They’re the Olympic mascot plushies and other symbolic soft toys that athletes receive as part of the Games’ tradition, mainly as collectibles, ceremony props, and souvenirs of winning.

What those stuffed animals actually are

  • They’re plush versions of each Games’ official mascot (for example, Soohorang the white tiger at PyeongChang 2018, Miraitowa at Tokyo 2020, Tina the stoat for Milano‑Cortina 2026).
  • Athletes often get them on or around the podium as a stand‑in for medals and flowers, especially when medals are awarded later at a separate ceremony.
  • Organizers also sell the same mascots to fans as souvenirs, making them highly collectible merchandise.

Why do athletes get stuffed animals instead of flowers?

  • Practical reasons: medals are sometimes awarded in a different ceremony, so the plush acts as a safe, photogenic object athletes can hold on the podium.
  • Symbolism: each mascot is designed to embody the host country’s culture and the “spirit” of that edition of the Games.
  • Memorabilia: only a limited number of athlete‑ceremony versions are made, so they become prized keepsakes and even valuable collector’s items years later.

A quick history snapshot

  • The mascot idea started informally earlier, but the first official Olympic mascot was Waldi the dachshund for Munich 1972.
  • The practice of giving stuffed mascot toys on the podium dates back to the 1976 Montreal Games, with plush Amik the beaver.
  • Since then, every Games has introduced new characters (animals, creatures, or stylized figures) that get turned into plush toys for athletes and fans.

What about the latest Olympics?

  • For the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano‑Cortina, the official mascots are Tina and Milo , a pair of stoats representing a lively, modern Italian spirit; they’re already sold as plush toys and used widely in branding.
  • Teams sometimes bring their own unofficial plush mascots too, like Poland’s viral pierogi plush at the 2026 Winter Games, which travels with athletes and shows up in broadcasts and social posts.

Forum‑style quick take

“Those stuffed animals on the podium? They’re basically the cuddly faces of each Olympics – part medal‑prop, part national branding, part future eBay gold for collectors.”

TL;DR: The stuffed animals at the Olympics are plush versions of the official mascots (and sometimes teams’ unofficial mascots), given to athletes as symbolic prizes, photo‑friendly medal stand‑ins, and highly collectible souvenirs tied to each specific Games.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.