Canadian hockey fans won’t soon erase the image of Team Canada’s hockey stars, stoic, but visibly crushed after losing both Olympic gold finals to the U.S. On the brink of tears, some staring off into the distance, no doubt replaying every moment of the game until…they’re handed a plush toy.
In what is turning out to be an amusing turn of events, Tina the stoat, one of the official Milan Cortina 2026 Games mascots, is making for hilarious twist to the otherwise painful silver-medal ceremonies for both teams.
As is customary, medal winners receive their hardware, as well as a plush stoat (a member of the weasel family) for their sweat and tears on ice, and let’s just say — Canada’s most elite hockey players aren’t exactly happy to see them.
The Canadian men’s hockey team accepted the toys gracefully but with confusion, and maybe a hint of resentment and disgust, reminiscent of footage from the women’s final days earlier.
The moment reignited an ongoing debate around the strange optics of watching elite athletes lose Olympic gold and then immediately being handed a plush toy for their woes.
“Congratulations, here’s your weasel,” an Instagram user joked in the comment section of a video post showing the Canadian women’s hockey team being handed their plush stoats while looking devastated from having lost the gold medal to Team USA.
“‘Hey! Thanks for your participation!'” another user mocked in the comments.
“Emotional support plushy 🥲,” chimed in a third.
Some social media users leaned into the absurdity:
“I would laugh so hard if I got handed that damn 😂 Like lemme cry to my teddy,” read a comment.
‘”Labubu for you.. Labubu for you,”‘ said another.
‘Much better than flowers’: Some on the internet see more value in plushies
The awkwardness of the moment aside, the stuffed animals seem to be a hit with some who find the stoats to be a better token of remembrance than flowers, which have long been serving a special meaning for medallists at the Summer Olympics.
Viewers participating in the online discussion defended the tradition of giving athletes Tina the Stoat.
“You haven’t been paying attention. Every medalist in every sport received one,” noted an observant online user.
“The kids & pets are going to love the stuffy! Much better than flowers,” said another.
“I’d rather that than flowers that will die before I get home,” wrote a third.
What exactly is Tina the Stoat?
Tina, a stylized stoat, is a small weasel-like mammal native to parts of Eurasia and North America. It lives in colder regions like the Italian Alps and is known for its coat turning from brown to white in the winter. It is one of the official mascots of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Athletes competing at the Olympics are given a Tina plush along with “The Flo,” a smaller companion character.
King Philippe of Belgium, Queen Mathilde and Princess Eleonore pose with mascots Tina, left, and Milo as they visit the Olympic Village during the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Daniel Munoz/Pool Photo via AP)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
While the offering is meant to serve as a whimsical memory of the distinctive achievement marked by Olympians and is uniquely Italian, the symbolism may come across as unintentionally ironic when placed in the hands of athletes who just watched gold slip away. In such a moment, a stuffed stoat may no longer just be a souvenir, but a snapshot of the strange emotional whiplash that only the Olympics can deliver: the highest stakes in sport, followed immediately by a teddy bear.
What do you think?