Arts & Culture

Which Winter Olympics mascot deserves the gold?

By Leslie Gonzalez / Web Producer

Published January 23, 2026 at 3:10 PM PST

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Schuss is a little man on skis designed by Aline Lafargue for the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. Lafargue designed the mascot in a hurry, with only one night to create a plan for submission.

Aline Lafargue

Schneemandl (or "Snowman") was the successful creation of Walter Pötsch. Schneemandl wore a red Tyrolean hat typical of the region where the Winter Olympics was held in Innsbruck

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Schneemandl, or “Snowman," was created by Walter Pötsch for the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. He wore a red Tyrolean hat, traditional in Innsbruck, the host city.

Walter Pötsch

Roni was named thanks to the creative minds of the school children of Lake

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Roni was named by schoolchildren in Lake Placid, USA, where the 1980 Winter Olympics were held. The raccoon was chosen as the mascot because it was native to the region.

Don Moss, Capital Sports

The Sarajevo wolf mascot Vučko was chosen through a contest entered by 836 participants. The wolf was chosen

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The 1984 Sarajevo wolf mascot Vučko was chosen through a contest entered by 836 participants. The Bosnia and Herzegovina mascot was chosen to embody courage and strength and symbolize winter.

Jože Trobec

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The Canadian bears, Hidy and Howdy, were chosen to represent Canada at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. The bears symbolize the region's hospitality; thus, Hidy's name comes from the extension of "hi," and Howdy's is short for "how do you do?"

Sheila Scott, Great Scott Productions

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Meet Magique (Magic), a little imp in the shape of a star and a cube. Magique made his debut for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, and is the first mascot since 1976 that wasn't an animal. His shape is meant to symbolize dreams and imagination.

Philippe Mairesse

Haakon and Kristin are the first winter mascots in human form, and are meant to be representations of historical figures from the 13th century. These

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Haakon and Kristin were the first human mascots in Winter Olympics history, created for the 1994 Games in Lillehammer, Norway. They represent historical figures from 13th-century Norway.

Kari and Werner Grossman, based on an idea by Javier Ramirez Campuzano

These interesting, colorful critters are snow owls: Sukki, Nokki, Lekki and Tsukki. The four Nagano 199 owls represent fire (Sukki), air (Nokki), earth (Lekki) and water (Tsukki), representing the four years that make up the Olympic cycle.

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Sukki, Nokki, Lekki, and Tsukki — four colorful snow owls — were the mascots of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Each owl represents one of the four classical elements: fire (Sukki), air (Nokki), earth (Lekki), and water (Tsukki), symbolizing the four years of the Olympic cycle.

Landor Associates

The animals chosen for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics were named as an allusion to Utah's snow, its natural resources and its land: Powder, Coal and Copper.

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The 2002 Salt Lake City, USA Winter Olympics featured three mascots named after Utah’s natural elements: Powder, a snowshoe hare; Copper, a coyote; and Coal, a black bear. Their names allude to the state’s snow, minerals, and landscape, with designs inspired by ancient Utah cultures.

Landor/Publicis

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Neve and Gliz were the official mascots of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, representing fundamental elements of a successful Winter Games. In Italian, “Neve” means snow, and “Gliz” is a nod to the word “ghiaccio,” meaning ice.

Pedro Albuquerque

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Mascots of the 2010 Vancouver, Canada Winter Olympics, Miga and Quatchi, were inspired by West Coast First Nations legends. Miga is a mythical sea bear, part orca and part Kermode bear. Quatchi is a sasquatch who lives in the forest and sports earmuffs and boots.

Meomi design

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The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics featured three mascots — the Hare, the Polar Bear, and the Leopard — symbolizing the Olympic podium. Each was created by a different artist after a nationwide contest in Russia.

Silviya Petrova, Oleg Seredechniy and Vadim Pak

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Soohorang, the white tiger mascot of the 2018 PyeongChang South Korea Winter Olympics, symbolizes protection and strength. The name combines “Sooho” (protection) and “Rang,” from the Korean word for tiger and a local folk song.

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Bing Dwen Dwen, the panda mascot of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, wears an ice shell resembling an astronaut suit — a nod to technology and the future. A colorful halo represents advanced sports tech, while a heart on its paw symbolizes China’s hospitality.

Cao Xue

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Stoat siblings Tina and Milo gear up for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, in this undated graphic. The siblings are playful, curious symbols of Italy’s vibrant and dynamic spirit. They love sports, the outdoors, and having fun — embodying the contemporary Italian lifestyle.

Milano Cortina 2026

Rank the mascots

Here we go again — time to crack those knuckles and vote for your Winter Olympic mascot gold medalist!

International

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Rachel Treisman

Since the first Olympic Winter Games in 1924 in the French Alps, mascots have become a quirky, beloved tradition — just like in the Summer Games. That first-ever winter mascot? A lightning bolt-shaped little ski guy named Shuss, created by Aline Lafargue for the 1968 games. With a two-toned head representing the Olympic rings, Shuss was bold, maybe a bit bizarre, and born under pressure — Lafargue had just one night to submit the design.

This year, we're back with another round of mascot madness ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics next month, and we want to know: Which adorable (or weird) character wins the hearts of San Diegans?

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I’m personally rooting for Milo and Tina, the stoat siblings representing this year’s games.

Check out the contenders below and cast your vote for who you think deserves the gold.

Which Winter Olympics mascot deserves the gold?

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