“The Olympics is one of the only times I actually feel patriotic and root for our country wholeheartedly,” freshman Grace White said in a survey about the 2026 Olympic Games.
The U.S. team trail-blazed at the 2026 Olympics, with many athletes breaking records and defying odds. As Americans, this year’s Olympics mark a proud moment in history.
Yet, what do the Olympic Games really mean to Americans and, specifically, to students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville? Through a survey, UT students provided their opinions on the games and whether they followed them.
Slightly more than half — 55.6% — of UT students who responded watched this year’s Olympics.
78% of students surveyed believe the Olympics unify the world.
“It’s a way that we can all come together to celebrate something, in this case the athletes, and we can put certain differences aside to support someone who represents us,” freshman Zoe Mandel said.
White also believes that the Olympics unified the world in addition to celebrating our country.
“Yes, it’s a cultural moment that brings people across the globe together and promotes unity,” White said.
Students also believed that the Olympics showcase the talent of female athletes, promoting female empowerment.
“That women in sports is everything and always will be. Women are so fearless and amazing,” junior Marissa Hunt said.
Mandel also agrees.
“It’s one for the women,” Mandel said. “I didn’t watch (the Olympics), but I’ve been seeing all of the stuff on social media, and the moments that have stood out to me were Alysa Liu winning gold, (and) how a majority of the medals won for the U.S. were by women.”
Many students reported that the U.S. men’s gold medal triumph against Canada, led by the Hughes brothers, stood out to them.
“It was super cool to see the Hughes boys win because I think their mom paved the way for them and was an exceptional athlete!” senior Lily Berger said.
The student claimed that their other favorite moment from the games was Alysa Liu’s gold medal win, marking her return to high-level skating.
The majority of students reported figure skating as their favorite sport — other students listed ice hockey, ski jumping and snowboarding as their favorites.
The U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams both won gold medals against Canada, among many other victories for the team.
Jack and Quinn Hughes, brothers and teammates on the U.S. men’s hockey team, led the team to victory, making the gold medal even more special.
Mikaela Shiffrin won gold in the women’s slalom, becoming the fourth American to win three gold medals in any sport, after a heartbreaking year at the 2022 Olympics, where she won no medals.
Also, the U.S. cross-country skiers finally made the podium after 50 years of winning no medals, with Ben Ogden winning a silver medal in the men’s cross-country skiing. Ogden also won a silver medal in the men’s team sprint with Gus Schumacher.
Alysa Liu won gold in women’s single figure skating after retiring from skating for a year and a half. Losing her love for the sport after the 2022 Olympics, Liu returned to normal life, where she found a sense of freedom and joy. She then decided to return to skating with her new carefree outlook on life and took home the gold.
