My first Winter Olympics memory was Franz Klammer's downhill run in 1976. I was 6 years old. 10 year old me was all in on the 1980 Olympics. Holding my breath watching the Miracle on Ice game, even though earlier I had heard someone call into NYC's WPLJ, 95.5 on your FM dial, shouting, "We beat the Russians!" "The game is so close, what if the caller was wrong?" I kept thinking. I have visited Lake Placid countless times. Gone into Herb Brooks Arena and just soaked it in. In 2002 I applied to be a volunteer at the SLC Games, but one of the questions they asked was, "Do you have a place to stay?" prioritizing people who did over those who might take up hotel space. I LOVE THE WINTER OLYMPICS. And last week, I fulfilled a lifelong dream, spending 5 days in Milan with my wife and 2 sons, ages 20 and 24. USA v Germany Sunday night. The next day 9 hours of trains and busses to get to Livigno, and back, to spend a magical day in the mountains to watch the women's Big Air finals. Then speed skating and short-track speed skating. Was I disappointed the USA men lost the team pursuit finals? Sure, but I was so happy for the man in front of me who rooted on his victorious hometown Italian team. And in the women's final, I cheered nearly as loudly for the Canadian team, and again was so happy for the Canadians in front of me when they won. I can't ski or skate (but I can tube and sled, and shovel snow, which Ive had to do a lot of on Long Island this winter), but like the athletes Ive watched for the last 50 years, I had a dream to make it to the Olympics. For 5 days, 10 year old me lived the dream.
What 2024 and now 2026 taught me more than anything is that my perception of how good an Olympics is is 100% influenced by what time zone it takes place in. 2024 and 2026 were probably as good as 2018 (Pyongyang) or what 2020/21 would've been had fans been there, but the time zone changes just make it so rough.
Anyway, Joe you captured it perfectly, and these athletes plus things like the curling drama, and the 41-year old American finally winning gold in bobsled, made me more of a Winter Olympic-stan than ever before. Already can't wait for 2030 in the Alps.
I think you are right about the time zones. Being able to watch live competitions rather than just edited packages makes all the difference and is so much better. For two weeks I turned on my TV at 11 a.m. every day and didn't turn it off again until they ended the live coverage in the early evening. (For the men's hockey final I didn't get up at 8 but just turned the game on in progress when I got up at 9:30.) When I had to go out I recorded what I wanted to see and then watched later, so I would see the live version. I can't remember the last time I watched so much of one Games. It was fantastic!
There was a moment when Alysa Liu was hugging Ami Nakai, who had just won the bronze, and pulled out of the hug to check that she was okay (having come into the final in first from the free skate), determined that she was indeed happy, and hugged her some more. And Amber Glenn, who had completely blown the short program and then skated the skate of her life in the final, seeing silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto, who was having an emotional moment because she probably had seen the end of her dream of Olympic gold end, being approached by a cameraperson, basically standing in between the cameraperson and her friend to make sure she could have her moment in private.
Like in the Godfather when Al Pacino exclaims that he thought he was out and they pulled him back in. I'm moved to tears when a 36 year old veteran woman's speed skater wins her first ever medal, a bronze, in her final race as an Olympian. She is overwhelmed with joy for that third place medal. I'm moved by a Brazilian and a Mexican who win the first ever medals for their countries in ski racing. Just like Joe's writing we get caught up in the stories. I think that Is why we watch.
And then you see great athletes make great plays... do amazing things. And we're hooked all over again. My kids loved how the freestylers were all rooting for each other. Is there any better possible demonstration of sportsmanship?
While I found the women’s Olympic hockey of more interest to watch as it went along than the men’s - who were after all a team of hardened “pro’s” - I was nevertheless struck by their excitement and exuberance when the US scored in OT to win the gold medal: they were almost indistinguishable from a gang of college kids when they poured onto the ice at the conclusion. That says something about the almost-magical effect the Olympics can have. And then there are the figure skaters, the slalom winner taking a moment to commune with her passed-on father…(and don’t get me started on the Curling, and the way that grabs me every four years!).
It's such a pleasure to read your column every day and learn more about the sports we love and about ourselves and our families and our world. But today... what's to be said? You have taken an event that we all watched, but, somehow you appreciate it through a human, fun, and somehow even spiritual lens, and then distill it with language and humor that makes it transcendent. Wow! Thank you.
Joe identifies what is so special about the Winter Olympics for most of us - these athletes show us what can be done to turn Winter into the sports season, not the off season. Only a small percentage of Americans get to grow up near a ski mountain (unlike most of the Italians). But many Americans change their zip codes to include living near mountains. Sure, the sports aren't on TV often, but you won't find happier athletes than mountain bikers, skiers/snowboarders and even those brave climbers with the "skins" on their skis in ski mountaineering. Remember, sports are fun to actually do, not just watch. We all ought to consider more individual sports, where we don't need to coordinate with 5 or 9 or 18 other busy humans, just to enjoy exercise. And no Joe, cross country skiing doesn't have to be as difficult as you describe - try a lesson in skate skiing.
Seeing the winners standing on the podium while their anthem is played - even from other countries- makes me cry a little. I get pretty emotional about it all.
One moment that nearly brought me to tears was seeing the USA men's hockey team include Gaudeau's jersey and bring his two young children in the team photo.
Yeah. I watched that on repeat about five times and had tears streaming down my face. I have an eye condition that makes my tear ducts not work properly, so if I cry from emotion I actually get a health advantage, so it was doubly great to watch.
My wife and I record and watch as much of the Olympics as we possibly can, summer and winter, because you never know when you will see something miraculous done by athletes that toil in relative obscurity. Something magnificent. This is the only piece I have read that captures the essence of that. I am now going to watch Alysa Liu skate again.
My first Winter Olympics memory was Franz Klammer's downhill run in 1976. I was 6 years old. 10 year old me was all in on the 1980 Olympics. Holding my breath watching the Miracle on Ice game, even though earlier I had heard someone call into NYC's WPLJ, 95.5 on your FM dial, shouting, "We beat the Russians!" "The game is so close, what if the caller was wrong?" I kept thinking. I have visited Lake Placid countless times. Gone into Herb Brooks Arena and just soaked it in. In 2002 I applied to be a volunteer at the SLC Games, but one of the questions they asked was, "Do you have a place to stay?" prioritizing people who did over those who might take up hotel space. I LOVE THE WINTER OLYMPICS. And last week, I fulfilled a lifelong dream, spending 5 days in Milan with my wife and 2 sons, ages 20 and 24. USA v Germany Sunday night. The next day 9 hours of trains and busses to get to Livigno, and back, to spend a magical day in the mountains to watch the women's Big Air finals. Then speed skating and short-track speed skating. Was I disappointed the USA men lost the team pursuit finals? Sure, but I was so happy for the man in front of me who rooted on his victorious hometown Italian team. And in the women's final, I cheered nearly as loudly for the Canadian team, and again was so happy for the Canadians in front of me when they won. I can't ski or skate (but I can tube and sled, and shovel snow, which Ive had to do a lot of on Long Island this winter), but like the athletes Ive watched for the last 50 years, I had a dream to make it to the Olympics. For 5 days, 10 year old me lived the dream.
What 2024 and now 2026 taught me more than anything is that my perception of how good an Olympics is is 100% influenced by what time zone it takes place in. 2024 and 2026 were probably as good as 2018 (Pyongyang) or what 2020/21 would've been had fans been there, but the time zone changes just make it so rough.
Anyway, Joe you captured it perfectly, and these athletes plus things like the curling drama, and the 41-year old American finally winning gold in bobsled, made me more of a Winter Olympic-stan than ever before. Already can't wait for 2030 in the Alps.
I think you are right about the time zones. Being able to watch live competitions rather than just edited packages makes all the difference and is so much better. For two weeks I turned on my TV at 11 a.m. every day and didn't turn it off again until they ended the live coverage in the early evening. (For the men's hockey final I didn't get up at 8 but just turned the game on in progress when I got up at 9:30.) When I had to go out I recorded what I wanted to see and then watched later, so I would see the live version. I can't remember the last time I watched so much of one Games. It was fantastic!
Joe‘s passion and writing always remind me why great writing still matters in our cynical, tech-oversaturated world ❤️
There was a moment when Alysa Liu was hugging Ami Nakai, who had just won the bronze, and pulled out of the hug to check that she was okay (having come into the final in first from the free skate), determined that she was indeed happy, and hugged her some more. And Amber Glenn, who had completely blown the short program and then skated the skate of her life in the final, seeing silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto, who was having an emotional moment because she probably had seen the end of her dream of Olympic gold end, being approached by a cameraperson, basically standing in between the cameraperson and her friend to make sure she could have her moment in private.
Like in the Godfather when Al Pacino exclaims that he thought he was out and they pulled him back in. I'm moved to tears when a 36 year old veteran woman's speed skater wins her first ever medal, a bronze, in her final race as an Olympian. She is overwhelmed with joy for that third place medal. I'm moved by a Brazilian and a Mexican who win the first ever medals for their countries in ski racing. Just like Joe's writing we get caught up in the stories. I think that Is why we watch.
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo <--> Tadej Pogacar
FROGs? GOATs?
What say Joe?
And then you see great athletes make great plays... do amazing things. And we're hooked all over again. My kids loved how the freestylers were all rooting for each other. Is there any better possible demonstration of sportsmanship?
While I found the women’s Olympic hockey of more interest to watch as it went along than the men’s - who were after all a team of hardened “pro’s” - I was nevertheless struck by their excitement and exuberance when the US scored in OT to win the gold medal: they were almost indistinguishable from a gang of college kids when they poured onto the ice at the conclusion. That says something about the almost-magical effect the Olympics can have. And then there are the figure skaters, the slalom winner taking a moment to commune with her passed-on father…(and don’t get me started on the Curling, and the way that grabs me every four years!).
It's such a pleasure to read your column every day and learn more about the sports we love and about ourselves and our families and our world. But today... what's to be said? You have taken an event that we all watched, but, somehow you appreciate it through a human, fun, and somehow even spiritual lens, and then distill it with language and humor that makes it transcendent. Wow! Thank you.
Love this so much, Joe! My kids and I had a blast watching these Olympics.
Joe identifies what is so special about the Winter Olympics for most of us - these athletes show us what can be done to turn Winter into the sports season, not the off season. Only a small percentage of Americans get to grow up near a ski mountain (unlike most of the Italians). But many Americans change their zip codes to include living near mountains. Sure, the sports aren't on TV often, but you won't find happier athletes than mountain bikers, skiers/snowboarders and even those brave climbers with the "skins" on their skis in ski mountaineering. Remember, sports are fun to actually do, not just watch. We all ought to consider more individual sports, where we don't need to coordinate with 5 or 9 or 18 other busy humans, just to enjoy exercise. And no Joe, cross country skiing doesn't have to be as difficult as you describe - try a lesson in skate skiing.
Seeing the winners standing on the podium while their anthem is played - even from other countries- makes me cry a little. I get pretty emotional about it all.
One moment that nearly brought me to tears was seeing the USA men's hockey team include Gaudeau's jersey and bring his two young children in the team photo.
Yeah. I watched that on repeat about five times and had tears streaming down my face. I have an eye condition that makes my tear ducts not work properly, so if I cry from emotion I actually get a health advantage, so it was doubly great to watch.
Beautiful how thank you
Aw man, Joe, don't make me cry again
My wife and I record and watch as much of the Olympics as we possibly can, summer and winter, because you never know when you will see something miraculous done by athletes that toil in relative obscurity. Something magnificent. This is the only piece I have read that captures the essence of that. I am now going to watch Alysa Liu skate again.