The 2026 Winter Olympics mainly took place in Milano and Cortina, Italy, throughout February 4 to 22. The Winter Olympics are full of unexpected turns, surprises, and many emotions that the athletes feel during the games. Despite the results, athletes always find a way to inspire many people.
Competitions are always filled with unexpecteds-getting a result that athletes weren’t satisfied with, or making something happen that they didn’t even expect, either good or bad. Whether it was Amber Glenn’s unexpected stumble in Women’s Singles Figure Skating or Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara’s surprising result in Pair Skating, both went through a journey of unpredicted ups and downs.
Many athletes overcome the ups and downs, with some not only thriving but inspiring and creating messages to their fans and audience.
One of the athletes who inspires others is Chloe Kim, a snowboarder who is a three-time Olympic medalist. Kim won her third Olympic medal in the Women’s Halfpipe this year, winning silver.
A Freshman at Skyline High School, Natalie Perez, is a snowboarder who looks up to Kim. Perez says, “She has taught me many tricks on the halfpipe. Even though I fell a couple of times, I have never given up. […] She has built my snowboarding life.”
Although Kim dislocated her left shoulder right before this year’s Olympics, Perez is excited to see what awaits Kim after the Games.
Another Skyline Freshman, Aditri Tiwari, also admires an Olympian. “Alysa Liu’s comeback has motivated me to not give up. During her first few times skating again, she didn’t land all her jumps,” Tiwari says. “She had a lot to catch up to by the Olympics, but she thrived her way through and made it, instead of just quitting.”
Liu competed in her second Olympic Winter Games this year, winning two gold medals in Women’s Singles Figure Skating and the team event. For Women’s Singles, Liu brought home a gold medal for the United States for the first time in 24 years.
Tiwari also talks about how athletes have an impact on her daily life. “Watching so many different events in the Olympics, it makes me want to try and challenge them,” she says. “It kind of pushes me to try new things, even if they seem like something I can’t reach. […] I want to take that first step and experience something that I normally wouldn’t have had.”
Not only do the Olympics give the audience a showcase of the world’s most talented athletes, but they also give athletes of future generations an uplifting support. Perez says, “I definitely recommend that other people watch the Olympics. […] I believe that during competitions, making friends on the way is something that really supports and leads you along the way.”
