The 2026 Winter Olympics: What We Remember Beyond the Games
By Kate Zogbi
Image by Andrea Castillo
The Olympics are always an interesting viewing experience, as they are a global spectacle that serves as the pinnacle of athletic achievement. But this year felt different. What stood out wasn't the competition itself, but how the athletes responded to one another while competing.
Continued advancements in technology allow viewers to be able to react in real time, questioning what they're viewing and, in turn, shaping the conversation around it. The Olympics have always been much more than just a sporting event, now evolving into a shared viewing experience shaped by audience opinion. This prestigious, often inaccessible event can now play out before viewers' eyes, making the games feel more complex than ever.
That complexity became especially visible in moments like the women’s snowboarding finals, the dynamics within figure skating, and the aftermath of the men's and women's hockey games. Each event came with its own tensions, yet what stays with us is not just performance and medal count, it's how these athletes interact with each other and the audience.
Discourse surrounding the Olympics intensified after the highly anticipated women's Slopestyle finals. The lineup included iconic, seasoned riders who delivered strong, technical runs, yet their scores did not seem to accurately reflect their performance. The course itself was the first problem, with Snowboarder Magazine's Josh Sullivan calling it a "design flaw.” What the rider has to accomplish is intimidating, as the course features three technical rail sections followed by three big jump sections. Here, amplitude was difficult, as the flow felt very stop-start, leaving little to no opportunities to build momentum. This limited these athletes, leaving judges left to evaluate runs that felt unfinished, doing a disservice to some of the best riders on the planet.
The women deserved better; arguably, an apology. Yet they prevailed and showed up ready to compete. The defending gold medalist and top qualifier, New Zealand's powerhouse Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, was the one to watch. Described as a “force of nature,” Zoi faced tight competition, securing the bronze medal position after her first run. Japan’s Mari Fukuda scored an 85.70 on her second run, defining what it was going to take to get on the podium. Stakes were high, and after two more successful runs, Zoi lost by just 0.35 of a point to Mari Fukada. Despite the upset, Zoi left these games the most decorated Olympic Snowboarder of all time. Still, frustration was visible.
Across events, Zoi’s stylish, technically strong runs with high, airy jumps were underscored in ways that many disagreed with. The lack of real time clarity in scoring makes understanding these decisions difficult, and when seasoned commentators are even hesitant at scoring, it's inevitable to sense something is wrong. That, mixed with the athletes being visibly frustrated after their rides, made for a viewing experience that garnered a reaction. Despite frustrations and flawed conditions, these athletes continued to support one other, uplifting each other and supporting the outcome of the competition.
Defending halfpipe gold medalist Chloe Kim was in a similar position. While the conditions were better, and the scoring seemed to be more balanced, the competition was just as fierce. Chloe Kim opened with an awe-defying first run, scoring an 88.0 and setting the tone for the competition. After falling on her first two runs, Choi Goan put down a record-breaking third run, scoring a 90.25 and securing the gold medal. Her mentor, who happens to be Chloe Kim, embraced Goan after her run, stating she felt like a “proud mom.”
The judging may have divided viewers, yet a sense of connection was maintained by the athletes across these events. Unity shined through, and the interactions and support between athletes are what became most memorable.
That sense of connection was maintained throughout the Olympics and was embodied best by superstar figure skater Alysa Liu. After retiring in 2022 and walking away from the sport entirely, Liu is now back on her own terms, reshaping what her relationship with skating looks like. She has emphasized that the most important part of her story is human connection, describing it as something that is “all she wants.” This notion extends beyond her performance.
When asked what she hopes young girls take from her story, it is that they have “limitless potential,” a progressive mindset within a sport defined by pressure and perfection. Her return proved that this mindset can achieve excellence. With a historical performance that earned her two gold medals, Liu didn't just reestablish herself at the top of the sport; she reinforced the idea that connection, authenticity, and mindset play a crucial role in success.
This idea becomes especially compelling when placed alongside Ilia Malinin’s experience. Known as the “Quad God,” Malinin entered the Games as a favorite, helping Team USA secure the gold in the team event. After falling in the men's individual free skate, he finished in eighth place. Days later, with a personal best score, Alysa Liu won the gold medal in the free skate, and Malinin could be seen looking amazed, cheering her on from the audience.
Here, support and inspiration blur the line between competitor and peer. Malinin’s reaction is what is remembered. In a moment where disappointment could have defined his experience, what stands out instead is the support he shows. That sense of connection was further strengthened by the exhibition gala held after medal events. The energy in the room was palpable, with every skater delivering a performance that was memorable.
Alysa Liu’s influence throughout the Games cannot go unnoticed, and after Malinin’s upset in the free skate, the shift in tone during the gala feels significant. His final performance carried a different kind of energy, highlighting expression and artistry, something that echoes the sense of authenticity Liu brought to the ice.
The gold medal win for both the Men’s and Women’s hockey teams led to an awkward series of events. Both games were defined by intensity and near-identical stakes, with each team defeating Canada in nearly mirrored fashion.
The men's game, which was a 1:1 tie for over sixty minutes, was intense. Almost two minutes into overtime, Jack Hughes scored the winning goal, securing another gold medal for Team USA. Days earlier, the women’s team did the same thing. Team Canada scored early in the second period to take the lead. With two minutes left in the game, Hilary Knight scored for the US, sending the game into overtime, where Megan Keller scored the sudden-death goal, winning the gold for the United States. On the ice, the parallels were undeniable.
But what followed shifted the focus. We’ve all seen the clip of Donald Trump on the phone with the men’s team post win, which features an invitation to his State of the Union address, and a sly comment in regards to the women’s team. This debacle introduced a different kind of tension. What should have been a shared moment of celebration became a larger conversation about respect and visibility.
The moment did not stay contained within the sport. It spread across social media and even led to Hilary Knight, Megan Keller, and Jack and Quinn Hughes being featured on Saturday Night Live.
History was playing out before our eyes, with the aftermath introducing tension that extended beyond the sport. This situation is a reminder that the Olympics do not exist in isolation. Even the most unified moments, like two teams achieving the same thing in nearly identical ways, can be reshaped by politics, media, and public reaction.
At the Olympics, the performances still matter, but they are no longer the only thing we remember. What stays with us are the reactions, the support, the tension, and the moments between competitors. As the Olympics evolve, athletes do too; their mindsets shift, along with the expectations they place on themselves. What stands out from these Games is how success can be achieved through connection, authenticity, and support.
