It was a day full of joy and celebration at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Two athletes marked their birthdays in a very special way by winning Olympic medals.
Chinese snowboarder Su Yiming celebrated his 22nd birthday with a gold medal in the men’s snowboard slopestyle event. The competition took place at Livigno Snow Park. After his final run, Su became emotional as he realized it was his last run of the 2026 Olympics and it was also his birthday.
“There’s no better gift for my 22nd birthday,” Su said with a smile. He added that many emotions came to his mind when he understood what he had achieved.
This gold medal is very special for Su. It is China’s first gold medal at these Games and the second Olympic gold of his career. Four years ago, he also stood on the Olympic podium. After winning again, he said he had almost forgotten how heavy a gold medal feels around his neck. On Wednesday, he got that feeling once more.
Meanwhile, Dutch short track speed skater Melle van ‘t Wout also had a birthday to remember. On his 26th birthday, he won the silver medal in the men’s 500m short track race.
He said many people had sent him birthday wishes and told him to make it the best birthday ever. “There was a lot of pressure,” he explained. “But I tried not to think about it. I just focused on skating three good races.”
His calm mindset helped him perform well on the ice and secure a place on the podium.
Winning an Olympic medal is already a dream for any athlete. But winning it on your birthday makes the moment even more unforgettable. For Su Yiming and Melle van ’t Wout, this year’s Winter Olympics brought double celebrations medals and memories they will cherish forever.