“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” – Pierre de Coubertin (Founder of the modern Olympic Games)
With the 2026 Winter Olympic games underway in Milano-Cortina, we already have some incredible triumphs, heartbreaking stories, and unbelievable upsets. This is already shaping up to be a Winter Olympics to remember – from South Korean snowboarder Gaon Choi dethroning her American mentor Chloe Kim to take the gold; to the controversial decision to disqualify
Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych over his helmet featuring images of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia; to multiple serious crashes by athletes throughout the games. Though it can often be overlooked in comparison Summer Games, the Winter Olympics are a unique display of athleticism that deserves to be celebrated in its own right.
Every since the modern Winter Olympic Games were first held in the French Alps in 1924, they have continued to inspire athletes and everyday people around the world. From ice skating to ice hockey, there is something for everyone. Year after year, the Winter Games have continued to grow in both scope and popularity. Today, a gold medal at the Winter Games is just as prestigious as one from the Summer Olympics. Still, even as a fledgling event, the Winter Olympics have always provided memorable quotes, stories, and feats of tremendous athleticism and teamwork.
From the iconic tale of the Jamaican bobsled team to the underdog triumph of Team USA’s “Miracle on Ice” against the Soviet Union in the midst of the Cold War, the Winter Olympics have always delivered from the very beginning. I’m sure this year will be no exception. Looking back, here are some of the 25 best quotes about the Winter Olympics to help you understand the spirit of the event and its history better:
1) “Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before.” – Bonnie Blair (American speed skater)
2) “I think there is a very big chance I will finish last. But the placing is not important if I can teach young people in Nepal about the Olympic spirit. This spirit is in my heart.” – Dachhiri Sherpa (Indian cross-country skier)
3) “I don’t want to hear: ‘you can’t do it’. I don’t believe in limits.” – Ailing Gu (Chinese Snowboarder)
4) “The first thing is to love your sport. Never do it to please someone else. it has to be yours.” – Peggy Fleming (American figure skater)
5) “When I watch the Olympics I become such an emotional wreck. I’ve always loved the Olympics, be it the Summer or the Winter Olympics.” – Bryn Terfel (Welsh Singer)
6) “Curling is not a sport. I called my grandmother and told her she could win a gold medal because they have dusting in the Olympics now.” – Charles Barkley (American basketball player)
As kind of the younger brother of the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics definitely gets its fair share of clowning. This quote about curling in the Winter Olympics from NBA basketball legend Charles Barkley is no exception. Not exactly known for keeping his opinions quiet, Barkley is sure to have riled up some curling fans with this one. I’d wager a good number of people would pay money to see him strap on a pair of skates, hop on the ice, and throw a few curls himself to see how he stacks up. Regardless of how you feel about curling as a sport, there’s no doubt they have some of the best Winter Olympic fashion of any sport!
7) “To win, you have to risk loss.” – Jean-Claude Killy (French alpine skier)
8) “I assume the only reason we have [the Winter Olympics] so that white people feel relevant in sports. Because other than that the only thing the Winter Olympics show me is which country has more rich white kids. What’s it cost to go skiing? $900 a day? I can’t believe that’s not more popular in the inner cities.” – Daniel Tosh (American comedian)
9) “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky (Canadian hockey player)
10) “I think you need to dream big, and then everything is possible. In sport, you can never give up and have to fight till the end. I am here, and I won at the Olympic Games. This is something huge for me, my country, my family, and my team. We are really happy and proud.” – Petra Vlhova (Slovakian alpine skier)
11) “Sports are a school for daring, energy, and persevering will. By their very nature, the tend toward excess.” – Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic Games)
12) “My mission is to use sport as a force for unity.” – Ailing Gu (Chinese snowboarder)
13) “Never try to imitate anyone else. Follow your own path, find something new, something that is yours, and stick with it.” – Ricco Groß (German biathlete)
14) “Your body can really adapt and do anything you put it through. As long as you’re mentally prepared
to do it, your body will follow.” – Adriana Fontana (Italian speed skater)
In her home country of Italy, Adriana Fontana is an absolute legend. With an impressive 10 total medals (so far), she is the most decorated Italian Winter Olympian of all time. With her qualification for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in her home nation, she has attended an astounding 6 different Winter Olympic Games. She was also the youngest Italian to win a Winter Olympic medal at the age of 15 which led to ger being made a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2006. Fontana is sure to bring more incredible moments to the Games at Milano-Cortina 2026.
15) “Some people attach snowboards to their feet, very few attach them to their souls.” – Shaun White (American snowboarder)
16) “The Olympic Games showed us that with self-discipline and dedication we can be champions.” – Anurag Thakur (Indian politician)
17) “I have learned from the first Olympics, of course. When I went to my first Olympic Games, I experienced all of the pressure and was able to win the gold medal. I try not to feel the pressure, and I try not to be nervous when I am on the ice and when I compete.” – Kim Yuna (South Korean figure skater)
18) “It was my dream to get to those Olympic Games despite everybody saying it was impossible. No 
matter how many people say you can’t do something, use that as an inspiration to prove them wrong.” – Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards (British ski jumper)
One of the best Winter Olympic quotes of all time has to be this one from Eddie Edwards. Edwards was not a professional ski jumper by any stretch of the imagination, but managed to worm his way into the Olympic Games through sheer will and determination. Since early rules around Winter Olympic qualification was lax and Great Britain had no other ski jumpers representing them at the time, Edwards was able to sneak in despite never having competed competitively before. His mismatched equipment and indomitable spirit led to him becoming a fan favorite and the media giving him the nickname “Eddie the Eagle”. The rest is history. They even made his story into a Hollywood film starring Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman. It just goes to show the heights you can soar to when you really put your mind to it.
19) “I know we won silver, but it really just feels like we lost gold.” – Margaretha Sigfridsson (Swedish curler)
20) “If you’re going to be a mess, at least choreograph your own disaster.” – Adam Rippon (American figure skater)
21) “The Olympics is all about inclusion, coming together for sport. That’s the footprint I want to leave.” – Gus Kenworthy (British freestyle skier)
22) “Work hard and control the things that you can.” – Dudley Stokes (Jamaican bobsledder)
23) “Success is won by those who believe in winning and then prepare for that moment. Many want to win, but how many prepare? That is the big difference.” – Herb Brooks (American hockey coach & player)
24) “It’s still the same. The guy or the girl who is doing more, they get a little bit more. If you train hard, then you are better. Talent is thin, like a piece of paper. The rest is hard work.” – Egon Zimmerman (Austrian skier)
25) “Since ancient times, the Olympic movement has carried humanity’s aspirations for peace, solidarity, and progress.” – Xi Jinping (Chinese President)
While we all root for our various nations and homelands, it’s important to note the original and overarching mission of the Olympic movement: peace and unity. These quotes about the Winter Olympics help remind us of that. As much as there is that differentiates us, there is more that bind us together as humans. These feats of skill, strength, determination, and athleticism can inspire anyone regardless of where they come from and that’s a big part of what makes the Games so beautiful. It isn’t just about the gold – it’s about the journey.
So whether you’re rooting for a particular country, athlete, or just watching for the love of the sport, let’s try to take a little bit of that Olympic spirit and implement it into our everyday lives. After all, who couldn’t use a little more peace, unity, and sick flips on a half pipe?
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