Winter Olympics reflections from NPR reporters : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5751x3831+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2F63%2F01882802461b90d9c75dca618ba5%2Fgettyimages-2263013371.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5751x3831+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2F63%2F01882802461b90d9c75dca618ba5%2Fgettyimages-2263013371.jpg" class="img" alt="The Olympic cauldron at the Arco della Pace prior to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on day sixteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Arco della Pace on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy." fetchpriority="high"/> The Olympic cauldron on the Arco della Tempo in Milan on Sunday. Maja Hitij/Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Maja Hitij/Getty Photos A worldwide occasion can really feel like a small world

These have been famously spread-out Olympics, however to me — who largely stayed in a single metropolis overlaying one sport — they felt virtually instantly like a small world. Quickly sufficient, I had my go-to meals spots and most popular transit shortcuts, pleasant bits with venue safety guards and a hilariously excessive variety of Snoop Dogg near-misses (I lastly noticed him sitting rinkside with Martha Stewart and Ilia Malinin, definitely worth the wait). Better of all, I received to know most of the different reporters overlaying determine skating. We spent lengthy, late nights within the trenches: watching the intense highs and lows of competitors, alternately discussing and distracting ourselves as we waited downstairs to speak to athletes. We shared quotes, saved seats and — as soon as — sprinted up a number of flights of stairs simply in time for the following skater to take the ice. And it wasn't simply on the rink; I bumped into a number of compatriots round city, too. I am so grateful for his or her friendship and knowledge, whether or not in regards to the determine skating scoring system or suggestions for salad locations (each are trickier than you'd anticipate).— Rachel Treisman

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5859x3906+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8f%2Ff6%2Fa8342ce7446ebbe75a371f223f49%2Fgettyimages-2262858153.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5859x3906+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8f%2Ff6%2Fa8342ce7446ebbe75a371f223f49%2Fgettyimages-2262858153.jpg" class="img" alt="Kaori Sakamoto of Team Japan poses for a selfie with athletes in the Women Single Skating routine during a Figure Skating Exhibition Gala on day fifteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 21, 2026 in Milan, Italy." loading="lazy"/> Kaori Sakamoto of Workforce Japan poses for a selfie with different determine skaters on the Exhibition Gala on Saturday. Jamie Squire/Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Jamie Squire/Getty Photos Memes have their limits I am used to overlaying the Olympics from afar, which entails conserving a detailed eye on no matter or whoever is abruptly trending (chocolate muffins, "pommel horse man," a sure shirtless torchbearer). However on the bottom, the meme firewall is fairly sturdy. For one, we're not listening to TV commentary at reside occasions, and rights restrictions maintain us from seeing most of NBC's viral tweets and clips. Plus, many of those occasions (definitely determine skating) go late into the evening in Italy, so I am asleep when issues are beginning to take off on-line — and do not have my ordinary period of time to scroll-slash-research anyway. Do not get me incorrect, I've nonetheless gotten to take pleasure in Quinn Hughes' clean stares, Elmo's escalating beef with Rocco and the sleek strikes of the curling ice grasp. However it's been attention-grabbing to see the web's response because the cherry on prime of my viewing expertise, quite than the lens for it.— Rachel Treisman

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4754x3003+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2F8d%2Fa438c6024bf088339dc54d3894de%2Fgettyimages-2262118483.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4754x3003+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2F8d%2Fa438c6024bf088339dc54d3894de%2Fgettyimages-2262118483.jpg" class="img" alt="Mark Messer, Ice Master of the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, looks on as the ice is checked during a break between races on day eleven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy." loading="lazy"/> Mark Messer, Ice Grasp of the Milano Velocity Skating Stadium, watches because the ice is checked between races final week on the Milano Velocity Skating Stadium. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photos Household moments meant probably the most My largest, sort of surprising joys in the course of the Winter Video games have been the moments with household. Elana Meyers Taylor and Kaillie Humphries with their youngsters on the end line of the monobob bobsled competitors. Mikaela Shiffrin talking superbly about her father's loss of life and the way these Olympics helped her study to reside with that loss. Seeing younger athletes with their dad and mom. Seeing the outstanding variety of athletes competing right here with their siblings! I additionally like the truth that these younger athletes appear rather a lot more healthy, mentally and bodily, than after I first began overlaying Olympic sports activities 20years in the past. There's extra of an effort to make this enjoyable, extra assist for his or her psychological well being, rather a lot much less (not zero) grinding strain.— Brian Mann

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3883x2588+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F89%2Fe6b645fb4d16b5d1b3df5646046d%2Fgettyimages-2262011506.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3883x2588+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F89%2Fe6b645fb4d16b5d1b3df5646046d%2Fgettyimages-2262011506.jpg" class="img" alt="Gold medalist Elana Meyers Taylor of Team United States celebrates with a member of her family after winning the Women's Monobob Bobsleigh Heat 4 on day ten of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Cortina Sliding Center on February 16, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy." loading="lazy"/> Gold medalist Elana Meyers Taylor of Workforce United States celebrates together with her household after profitable the monobob warmth 4 final week on the at Cortina Sliding Heart. Julian Finney/Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Julian Finney/Getty Photos The professionals and cons of being far-flung I spent loads of time on streetcars, buses, taxis, trains and strolling … countless strolling … and I've to say all of it sort of labored. It was a ache within the butt typically. There have been days after I thought perhaps I wasn't going to make it residence. However in the long run, Italy managed to string collectively cities and sports activities venues unfold over greater than 8,000 sq. miles, together with a few of the most rugged terrain on earth, and all of it sort of held collectively. I do suppose there are downsides to a extensively dispersed Olympic Video games. It is more durable to dive into completely different sports activities, sampling just a little of this and just a little of that, when occasions are three to 4 hours aside. It is also more durable to rejoice (and occasion) after huge wins when it's important to catch that final bus to your sleepy little mountain city. However the association additionally meant tiny villages within the Alps weren't completely overrun with mobs of individuals. So loads of my skepticism light in the course of the Video games, particularly when buses carried me by excessive Alpine mountain passes, the place the wonder was cinematic.— Brian Mann

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4675x3168+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3d%2F6e%2F916e3e0648288a2d6a8f4c83c45e%2Fgettyimages-2262494505.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4675x3168+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3d%2F6e%2F916e3e0648288a2d6a8f4c83c45e%2Fgettyimages-2262494505.jpg" class="img" alt="MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 19: Jordan Stolz of Team United States competes during the Speed Skating Men's 1500m on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy." loading="lazy"/> Jordan Stolz of the U.S. competes within the pace skating 1500 meters final week in Milan. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photos A brand new golden age for speedskating I knew little about long-track pace skating coming into the Video games, and the game utterly received me over. They give the impression of being so calm, whereas going so quick! Individuals can dominate the game at completely different ages — from 19-year-old Jilek Metodej from Czechia, who received the 10000 meters, to mullet king Jorrit Bergsma, 40, who was uncatchable within the mass begin. Day after day, Olympic information have been smashed, typically twice in the identical race — stunning the skaters themselves, who did not anticipate the ice circumstances to be so dialed-in at a brief rink. The credit score goes to the athletes who, with coaching, refined strategies, vitamin and sports activities psychology, are getting sooner each 4 years. And promising stars like U.S. skater Jordan Stolz, 21, have not reached the boundaries of their potential but.— Pien Huang

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2F84%2F230dbe9d42ad88681fe42caf2c41%2Fgettyimages-2262927824.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2F84%2F230dbe9d42ad88681fe42caf2c41%2Fgettyimages-2262927824.jpg" class="img" alt="MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 19: Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women's Single Skating - Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)" loading="lazy"/> Gold medalist Alysa Liu at her free skate competitors in Milan, Italy. Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Photos The athletes are all proper "Successful is not all that, and neither is dropping. It is simply one thing that occurs," mentioned determine skater Alysa Liu, after incomes gold in ladies's determine skating, "What issues is the enter and the journey." Liu's phrases have been probably the most seen instance of what I heard repeatedly from Workforce USA athletes — satisfaction in themselves for displaying up and doing their greatest that day. Speedskater Erin Jackson was disillusioned to overlook medaling within the 500 meters by 0.05 seconds, "however yeah, that is racing," she mentioned, "I can not management podium spots as a result of that is about how everybody else is [skating] … My private outlook on sports activities and competing is about performing my private greatest." It is a perspective that emphasizes resilience and what a person can management — completely different from the "profitable is every little thing" mentality I recall from watching the Olympics as a '90s child.— Pien Huang

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5313x3529+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2Fc9%2Fb048661541f6a7ae145d0713adc3%2Fgettyimages-2262440104.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5313x3529+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2Fc9%2Fb048661541f6a7ae145d0713adc3%2Fgettyimages-2262440104.jpg" class="img" alt="CORTINA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 18: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This image has been digitally enhanced) Gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin of Team United States celebrates her win following the Women's Slalom Run on day twelve of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on February 18, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy." loading="lazy"/> Gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates her win in ladies's slalom. Julian Finney/Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Julian Finney/Getty Photos A masterclass in perseverance It is not straightforward to be an elite athlete, particularly when your Olympic alternative solely comes round each 4 years. One thing I used to be blown away by repeatedly in these Video games was the perseverance of athletes — particularly ladies — getting back from a devastating setback. The 41-year-old Lindsey Vonn attracted loads of headlines and media consideration earlier than the Video games started due to her genuinely unimaginable comeback out of retirement and again to the highest of the World Cup standings. Her Olympics did not finish the best way she had hoped, in fact, however she mentioned she does not remorse it. And neither does Breezy Johnson, the American downhill skier who badly injured her knee simply earlier than the 2022 Video games and needed to sit out, then received the downhill gold this yr; or Federica Brignone, the Italian star who suffered a grotesque leg break final yr solely to show round and win the super-G and big slalom golds in entrance of her family and friends; and naturally Shiffrin, whose all-consuming grief from the surprising loss of life of her father affected her efficiency in Beijing. "The whole lot in life that you simply do after you lose somebody you like is sort of a new expertise. It is like being born once more," she mentioned after profitable the slalom gold.— Becky Sullivan

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4603x3069+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9f%2Fb6%2F9ec821b34d3f8cbd923460da1685%2Fgettyimages-2262984384.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4603x3069+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9f%2Fb6%2F9ec821b34d3f8cbd923460da1685%2Fgettyimages-2262984384.jpg" class="img" alt="MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Players of Team United States celebrate a 2-1 victory against Canada in overtime for the gold medal during the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy." loading="lazy"/> The U.S. hockey group celebrates profitable the gold medal match towards Canada on Saturday. Elsa/Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Elsa/Getty Photos American hockey is again on prime I received to spend the final 10 days of the Olympics watching the U.S. males's and ladies's hockey groups, and what a blast that was. Canada has all the time been hockey's prime canine, and to look at each of those American groups come away with wins — each with a ultimate rating of 2-1 in additional time — was marvelous. Each gold medals exhibit years of funding in youth improvement and the casting of a wider internet for expertise: The lads's captain, Auston Matthews, is Mexican-American and grew up in Arizona; the ladies's brightest younger star, Laila Edwards, was the primary Black lady to compete for the U.S. Olympic hockey group. The return of NHL gamers to the Olympics paid off with electrical, must-watch TV. The success of the PWHL (thanks in no small half to Workforce USA captain Hilary Knight) means the ladies's gamers can pursue a profession, and the standard of their sport will solely enhance. American hockey is in a terrific place, and the 2 Olympic gold medals are proof.— Becky Sullivan

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2970x4000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2F7b%2F4d2587c94317ab2d73c83802c2a6%2Fgettyimages-2261756943.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2970x4000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2F7b%2F4d2587c94317ab2d73c83802c2a6%2Fgettyimages-2261756943.jpg" class="img" alt="(From L) Silver medallists USA's Gus Schumacher and USA's Ben Ogden celebrate on the podium of the men's team cross country free sprint final event of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Lago di Tesero (Val di Fiemme), on February 18, 2026." loading="lazy"/> The silver-medal celebration for the U.S. on the males's group cross nation free dash: Gus Schumacher, left, and Ben Ogden. Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP by way of Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP by way of Getty Photos American cross-country skiers have rather a lot to be happy with As an avid fan {of professional} cross-country snowboarding, I really like that the game has so some ways to measure success. Certain, profitable races is essential and everybody's purpose, however measuring athletes solely by the place they end in race outcomes is fairly superficial.

That being mentioned, the 2 silver medals the U.S. males received are an enormous, historic accomplishment. They're the all time Olympic efficiency for American males, who've just one different medal, a silver from 1976. Ben Ogden has skilled exhausting for years to get on podiums in an especially aggressive discipline, dominated currently by probably the most superlative expertise the game has seen in a technology, and sure ever: Norway's Johannes Klaebo.

Ogden's silver within the particular person dash, adopted by one other within the group dash with teammate Gus Schumacher, should be celebrated for the wonderful accomplishments they're. They replicate sustained focus and dedication.

Jessie Diggins medaling in her third Olympics is a superb, unprecedented achievement for an American cross-country skier as effectively. Nobody on the group confronted extra strain and expectations than Diggins, and she or he bore up underneath it with attribute class. Past her many profession accomplishments on snow, Diggins has repeatedly emphasised that non-public progress, sustaining good psychological well being and constructing sturdy relationships with teammates are what rely most. She will be able to retire with satisfaction.