Some of the Most Inspiring Quotes from Winter Olympians to Get You Hyped for Winter Olympics 2026 -

There are few events that bring the world together like the Olympic Games. Despite differences in culture, religion, ideology, and politics, it is a time when we can put aside our differences aside and celebrate the athletic achievements of mankind. Though the Summer Olympic games get most of the attention, this holds true of the Winter Olympics as well. While there is a certain amount of national pride that comes from one of your country’s athlete’s bringing home the gold, it is often the individual stories that shine and break through national barriers. From the inspiring story of the Jamaican bobsled team to the quirky tale of Great Britain’s “Eddie the Eagle” who was cheered on not just at home but around the world for his unique outfits and indominable spirit despite placing dead last in every event he competed in.

These are the kind of stories that make the Winter Olympics a must-watch event. It never fails to disappoint with some new incredible story of perseverance that reignites your belief in the human spirit. The Games and its athletes have also provided us with some of the most iconic quotes of all time ever since their reimagining in 1896 under the leadership of Pierre de Coubertin. With the Winter Olympics coming up once again in Milano-Cortina this weekend, here are 25 of the most inspiring quotes from Winter Olympians to get you hyped for Winter Olympics 2026:

1) “Whatever you’re fighting for, you go with full passion and love.” – Michelle Kwan (United States)

Winter Olympic Event: Figure Skating

Number of Appearances: 2

Number of Medals: 2

2) “Mutual respect is an expression of love. I urge teammates to encourage one another. When one teammate contributes in some way, other teammates benefit” – Li Yan (China)

Winter Olympic Event: Speed Skating

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 1

3) “It’s to set clear goals, it’s to set a time and date where that goal can be achieved, and it’s saying it out loud. That’ll increase the possibility of yourself making it happen.” – Lucas Braathen (Norway)

Winter Olympic Event: Alpine Skiing

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 0

If there is one thing Norway knows how to do, it’s dominate at winter sports and at the Winter Olympics, in particular. As some of the most disciplined and accomplished winter sports athletes in the world, it’s never a bad idea to heed the advice of one of their many Olympians. Despite the Scandinavian nation’s relatively small size, they absolutely dominate the Winter Olympics as Norway is the country with the most Winter Olympic medals. Though Braathen hasn’t yet medaled himself, he still has a chance to add to Norway’s impressive medal county at the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. In total Norway has a whopping 405 total medals, absolutely dwarfing the United States in the #2 spot with 330 total medals despite Norway having a fraction of the population as the U.S. Let’s see if they can try to narrow the gap in 2026.

4) “Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before.” – Bonnie Blair (United States)

Winter Olympic Event: Speed Skating

Number of Appearances: 4

Number of Medals: 6

5) “The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it.” – Wayne Gretzky (Canada)

Winter Olympic Event: Hockey

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 0

6) “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 (Nepal)

Winter Olympic Event: Cross-Country Skiing

Number of Appearances: 4

Number of Medals: 0

7) “I know we won silver, but it really feels like we lost gold.” – Margaretha Sigfridsson (Sweden)

Winter Olympic Event: Curling

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 1

8) “I don’t want to hear: ‘you can’t do it’. I don’t believe in limits.” – Eileen Gu (China)

Winter Olympic Event: Snowboarding

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 3

9) “If you’re going to be a mess, at least choreograph your own disaster.” – Adam Rippon (United States)

Winter Olympic Event: Figure Skating

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 1

10) “I thought the dream was up, and it’s here now. Now I see the dream in front of me that I can actually reach.” – Jan Scherrer (Switzerland)

Winter Olympic Event: Snowboarding

Number of Appearances: 2

Number of Medals: 0

11) “For me, it’s important to relax and concentrate on what I want to do.” – Marit Bjørgen (Norway)

Winter Olympic Event: Cross-Country Skiing

Number of Appearances: 5

Number of Medals: 15

Not only does Norway have the most Winter Olympic medals as a country, but they also boast the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time: Marit Bjørgen. Marit Bjørgen is a force in and of herself with an astonishing 15 medals (8 gold, 4 silver, & 3 bronze) across 5 Olympic appearances. Although she no longer competes, she was so dominate in her career that she actually has the third most Olympic medals of all time in either the Summer or Winter Olympics falling behind American swimmer Michael Phelps (28 total medals) and Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina (18 total medals). Pretty impressive, eh?

12) “Focus, discipline, hard work, goal setting, and, of course, the thrill of finally achieving your goals. These are all lessons in life.” – Kristi Yamaguchi (United States)

Winter Olympic Event: Figure Skating

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 1

13) “I ceased to be nervous the moment I stepped onto the sheet.” – Fan Suyuan (China)

Winter Olympic Event: Alpine Skiing

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 0

14) “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 (Slovakia)

Winter Olympic Event: Alpine Skiing

Number of Appearances: 2

Number of Medals: 2

15) “Never try to imitate anyone else. Follow your own path, find something new, something that is yours, and stick with it.” – Ricco Groß (Germany)

Winter Olympic Event: Biathlon

Number of Appearances: 5

Number of Medals: 8

16) “I didn’t set out to beat the world; I just set out to do my absolute best.” – Shaun White (United States)

Winter Olympic Event: Snowboarding

Number of Appearances: 5

Number of Medals: 4

17) “This is the time for me to win the gold medal in China, my home country. I am very happy my people are here with me.” – Qi Guangpu (China)

Winter Olympic Event: Freestyle Skiing

Number of Appearances: 2

Number of Medals: 3

18) “Figure skating is a mixture of art and sport.” – Katarina Witt (East Germany)

Winter Olympic Event: Figure Skating

Number of Appearances: 2

Number of Medals: 2

19) “[Do] not be afraid to try. This is especially true of girls between the ages of 11 and 14, when you see numbers of female participation in sports drop… A big part of this is the sense that sport no longer belongs to you. I would suggest taking up a new sport with your friends and doing it together.” – Eileen Gu (China)

Winter Olympic Event: Snowboarding

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 3

20) “No matter how many people say you can’t do something, use that as inspiration to prove them wrong.” – Michael Edwards (Great Britain)

Winter Olympic Event: Ski Jump

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 0

Let’s be honest, as inspiring as many of these figures are, most of us aren’t going to become elite athletes. Not even close. That’s what makes Michael Edwards so great. He’s one of the few Olympic athletes I think all of us can relate to a little bit. Also known by his nickname “Eddie the Eagle”, Edwards wasn’t a particularly accomplished athlete… in fact, he finished dead last in both events he competed in. He only was able to attend The Games on a technicality as Britain had no other Olympic ski jumpers – allowing him to also set two national records by default at the time. His iconic outfit, indomitable spirit, and relatability made him and his Winter Olympic quotes an inspiration for generations to follow including through a blockbuster movie starring Taron Egerton (Rocketman, Kingsman) and Hugh Jackman (X-Men, Les Misérables).

21) “I believe one of the great challenges today is to rediscover a more serene relationship with sport, including a wellness aspect.” – Deborah Compagnoni (Italy)

Winter Olympic Event: Alpine Skiing

Number of Appearances: 3

Number of Medals: 3

22) “You take a crash, you get back up, and next time you succeed and that’s a great feeling.” – Shaun White (United States)

Winter Olympic Event: Snowboarding

Number of Appearances: 5

Number of Medals: 4

23) “Skating is an amazing form of self-expression. It’s like my soul at play.” – Josée Chouinard (Canada)

Winter Olympic Event: Figure Skating

Number of Appearances: 1

Number of Medals: 0

24) “My mantra has always been to have zero regrets in life. Everything I do at one speed. I go all-out.” – Apolo Ohno (United States)

Winter Olympic Event: Speed Skating

Number of Appearances: 3

Number of Medals: 8

25) “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.” – Adrianna Fontana (Italy)

Winter Olympic Event: Speed Skating

Number of Appearances: 5

Number of Medals: 10

Adrianna Fontana is the most decorated Italian Winter Olympian of all time. Her 10 total medals (2 gold, 3 silver, & 5 bronze) would be impressive for any country but she is a particular point of national pride in her home country of Italy. Is Adrianna Fontana competing in the Winter Olympics 2026? Yes, Adrianna Fontana is expected to compete again in Milano-Cortina. This will be her 6th time representing Italy at the Winter Olympics and is still certainly a contender to add more medals to her total.

The Winter Olympics have been a source of inspiration, humor, and motivational quotes from its athletes ever since its inception. While we all can’t be Olympic athletes, we can all learn something from them. Who knows? Maybe one of these Winter Olympic quotes will inspire you to do something beyond what you could have ever dreamed like Michael Edwards. If you can dream it, you can do it. Let us know if you’re excited to watch the start of Winter Olympics 2026 in Milano-Cortina this weekend.

Some of the Most Inspiring Quotes from Winter Olympians to Get You Hyped for Winter Olympics 2026