The Olympics are seen as one of, if not the, pinnacle of sports. Only the best athletes get to compete, so it’s understandable if what we see on TV are athletes at top form. But beyond the fiery spirit of competition and seriousness of high-level sports that have taken over Italy recently for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, there’s also the more fun, personal side to it all that you can find on, among all places, TikTok.
What many of us see as Olympians are still people, after all, and many of them are just as excited to be at the Olympics and share their lives at the Games with behind-the-scenes looks through their videos. It humanizes the seriousness of the competition, shows a side of the Games that we normally wouldn’t have, and teaches us a fun fact or two along the way.
RELATED: Meet the Two Gen Z Filipino Athletes Competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The Free Swag Olympians Get
@tallulahphi.ski SAMSUNG Olympic phone yayayaya thank you #samsung #openalwayswins ♬ Retro Sounds – DreamyBeats
@rhalloran 2 more days till game day 😱 a little haul of all the goodies i’ve gotten so far! #olympicvillage #olympics #milanocortina2026 #femaleathlete #haul ♬ original sound – k.a.r.a.o.k.3
Being an Olympic athlete comes with a lot of pressure. But competing in the Olympics isn’t all sweat and expectations. There are pros to the job as well, such as the fact that athletes in the Winter Olympics get to take home great swag from the Games, including a Samsung Galaxy Flip Seven Olympics Edition that’s engraved with the Olympic logo. Even without a medal, the athletes will still get to keep priceless mementos.
What It’s Like on the Floor of the Opening Ceremony
@h.annahlim What’s in Milan? Just the opening ceremony 🤷♀️ (Ft. Jun our honourable team captain and flag bearer 🙂↕️) #fyp #olympics #milanocortina2026 #openingceremony #olympics2026 @Ye Quan ♬ original sound – no particular order
@phebebekker When you had the camera on you for 60% of the Olympic opening ceremony 🤣 @Anastasia Vaipan-Law #olympic #milanocortina2026 #olympicopeningceremony ♬ original sound – Cotton3611
On our screens, the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics was a grand, Italian spectacle that combined fashion, sports, culture, art, music, and performance for a showstopping number. And for the athletes participating, it was a show they got to watch up close. Not only did they walk in the parade of nations, but they also had seats right on the stadium floor.
A Closer Look at an Olympic Medal
@eileen_gu Found something in Milan #winterolympics #milanwinterolympics ♬ original sound – no particular order
@frigouscigous I just got this olympic gold medal, already broke it
♬ Black Beatles – car.archives.music
An Olympic medal is an Olympic medal, even with early reports of them getting easily damaged at the Games. A medal is a symbol and representation of their hard work and skill, with gold medals alone being made with six grams of pure gold and 500 grams of silver.
Inside the Olympic Village Food Court
@juttaleerdam Let’s eat lunch together 🩵 #Olympics #dininghall #milanocortina2026 ♬ Originalton – Kati
@thesnowbok Couldn’t help but start my canteen exploration in the Italian section. 🍕 🍝 #crosscountryskiing #xcskiing #athlete #milanocortina2026 #nordicskiing @Milano Cortina 2026 ♬ Get Lucky – Stay Groove Band
Olympic athletes are expected to follow a strict and balanced diet to meet the demands of their sport. Thanks to videos shared by a few athletes on TikTok, we know what they are eating, with the Olympic Village’s food court being well-stocked with all kinds of meals, snacks, and drinks to feed top-tier athletes. As for if there is a must-have dessert similar to the Paris Olympics’ famous chocolate muffin, early favorites seem to be the tiramisu and chocolate lava cake. And yes, there is Italian pizza on the menu.
A Day in the Life of an Olympic Athlete
@elenagaskell Day in my life at the Olympics but my coach does a CRAZY voiceover 😂🙏🏼 #olympics2026 #teamcanada #milancortina2026 #dayinmylife #skigirls ♬ original sound – Elena
@maddieschizas First day in the Olympic villa! Will I find my new bf?! Only time will tell 🌟🌟 #milanocortina2026 #olympics #teamcanada #figureskating #athlete ♬ original sound – Maddie
It isn’t just content creators and influencers you can expect “A day in the life” videos from. So can you from Olympic athletes, who have been kind enough to vlog what a day in their special lives is like. It includes, among other things, practice, training, watching the events in person, and getting free merchandise.
Take a Look at the Olympic Kits
@holly_harris Team Australia winter Olympic kit unboxing! #milanocortina2026 #olympics #olympickit #figureskating #teamaustralia ♬ som original – SuperWave RetroHits – Art Bove
@micaruns Maddie ate dowwwwwwn 😌 #milanocortina2026 #winterolympics #jamaicanbobsleigh ♬ original sound – SendAFriend ✨
There are a lot of perks that come with being an Olympian, one of those being how every athlete gets an Olympic kit filled with clothes, accessories, and other free gear to wear and use. Each country has its own Olympic kit, and it’s exciting to see how each nation tailors their national colors and aesthetic to their gear kit.
Olympic Pin Trading
@merle.fraebel I‘am here for the Pins 📌 #olympics2026 #cortinadampezzo ♬ original sound – nj.audios
@phebebekker I’m so happy with my clogs🥹 #olympics #milanocortina2026 #olympicvillage ♬ original sound – Phebe Bekker|Figure Skater🇬🇧
The ice rink and mountain slopes have seen intense competition play out for the world to see. But there’s another competition going around among the athletes that is decidedly friendlier: pin trading. On social media, athletes have been sharing their pin hauls and trading pins with other athletes. Regardless of nationality, you can spot pins on lanyards and jackets with collections that will only grow as the Games go on.
Step Inside the Olympic Village
@holly_harris Day in the life at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan. The on trading has begun!!! Best day everrrr ❤️🇮🇹🫶🏼 #milanocortina2026 #olympics #figureskating #teamaustralia #athlete ♬ Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall – Дхулайаскулчай Ендха @Муска
@zingaskolesnik33 Exploring the Olympic village part 1😋#milanocortina2026 #olympics #icedance #iceskatingtiktok @Samsung @Olympics @Team USA ♬ original sound – Emi and Vadym
Most of us will probably not have the opportunity to step inside the Olympic Village. So, we’ll just have to live vicariously through the athletes’ videos of what living in the famed village is like. From the rooms, amenities, and the fact that athletes can adopt a plant on the village grounds if they want to, being in the village is an experience in itself. They even have a nail salon, makeup studio, and water slide for athletes who are interested in that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Athletes at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics received a range of complimentary items, including a Samsung Galaxy Flip Seven Olympics Edition engraved with the Olympic logo. Each athlete also received a national Olympic kit containing clothes, accessories, and gear tailored to their country’s colors and aesthetic.
The Olympic Village at Milano Cortina 2026 includes a well-stocked dining hall, a nail salon, a makeup studio, and a water slide. Athletes can also adopt a plant on the village grounds. Videos shared on TikTok by competing athletes have offered behind-the-scenes glimpses of the rooms, amenities, and communal areas.
The Olympic Village food court at Milano Cortina 2026 is stocked with diverse meals, snacks, and drinks suited to high-performance athletes. Early fan favorites among athletes sharing their meals on TikTok include tiramisu, chocolate lava cake, and Italian pizza — the latter a natural fixture given the Games’ Italian host city.
Pin trading is an informal tradition at the Olympic Games in which athletes collect and exchange enamel pins from different countries, sports, and sponsors. At Milano Cortina 2026, athletes have been sharing their pin collections and trades on TikTok, with pins displayed on lanyards and jackets accumulating throughout the duration of the Games.
The gold medals at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics contain six grams of pure gold and approximately 500 grams of silver. Early reports noted that some medals were susceptible to damage, though the medals remain significant as symbols of athletic achievement regardless of material composition.
Recommended Video
Latest Posts
Latest Issue
