Notable quotes from the Milan Cortina Olympics: Feb. 22, 2026

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This article was published 22/02/2026 (186 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MILAN – Here are some notable quotes from the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026:

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“You be the judge of who was the better team today.”

— Canadian hockey forward Nathan MacKinnon, after losing  2-1 in overtime to the United States in the gold medal game.

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“We had lots of chances, I had lots of chances, I missed. You get put in those situations, you have to capitalize on your opportunities, and I didn’t.”

— Canada forward Macklin Celebrini.

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“There were so many opportunities where we could have won that game, but as a team, there’s not much more we could have done.”

— Canada captain Sidney Crosby, who missed the game with a lower-body injury.

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“That’s what the media in Toronto should be talking about. Auston Matthews led us to a championship.”

— American defenceman Quinn Hughes on Auston Matthews, the captain of both the U.S. team and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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“I was that kid. I was the eager kid watching TV, mimicking my heroes. I don’t even really put that into words yet, just the thought that the next generation has something to look up to. This is a nation’s goal. It’s not just a Team USA goal. This is a whole nation’s goal.”

— American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves.

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“For anyone who called us cheaters, for anyone who said negative things about Marc Kennedy, about us, about Canada, about our families, I hope that the image of us standing on top of the podium, embracing one another, smiling ear to ear with our gold medals, is burned into your brain forever.” 

— Brad Jacobs, skip of Canada’s Olympic champion men’s curling team.

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“Honestly, this might be the best day of my life. It’s crazy … I haven’t even talked to my parents yet because it’s been so hectic, but I’m enjoying life right now, and it’s going to be a dream come true. I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

— Short-track speedskating champion Steven Dubois, on being named Canada’s flagbearer alongside long-track gold medallist Valérie Maltais.

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“We just need more girls in our sport, honestly … It’s just freaking scary, so I get why girls don’t want to do it, but there’s just no one coming up to replace if a girl goes down and out.”

— Canadian freestyle skier Amy Fraser, who placed fourth in the halfpipe.

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“The break between the runs is crazy. You have to focus. My secret is to drink some coffees, some espressos here in Italy, so my brain is still focused … Maybe it was too much.”

— Champion German bobsledder Johannes Lochner, on the long break between each run.

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“I stood here with a total darkness inside after the relay. Then, if I think back at the last 50km at a championship, it also ended in a total darkness. So this feels like an incredible revenge.”

Swedish cross-country skier after winning the women’s 50-kilometre mass start, after her disastrous crash cost Sweden a gold medal in the team relay.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2026.