Let the Olympic Countdown – and the Mentor Moments – Begin!
As teams announce their rosters and athletes land in Milan, the Olympic countdown has officially begun!
And next gen athletes are watching.
With eyes glued to uniform unboxing reels, behind-the-scenes videos and how-I-made-it-here posts, Olympic and Paralympic athletes are filling our feeds with inspo and joy…we’re already cheering ourselves hoarse.
Indeed, Être girls have been fascinated by the road to the Olympics for years – sending in questions to ask favorite athletes even before they were shared on social media. From our interview with paralympian Emma Schieck before Paris to another with Sunny Choi when breakdancing entered the games, girls asked questions and champions answered.
They went behind the scenes to hear about Simone Biles’ first glimpse of a gym, Suni Lee’s health battles and when Katie Ledecky met young swimmer and Être BFF Maddi Lowry. And we spotlit more Olympic mentor moments and talked about why they mattered.
Now this week, Être girls are stopping mid-scroll to see another epic mentor – Australian freestyle skier Abbey Wilcox – announce her spot on the Olympic roster. Why are our smiles so wide? Because in our second book, The Epic Mentor Guide, Abbey gave prescient and powerful advice to Olympic hopefuls about exactly what’s happening now:
Seeing the words she shared with girls four years ago placed side by side with last week’s announcement reminds us how long Olympians keep the flame of their passions alive and how thrilling every Olympic first remains:
Like the fact that Laila Edwards will become the first Black woman to play winter Olympic ice hockey for Team USA…
Like the fact that Tallulah Proulx, the 17-year-old Alpine skier, will become the first woman ever to represent the Philippines at the Winter Olympics…
Like the fact that Amber Glenn will become the first openly queer USA singles skater…
Like the fact that Hilary Knight will become the first USA hockey player (man or woman) to participate in five Olympic games.
Equally thrilling are the pivots and returns:
Like Molly Carlson returning to the Olympics not as a Canadian high diver but as a behind-the-scenes content creator focusing on mental health…
Like Chloe Kim returning to the games and eyeing a third consecutive halfpipe gold medal despite recent shoulder injuries…
Like Lindsey Vonn returning to the slopes amid spectator signs reading “Lindsey Vonn, you’ve already won!”
All of them have.
From hopefuls like 18-year-old figure skater Isabeau Levito, whose childhood dreams video went viral three days ago to veterans like Vonn, by joining forces in Milan this week all of them have won.
And the next gen is watching and waiting.
Rumor has it that the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will, for the first time in history, feature more women than men. Will some of these medal hopefuls by the same young women sitting in gyms, cheering from dorms and standing atop couches as the Opening Ceremonies commence next Thursday?
I’d count on it.
Because that’s how champions are forged - when torches are passed, literally and figuratively, from one generation to another.
Looking forward with joy and awe,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: Three more ways to follow next week's start to the Olympics you won't want to miss: this chart of country by country games, the NBC Olympics home page, and tips from TIME. More to come!
