A Moment of Agony and Acceptance

The most striking images from the medal ceremonies at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics were the expressions on the faces of the Canadian hockey players. Following their defeats in both the men’s and women’s gold medal games, players received silver medals and a stuffed animal honoring Tina and Milo, the official mascots of the Games.

The reactions were notably somber. Players accepted the stuffed animals, tokens of achievement, with a visible sense of disappointment. As one observer noted, it resembled the agony of defeat.

The Tradition of Olympic Mascots

Every Olympic Games since 1960 has featured a mascot, and the 2026 Winter Games and Paralympic Games are represented by three: Tina, Milo, and The Flo.

Tina and Milo are stoats, or ermines, and embody the Italian spirit of the Games. The lighter-colored stoat (Tina) represents the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, while her younger brother Milo, with his darker fur, is the face of the Paralympic Winter Games, according to the official Milan-Cortina Olympics website.

Their names are inspired by the host cities: Tina from Cortina d’Ampezzo and Milo from Milano.

Beyond the Stoats: Meet The Flo

In addition to Tina and Milo, the Olympics are also represented by a group of six snowdrops known collectively as The Flo. Together, they create a true team! the Olympics page states. They are six curious and irresistible little flowers symbol of rebirth, they never leave their friends and love to have fun even if sometimes this gets them into trouble.

Key Facts About the Mascots

• Tina and Milo: Anthropomorphic stoats representing the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
• Origin: Designed by students at the Istituto Comprensivo Taverna as part of a public poll with over 1,600 entries.
• The Flo: A team of six anthropomorphic snowdrop flowers.
• Symbolism: Stoats represent innocence and purity, with different coat colors symbolizing duality and diversity.