【1993 Archives】

After training all your life to become the most powerful athletes in the world993 Archives Olympic medalists are given... a stuffed tiger.

It might seem a bit anticlimactic to viewers, but the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics claim they have a good reason to be handing out plushies in place of medals.

SEE ALSO: Watch this Olympic skater perform to Beyoncé

According to the International Olympic Committee, athletes who place in the top three receive the stuffed tiger immediately after their event, and later receive their medal during the nightly ceremony held at the aptly named Medal Plaza.

This move is typical for the Winter Olympics, but viewers might not recognize it because of its omission at the lengthier Summer Olympics, where it would be too difficult to host nightly medal ceremonies for all of its many events.

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Before the games began, the IOC explained that, “instead of flowers, medalist at the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018 will be given a doll of the Games’ mascot Soohorang.”

If you're reallyinto the Winter Olympics, you can buy your own Soohorang doll online for about $50.

Via Giphy

Each Soohorang presented to the medalists is adorned with a gold, silver, or bronze hat and a paper flower called an uhsahwa, which is “a paper flower that was bestowed to those who passed national exams during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910),” according to the Games' official website. It's a clever way to keep the flower tradition alive while imbuing it with significance for the host country.

The tradition of presenting flowers to victors ended during the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of a larger mission to limit the environmental damage from the games. Although the idea that flowers are the key to curbing environmental waste at the Olympics is a bit misleading, considering the massive structures left empty after just a few days of use.

At least the tiger is cute!

---

Featured Video For You

---

This 19-year-old skiing champ's training routine is straight out of a Spiderman movie

---

• Social Good
• Science
• Life
• Tech
• Entertainment
• Deals
• Games
• Digital Culture

• What cracked the Milky Way's giant cosmic bone? Scientists think they know.
• How to watch 'Moana 2': When is it streaming?
• Wordle today: The answer and hints for February 28, 2025
• Best appliance deal: Save $100 on a future Samsung AI appliance
• Hidden Siri Commands and Unusual Responses
• 'Severance' Season 2, episode 7, explained: What is happening to Gemma at Lumon?
• Save $250 on Shark's 3
• TikTok Creator Marketplace is shutting down and being replaced by AI
• One of Android's Easter Eggs is a Flappy Bird
• Crystal Palace vs. Millwall 2025 livestream: Watch FA Cup for free

• Microsoft, not Amazon, wins $10 billion contract from the Pentagon
• Man wins $200,000 lottery on the way to his last chemo treatment
• Donald Trump just called the media 'the enemy of the American people'
• 2020 candidates finally talk criminal justice reform at two forums. But will anything change?
• Facebook sues alleged WhatsApp spyware developer
• The unfortunate tenacity of the most common piece of litter
• Donald Trump should really learn who April Ryan is
• Prime members can now get Whole Foods delivered with free Amazon Fresh
• 14 times footballers were unintentionally hilarious on Twitter
• The Popeyes chicken sandwich is coming back and it's bringing lots of Chick

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K deal: Get 40% off
• Stuff Your Kindle Day: How to get free cozy fantasy books on Feb. 28
• Get a Smart AcousticPlus acoustic electric guitar for $199.99
• Save $250 on Shark's 3
• WhatsApp launches 'Advanced Chat Privacy' to protect sensitive conversations
• Get a $30 credit when you spend $100 on pet supplies at Amazon
• Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Saprissa 2025 livestream: Watch Concacaf Champions Cup for free
• Best Pokémon TCG deal: Get the 151 Booster Bundle at Best Buy
• Waymo data shows humans are terrible drivers compared to AI
• Afghanistan vs. Australia 2025 livestream: Watch ICC Champions Trophy for free

• NYT Strands hints, answers for May 18
• 'Running Point's Sephora plotline is already a reality in women's basketball
• Stuff Your Kindle Day: How to get free cozy fantasy books on Feb. 28
• Best Pokémon Day TCG deal: Get the Blooming Waters Premium Collection for $59.99
• Meta continues its submission to Trump with new advisor on its board
• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for February 27: Tips to solve Connections #157
• NYT Strands hints, answers for February 28
• Best gaming laptop deal: Save $300 on ASUS ROG Strix G16
• Creator job opportunities grew 7x in recent years [April 2025]
• Best laptop deal: Get $100 off the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 at Best Buy today