokina’s creative Cell Block Tango performance, which included appearances from Ilia Malinin, Junhwan Cha, and Tim Dieck as Niina’s “victims”.
Olympic Pin Trading
@phebebekker I’m so happy with my clogs🥹 #olympics #milanocortina2026 #olympicvillage ♬ original sound – Phebe Bekker|Figure Skater🇬🇧
The hottest competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics? Pin trading. While the ice rinks saw plenty of action, it was outside the events that saw an equally competitive competition take place in the popularity of pin trading among the athletes. Pin trading is nothing new at the Olympics, but this year felt extra special in how many Olympians shared their pin hauls and adventures to acquire rare pins from other athletes.
Johannes Klaebo’s Record-Breaking Run
The Olympics truly is the home of the world’s best athletes. Case in point: Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Klæbo. The 29-year-old athlete didn’t just score one or two gold medals, but six gold medals at the 2026 Winter Games from the men’s cross-country skiing events. With the feat, he became the first athlete to win six gold medals in a single Winter Olympics. He also holds the record for the most Winter Olympic gold medals for a single athlete at 11, and is just second to Michael Phelps in most Olympic gold medal wins for any athlete in history. They’re called Olympians for a reason, after all.
Olympians Having Fun on Social Media
@h.annahlim Our first hockey game… kinda nervous #foryoupagе #olympics #milanocortina2026 #hockeytiktoks #hockeytok @QuadGod @Holly ♬ Someone To Call My Lover – Janet Jackson
Who says Olympic athletes can’t have fun? The Olympic Games have a reputation for being a serious affair, and rightfully so, given the stakes and pressure on the line. But that doesn’t mean athletes can’t loosen up. They are still people, after all, who are excited just to be at the Olympics. And over the course of the Games, many athletes took to social media to share their experiences on site, lighten up, and just be around other athletes and friends, showing us a more relatable side to them and the Games overall.
Featured Image and Photos: OLYMPICS (via Webstie), ESPN PH (via Instagram), ALYSA LIU (via Instagram), GIORGIO ARMANI (via Instagram), LUCAS PINHEIRO BRAATHEN (via Instagram), JOHANNES HOSFLOT KLAEBO (via Instagram)
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Our Favorite Moments From the 2026 Winter Olympics
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