The Olympics are often thought of as the ultimate showcase of athletic skill, endurance, and determination, drawing approximately 5 billion viewers worldwide who root for their country’s teams.
Viewers across the globe tune in to support their national teams or favorite athletes. But beyond the medals, personal records, and podium celebrations, the Games offer unexpected insights for the business world. Recent stories from the 2026 Winter Olympics from a ski legend competing through injury to a flag-bearer standing by his principles over placing for a medal, these athletes illustrate lessons in risk management, ethical decision-making, the value of supportive networks, leadership, and staying true to your mission — lessons that every business, from startups to multinational corporations, can take to heart.
Pushing Through Isn’t Always the Answer: Lindsey Vonn’s ACL Decision
Lindsey Vonn, a legendary alpine skier for Team USA, faced one of her toughest challenges yet: competing in the downhill just nine days after tearing her ACL. Her determination was admirable as she aimed to stage a major comeback after retiring in 2019. But 13 seconds into the race, she crashed, highlighting that grit alone cannot overcome real-world limitations.
For businesses, Vonn’s story is a cautionary tale. Ambition is essential, but pushing forward without preparation or ignoring risks can be costly. Launching a new product before the team is ready, ignoring market signals, or overextending resources can lead to costly, yet preventable, failure.
Business lessons:
- Strategic Risk Management: Ambition and determination are important, but businesses must assess risks before moving forward. Launching a product or campaign prematurely can have costly consequences.
- Know When to Pivot or Pause: Sometimes the smartest decision is to delay, iterate, or pivot rather than pushing ahead blindly.
- Preparation Matters: Success isn’t just about willpower — it’s about readiness, resources, and timing. Businesses should ensure teams and projects are adequately prepared before taking big leaps.
Transparency Matters: Sturla Holm Lægreid’s Unintended Confession
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid won bronze in the men’s 20km individual biathlon, but his post-race interview made headlines for a different reason than him celebrating his win: he accidentally confessed to cheating on his girlfriend. Although his performance earned him a medal and he later expressed regret, the misstep highlighted how public statements can have lasting consequences, regardless of intent.
Businesses face similar challenges every day. A miscommunicated message, a poorly timed social media post, or an ethical lapse can quickly escalate into a reputation crisis causing the loss of loyal and prospective customers, as well as potential contracts. In the age of instant news and viral moments on social media, transparency and ethical clarity are more critical than ever.
Business lessons:
- Integrity is Key: Ethical lapses, even accidental or minor, can damage reputation. Businesses should embed integrity into decision-making at every level.
- Think Before You Speak (or Post): Public statements can have unintended consequences. Employees and leaders need guidance on communication, especially in high-stakes situations.
- Build Systems for Accountability: Processes and protocols help prevent missteps and allow for quick, transparent responses when mistakes occur.
Support Systems Amplify Success: Madeline Schizas’ Professor’s Flexibility
Canadian figure skater Madeline Schizas faced a different kind of challenge: balancing academics with Olympic competition. She asked one of her professors at McMaster University for an extension on a class assignment and received not only approval, but encouragement as he watched her compete. That support in the form of an extension allowed her to focus on her Olympic performance while maintaining academic responsibilities back home.
In business, this story illustrates a fundamental truth: people achieve more when they feel supported. Flexible policies, mentorship, and understanding managers can unlock performance, creativity, and loyalty. Just as Schizas could excel on the ice with a supportive professor granting flexibility to complete her assignment, employees thrive when organizations accommodate priorities, provide adequate resources, and foster trust.
Business lessons:
- Invest in supportive culture. Whether it’s mentorship, flexible work arrangements, or accessible leadership, empowering your team creates better outcomes.
- Encourage managers to balance performance expectations with empathy, recognizing personal challenges that may impact productivity.
Leadership and Adaptability: Rich Ruohonen’s Olympic Debut
54-year-old American curler Rich Ruohonen demonstrates another dimension of business insight: leadership and adaptability. Ruohonen, a personal injury lawyer and a top curler, was tapped as an alternate for the 2026 Olympics. Despite Ruohonen being the oldest US Olympian he seamlessly stepped into a leadership role, mentoring younger teammates, managing logistics, and providing critical support that allowed the team to perform at its best.
Business lessons:
- Leadership Isn’t Just About Being in Front: In business, leaders can empower teams by providing mentorship, advice, and problem-solving support behind the scenes.
- Adaptability Creates Opportunity: Businesses should remain flexible, leveraging talent and resources when unexpected opportunities arise.
- Mentorship Strengthens Teams: Senior employees in companies can accelerate growth and development for junior colleagues, improving overall performance.
- Support Roles Are Strategic: In business, operational support roles — from project coordination to office management — are essential to ensure teams succeed.
Purpose Over Profit: Vladyslav Heraskevych’s Stand
Ukrainian skeleton racer and Ukraine flag bearer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet honoring Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the war. Despite his disqualification, Heraskevych said that some things are “more important than medals.”
Businesses can draw powerful lessons from his decision. In a world focused on growth, revenue, and metrics, it’s easy to compromise values for short-term gain. Heraskevych’s story illustrates that staying true to your mission and core principles can matter more than immediate success.
Business lessons:
- Purpose drives long-term loyalty and credibility. Companies that prioritize mission-aligned decisions often cultivate trust with employees, customers, and partners.
- Aligning decisions with values may occasionally mean sacrificing short-term metrics, but it reinforces culture and reputation.
- Mission-driven organizations differentiate themselves and attract like-minded stakeholders.
Practical Applications for Businesses
How can organizations translate Olympic lessons into actionable strategies?
- Risk Assessment Tools: Use scenario planning, pilot testing, and “red flag” evaluations before launching products or initiatives.
- Ethical Guidelines and Crisis Planning: Establish protocols for decision-making and public communication; train teams on handling sensitive situations.
- Employee Empowerment Programs: Offer mentorship, flexible schedules, and resources to maximize individual and team performance.
- Leverage Experience: Senior team members can mentor younger employees, sharing knowledge and smoothing operations.
- Purpose-Driven Strategy: Define core mission and values clearly; let them guide decisions, even when short-term trade-offs exist.
- Storytelling and Recognition: Highlight both individual and collective achievements to inspire and engage employees and customers.
Conclusion: Gold-Medal Lessons for Business
The Olympics celebrate human achievement, but they also reflect timeless lessons about decision-making, integrity, collaboration, leadership, and purpose. Lindsey Vonn’s crash, Sturla Holm Lægreid’s accidental confession, Madeline Schizas’ supportive professor, Rich Ruohonen’s last-minute leadership, and Vladyslav Heraskevych’s principled stand all demonstrate that success is a combination of preparation, ethics, support, adaptability, and values.
For businesses, the message is clear: assess risks carefully, prioritize integrity, invest in supportive culture, leverage experience, and stay true to mission-driven principles. Organizations that embrace these Olympic lessons are not merely chasing short-term wins — they are building sustainable, long-term success.
