Reports From IG: @Olympics
As the winter holidays draw to a close and the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics wrap up, I find myself reflecting on the past few weeks. It’s been an incredible season of winter sports, capped off by an absolutely thrilling ice hockey final that kept me on the edge of my seat. But the most unexpected takeaway for me this time wasn’t just the games themselves—it was Eileen Gu.
I have a confession to make: back during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, I wasn’t really a big fan of hers. I recognized her talent, of course, but I didn’t pay much attention to the hype. Fast forward to Milan, and I am completely, deeply inspired by her.
What changed my mind was a recent press conference. After enduring a grueling schedule and securing two silver medals, a reporter threw her a tricky question: “Do you see these as two silvers gained or two golds lost?”
Instead of getting defensive, she let out what I can only describe as a magic laugh. It was genuine, confident, and utterly disarming. She then delivered a masterclass in mindset, bluntly stating that the “two medals lost situation” is a ridiculous perspective to take.
Her defining quote struck a chord with me: “I am doing things that quite literally have never been done before. And so I think that is more than good enough.”
That level of mental fortitude and absolute clarity about one’s own worth is contagious. As the holiday ends, it’s time for me to get back to reality. The upcoming months are going to be a grind—the TOEFL test is right around the corner this spring. The road to a master’s degree in Tokyo won’t be easy, and there will definitely be moments of self-doubt.
But whenever I feel overwhelmed by the pressure or other people’s expectations, I think I’ll remember that magic laugh. As long as I am pushing my own boundaries and doing things I’ve never done before, that is more than good enough. The holiday is over. Let’s get to work.
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