Winter Olympics 2026: It’s Your Vibe
By: Addie Waller, Senior Staff Writer
Although the Winter Olympic sports are different from the SJA sports we have, that doesn’t mean that they both have nothing in common. The energetic and hardworking atmosphere of both sports at SJA and the Winter Olympics are actually very similar.
Held in Milan, Italy, the 2026 Winter Olympics was full of exciting events. There were so many memorable games and events that will be remembered for years to come. The Winter Olympics is an international multi-sport event held every four years, featuring competitions in snow and ice sports. This year, the Winter Olympics consisted of 116 events throughout 8 sports. The eight main sports are Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Curling, Ice Hockey, Luge, Skating, Ski Mountaineering, and Skiing.
The first Winter Olympic Games were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France and was originally titled “International Winter Sports Week.” The event was so successful that the International Olympic Committee eventually recognized it as the first Olympic Winter Games in 1926. Before a separate Winter Olympics existed, ice events were occasionally included in the Summer Olympics. Figure skating debuted at the 1908 London Summer Olympics, and ice hockey appeared at the 1920 Olympics. After the 1924 success, the Winter Games were held every four years in the same year as the Summer Games until 1992.
One might be familiar with the infamous opening ceremonies for the Olympics. Winter Olympics opening ceremonies have evolved from modest, chilly beginnings in 1924 to massive, high-tech cultural spectacles. A well-known opening ceremony is Walt Disney producing the first televised ceremony in 1960 and the first split-city ceremony in 2026, showcasing nation’s culture, art, and unity.
One of the biggest wins for Team USA this year, has definitely got to be the men and women’s hockey gold medal victories over Canada. This marked the first men’s Olympic gold victory in hockey since the iconic 1980 “Miracle on Ice” and the first time both U.S. men’s and women’s teams won gold in the same year and against the same team. The “Miracle on Ice” was a famous hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympic, in which Team USA defeated the defending gold medalist Soviet Union 4 to 3 on February 22, 1980. The upset victory is widely considered one of the greatest in sports history. Additionally, the 2026 USA men’s hockey team consisted of two players from the St. Louis area, Matthew and Brady Tkachuck, who went to Chaminade. Furthermore, Alysa Liu is also an athlete who made a statement during the Winter Olympics. She is a figure skater whose performances went viral and won gold, which ended a 24-year USA women’s figure skating gold medal drought. In addition to all of these successes, Team USA achieved an outstanding and historic performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Team USA secured 33 total medals which includes 12 gold, 12 silver, 9 bronze. This marked a new U.S. record for gold medals at a single Winter Games, surpassing the previous record of 10 set in 2002, and placed them second in the overall standings. Overall, the USA had great success on the ice for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Estella Edwards, a freshman, shares her experience during the Winter Olympics this year.
“My dad was watching the Team USA’s men’s hockey match. All of a sudden, I heard my dad screaming from downstairs and then I knew that they won gold,” said Estella.
“IT’s Your Vibe” was the official motto for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The “vibe” of the Winter Olympics connects to the emotions, passion, and energy of the games, which is displayed throughout the different events. Going back to how the Winter Olympics and SJA sports have more in common than one might think, this motto also represents SJA athletics. And although the Winter Olympics have different sports than SJA, that doesn’t mean they don’t share similarities. The passion and energy of everyone who participates in SJA sports, including both players and supporters, is what makes SJA sports so special. Everyone cares so much about their sport and brings the effort and passion that is needed for them and their team to be successful.
Maeve Rose, a freshman, shares her thoughts on SJA sports. “For my first SJA sport, I did cross country. The team had a welcoming atmosphere and I made a lot of friends, but what stood out to me was the effort and energy that everyone brought to the course,” said Maeve.
The Winter Olympics and SJA sports are both alike and different. The Winter Olympics might have completely different sports and athletes, but SJA sports have the determination and passion that many of the Olympic athletes possess. The energy that the supporters and players bring make SJA sports different from the rest. SJA’s “vibe” is one to remember.
