Good morning Buttercups.

Today we’ll be discussing all the need-to-know happenings of the Olympics, given the Games’ long-standing, sentimental place in Running On Butter’s heart.

After the 2008 Beijing Games, my little brother Rudy and I set up a “vault” (a plastic picnic table) to work on double pike flips—aka cartwheels—for the next Olympic cycle, which, unfortunately, we failed to make.

But ever since the 2008 games, the Olympics have captured my heart. It’s the one time every four years when I briefly believe in the promise of globalism. Watching athletes march in the opening ceremonies—unified, yet diverse—gets me every time.

Anyway. Enough globalist propaganda.

High infidelity in Norway: Each Olympics brings with it a collection of unexpected side narratives—stories that, at times, become just as captivating as the competition itself. This year’s golden nugget out of Milan? A scandalous confession paired with a public plea for forgiveness.

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid used his bronze-medal moment not just to celebrate athletic achievement, but to seek reconciliation with his girlfriend—admitting he had cheated six months earlier and asking for forgiveness on the world stage.

Predictably, people were quick to judge. Critics said Sturla stole the spotlight from the gold medalist. That it wasn’t the time. That it wasn’t the place.

But here at Running On Butter, we couldn’t disagree more.

It’s Olympic moments like these that crystallize what someone truly believes and what they truly need. And in that rare, emotional window, Sturla chose humility.

Sadly, as of now, his girlfriend isn’t taking him back, according to an anonymous interview with Norwegian media. To this woman, we say: give Sturla a second chance.

Are you really going to judge him for one moment of weakness after a lifetime of obvious discipline and hard work? This is a man who competes in one of the most demanding sports on earth. He skis for miles. He shoots with precision. He performs under impossible pressure. He knows how to handle a rifle. He can protect you. And he seems like he’s learned his lesson.

Running On Butter is rooting for you, Sturla. And we’ll be tracking the latest from Norwegian sports and gossip media to see whether this couple is soon sighted—reunited—in Oslo.

More Norwegian Drama: after building a considerable lead heading into the final slalom run, Atle Lie McGrath missed a gate halfway down the course, instantly ending his Olympic gold dreams.

Instead of finishing the run, he took off his skis and marched toward the nearby woods, where he collapsed into the snow, visibly shaken by the magnitude of his mistake.

It was a raw moment. It reminded me of playing basketball with my brothers. When my older brother Elisha gets flustered after a tough loss and needs a minute alone to regroup before rejoining civilization. High-level competition does that to you.

So, once again, to our Norwegian athletes like McGrath: we see you. We understand you. We’re with you.

But for real—Norway is dominating these Olympics: Right now, they’re beating the United States in total medal count. The Vikings are conquering Milan like they once conquered British monasteries in the 900s.

I stumbled on an article about Norwegian youth sports that caught my attention. Norway doesn’t push kids to be ultra-competitive. They don’t even keep score in many youth games until age 13. The emphasis is on cultivating a “love of sport” and preventing kids from becoming too emotionally invested too early.

In other words: let kids be kids. Sounds nice. Very Scandinavian. Very hygge.

But respectfully, this is not the ROB way. I think kids need to lose. And they should go to bed crying about how they never broke 4:20 in the mile—even though I they trained so hard. But if it weren’t for some kid who tripped me them in the ~~Washington state~~ finals, I they would’ve won.

Anyway.

I’m much closer to a Chinese tiger dad than “everyone’s a winner” type guy. And if Norway’s system is supposed to produce emotionally unshakeable adults, well… I mean, I don’t think Atle Lie McGrath and Sturla Holm Lægreid are the best examples here.

ROB stands with Lindsey: Those who think Lindsey Vonn was foolish or selfish for skiing in Milan with a torn ACL are people who simply don’t understand what it means to be an Olympian.

Do I understand it personally? Spiritually, yes. Physically, no. But given my lifelong love for the Olympics, I completely get why athletes choose to compete, even when they’re injured. Making the Olympics is like winning the lottery. Skipping them is like refusing to pick up the $100 million winning check.

And yet critics online were like: “I can’t believe she would do that!” As if Olympic downhill finals are some casual, optional commitment. Like pickleball night. No. This is the pinnacle of a career. Here at Running On Butter, we stand behind Lindsey’s decision.

(Also: The New York Times ran a great piece explaining how skiing with a torn ACL is actually more doable than most people realize. Worth the read.)

Who Running On Butter does not stand with is Eileen Gu—the American-born, American-raised, American-educated skier who now competes for her mother’s homeland: China.

Right before the last Olympics—where she went on to win three medals—Gu switched from representing the United States to representing China on the world stage. Her stated reason? She wanted to inspire more Chinese girls to ski.

Never mind the reported $6 million in income she’s earned through Chinese state-linked sponsorships and endorsements, including promotional work tied to the Chinese Communist Party, as recently reported by The Wall Street Journal. She wants to inspire Chinese girls!

And, shockingly (not), much of the American media has barely pressed her on what it means to represent an openly repressive regime. Instead, she’s received a steady stream of glowing profiles.

The only semi-serious pushback came from Time, which asked her about competing for China. Her response? She said she hadn’t “done the research” and added, “I don’t think it’s my business. I’m not going to make big claims on my social media.”

Gu studied international relations at Stanford. She must’ve missed the lecture on the ongoing Uyghur genocide.

American figure skater Ilia Malinin completely bombed his free skate. He was hands down the heavy favorite and ended up placing 8th. He took his loss extremely graciously, which was cool.
The USA women hockey team will compete and—if there’s any justice in the world—beat Canada in the gold medal match.
After watching hours of curling, I still don’t know how the scoring works. But it’s still enjoyable to watch. Love seeing the Minnesota dads and moms out here competing.
Mikaela Shiffrin won gold in the slalom. In a press conference before the competition started, she said: “I’m really hoping to show up and represent my own values—values of inclusivity, values of diversity and kindness and sharing.” ROB will happily accept 15% of your brand sponsorships, since you said you’re sharing.
Even though Russia is technically banned from the Olympics because of the war in Ukraine, there are a few Russian athletes competing as “neutral” athletes. Among them is figure skater Adeliia Petrosian, who was not really known before these Olympics. She’s in fifth after the short program and can allegedly land quad jumps in the free skate, which is tonight. Will be watching intently, but rooting for USA’s Alysa Liu nonetheless.
Really enjoying these food reviews from the athletes at the food court in the Olympic Village. The pesto ravioli got a 6.7/10 from U.S. curler Ben Richardson.

Running On Butter

High Infidelity in Norway