Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
10212 results for "olympic sports"
With the 2026 Winter Olympics approaching, one of the most misunderstood sports on ice offers viewers something rare: a chance to slow down and enjoy athletic grace without the stress. Curling combines strategy, elegance, and unexpected drama in a two-hour meditation you didn't know you needed.
Australia made history at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as the nation's first-ever ski mountaineering athletes competed in the sport's Olympic debut. Phillip Bellingham and Lara Hamilton represented their country in "skimo," a grueling combination of climbing, skiing, and high-speed descents.
UK Sport's open-to-all Talent ID program has turned everyday athletes into Winter Olympic champions, including two skeleton gold medalists who never tried the sport before. Anyone over 17 can apply online to discover if they have what it takes.
The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics just made history with the most spread-out Games ever, featuring opening ceremonies in four different locations and two Olympic cauldrons burning 400 kilometers apart. Athletes chose to march where their sports actually happen instead of trekking hours to a football stadium.
South Korea secured its first-ever multiple snow sport medals at a single Winter Olympics, with veteran Kim Sang-gyeom and teen Yoo Seung-eun both earning snowboarding medals in Milan-Cortina. The historic achievement follows years of infrastructure investment and corporate support sparked by hosting the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. ---
Track legend Allyson Felix is using her business platform to reshape women's sports from the inside. Through two companies, she's backing female athletes and building the infrastructure women's sports needs to thrive.
Norway just won the 2026 Winter Olympics with 41 medals while doing something radical: banning scorekeeping for kids under 12. Their "fun first" approach to youth sports proves you don't need ruthless competition to create champions.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2Fdc%2Fb2%2Fdcb21f7f-8162-492b-9752-bb840d9a1a2e%2Fgettyimages-2203076079.jpg)
Ski mountaineering, a sport born from survival thousands of years ago, will explode onto the Olympic stage for the first time next month. Two American athletes are bringing this grueling uphill-downhill race to the world's biggest winter stage.
France celebrated a breakthrough moment as Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet won the first-ever Olympic gold medal in ski mountaineering's mixed relay event. The Winter Olympics added the high-altitude endurance sport to its program for the first time in 2026, giving athletes a fresh stage to showcase years of dedication.
Great Britain just made history at the Winter Olympics, winning three gold medals for the first time ever. The breakthrough marks a turning point for a nation that's never been known for winter sports dominance.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F3b%2Fd2%2F3bd2ed97-2caf-4239-8b6d-c82a24b99a8c%2F1_-_9ffc38f8-8768-45b0-a2c8-688ac5b22a11.jpg)
Stunning images from the Smithsonian Photo Contest capture everyday athletes embracing ice and snow across the globe. From glacier skating in Alaska to ice fishing in Wisconsin, these photos prove winter sports aren't just for Olympians.
The 2026 Winter Olympics just enforced its first ban on toxic PFAS chemicals in ski wax, protecting athletes and the environment. Three competitors were disqualified after routine testing found the banned substances on their equipment.
Erin Jackson made history in 2022 as the first Black woman ever to win individual Olympic gold at any Winter Games. Now she's fighting to make sure she's not the last. #
Ghana just passed a landmark bill creating a dedicated sports fund to solve decades of underfunding that's held back athletes. The Ghana Olympic Committee says this stable financing will transform how the country develops talent and competes globally.
Olympic Channel executive Benny Bonsu earned recognition as one of Africa's 50 Most Influential Women in Sport for 2025. The Ghana-born media leader joins IOC President Kirsty Coventry and other powerhouses reshaping the continent's sports future.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed unveiled world-class sports facilities featuring Olympic swimming pools, running tracks, and gyms designed to nurture Ethiopia's young population. The project is part of a national development plan that includes building 35,000 nurseries and training five million young coders.
Egypt is transforming 225 acres of Red Sea coastline into a world-class Olympic Village designed to host major international sporting events. The massive complex near El Gouna will feature Olympic-standard stadiums, specialized arenas, and a luxury hotel.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics just wrapped up with record-breaking viewership, the most gender-balanced Games in history, and athletes from 92 nations competing across Italy's stunning venues. Two countries won their first-ever Winter Olympic medals, including Brazil's historic gold.
Jutta Leerdam shattered the Olympic record in speed skating's 1,000m at Milan-Cortina 2026, claiming her first Olympic gold after years of chasing the title. The Games delivered thrilling performances across multiple sports, with defending champions and first-time winners creating unforgettable moments on the ice and snow.
The 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps will make history as the first Winter Games with equal numbers of male and female athletes competing. New extreme sports like freeride skiing and snowboarding will debut alongside expanded figure skating events.
Showing 20 of 10212