United By Olympism: Emotions and Unforgettable Moments in Photos

Olympic Winter Games

14 Jun 2018

United By Olympism: Emotions and Unforgettable Moments in Photos

June 23 will mark the 70th anniversary of Olympic Day; to commemorate that milestone, the International Olympic Committee is celebrating with a campaign entitled “United By”.

The Olympic Winter Games are filled with emotions and unforgettable events that celebrate Olympism. Here is a trip down our own OWG memory lane dotted with some #UnitedBy moments of victory, disappointment, friendship and joy, that are all part of the Olympic experience.

Can You Believe This?Winning an Olympic medal is the youthful dream of every athlete, but only a select few ever experience that moment. The look of joy and exultation on Lukas Hofer’s face as he crossed the mixed relay finish line in the Bronze medal spot at Sochi in 2014 is truly one of those “Can You Believe This?” moments.

Ole in the SnowThe “King of Biathlon” Ole Einar Björndalen is the most-medaled biathlete ever, but the joy of another Gold medal in the snowy Vancouver men’s relay was simply special.

Dasha and the FlagLike her husband Björndalen, Darya Domracheva has a nice collection of Olympic medals with four Gold, one Silver and one Bronze. Yet grabbing the flag to ski home with an Olympic Relay Gold medal for Belarus one of the biggest surprises in Pyeongchang.

Fredrik’s Dream Come TrueLike Belarus, Sweden had never won an Olympic Relay medal of any color until Fredrik Lindström came home in Pyeongchang waving his mini Swedish flag, fulfilling his own “dream come true moment.”

Sharing the MomentBefore the 2010 OWG, Bjorn Ferry had two career World Cup victories on his resume; Vincent Jay had but one on his, ironically the year before in the pre-Olympic World Cup on the Olympic venue. Yet, these two won the first two men’s Gold medals in the sprint and pursuit at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games…and are they happy!

Martin and Jean GuillaumeMartin Fourcade and Jean Guillaume Beatrix were friends and teammates for many years. Then on February 10, 2014, they were suddenly at the finish line of the OWG Men’s Pursuit, as Olympic Gold and Bronze medalists, respectively.

Magdalena and AnastasiyaBiathlon icons Magdalena Neuner and Anastasiya Kuzmina shared the podium for the second time at Vancouver in 2010. In the sprint, both had a single penalty, but Kuzmina won the Gold by a mere 1.5 seconds over Neuner. In the pursuit, they switched spots, this time both with two penalties, but Neuner taking the Gold medal and Kuzmina the Silver medal.

Big EmotionsMarie Dorin Habert had two penalties in the 2010 Olympic Women’s Relay; her Silver-medal French team missed the Gold medal by 32.8 seconds. The then 23-year-old who shot clean in taking the Sprint Bronze medal was inconsolable after her frustrating relay leg.

Klaus on the Shooting RangeBelarusian Coach Klaus Siebert was frustrated knowing his star pupil Domracheva had done everything possible, like shooting clean in the Vancouver Women’s Sprint, but she finished eighth. Siebert was behind the scope and smiling broadly when Domracheva won three Gold medals in Sochi.

Lena and IreneLena Haecki and Irene Cadurisch were jubilant after the Pyeongchang Women’s Pursuit. Neither won a medal, in 8th and 18th respectively, but they were thrilled with personal best performances.

Benedikt’s MedalsIt was pretty hard for 2017 IBU World Sprint Champion Benedikt Doll to hold back the tears after winning his first-ever Olympic medal in the Pyeongchang Men’s Pursuit. A few days later, teammate Erik Lesser was having some fun with Doll as he put on his second OWG medal.

Nadezhda's MomentNadezhda Skardino slumped to the ground after finishing the 2014 Sochi Women’s 15K Individual; she had just shot clean and won an Olympic Bronze medal!

Michal on the PodiumMichal Krcmar was simply ecstatic, dancing on the podium after his Sprint Silver medal in Pyeongchang!

All About the TeamEmil Hegle Svendsen won four Gold and one Silver medal in the two previous Olympic Winter Games. He then added won three more medals in Pyeongchang, but carrying the Norwegian Flag in the Opening Ceremonies was as special as it gets. Note that almost every teammate is capturing the moment on their mobile phone!

Olena’s Pride and JoyLike Svendsen, Olena Pidhrushna has stood atop an Olympic podium, but the smile on her face in the Pyeongchang Opening Ceremonies is filled with nothing but pride and joy.

Celebrating Jakov’s MedalThe small Slovenian team was there celebrating in Pyeongchang when Jakov Fak won the second Olympic medal of his career, Silver in the Men’s 20K individual.

Sharing the JoyMarie Dorin Habert, eight years after her Vancouver tears, shared her joy, singing “La Marseillaise” to the delight of teammates as well as her Norwegian rivals.