Adorable stoats named Tina and Milo are stealing hearts at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. These cute stuffed animals represent something bigger: resilience, diversity, and a vibrant Italian spirit. Learn why these tiny creatures became Olympic icons.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Species: Stoats (Mustela erminea), also called ermines or short-tailed weasels in the weasel family.
- Names: Tina represents the Olympic Games (named after Cortina d’Ampezzo), Milo represents Paralympics (named after Milan).
- Designers: Created by students at Istituto Comprensivo di Taverna, Italy, winning 53 percent of over 1,600 public entries.
- Companions: Six snowdrop flowers called The Flo symbolize hopefulness, resilience, and triumph over winter challenges.
Meet Tina and Milo, the First Gen Z Olympic Mascots
Cagliari faces Lecce tonight in Serie A showdown, Rossoblu seek top-half push
Girona faces Barcelona tonight in La Liga showdown, Barcelona chases lead
Tina is the cheeky Olympic mascot with a white ermine coat who left Italy’s mountains for city life. She loves protecting nature while exploring new adventures. Her younger brother Milo is the Paralympic mascot with a brown summer coat and an inspiring story: born without one paw, he uses his tail to walk instead. The Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee proudly called the pair the “first openly Gen Z mascots,” embodying teenage spirit, sport enthusiasm, and outdoor adventure.
Their different coat colors weren’t accidental. The student designers specifically chose them to represent duality and diversity. Tina’s white coat mirrors the ermine’s winter transformation, while Milo’s brown coat showcases the stoat’s summer appearance. Together, they tell a story of resilience, change, and thriving despite challenges.
What Are Stoats? Five Fascinating Facts
East Texas A&M faces Southeastern in Family Fun Day matchup today
Macclesfield faces Brentford tonight in FA Cup fourth-round showdown
Stoats are small carnivorous mammals in the weasel family alongside ferrets, otters, and badgers. They measure only 35 to 45 centimeters (14 to 18 inches) including the tail and live 2 to 5 years. Don’t let their size fool you; these skilled hunters tackle prey more than five times their size. They’re found across Eurasia and northern North America, making them natural predators of rabbits and rodents with excellent hearing and vision.
In colder climates, stoats perform an extraordinary transformation: their brown fur turns snow-white in winter for perfect camouflage, earning them the name “ermines.” Even during this dramatic change, they retain their signature jet-black tail tip, which scientists believe helps them escape bird predators. Another remarkable trick: some stoats perform a frenzied “dance of death,” rolling and jumping through the air to confuse rabbits into easy prey. Stoats are also exceptional swimmers and climbers, hunting day and night with agility that rivals ninjas.
How Tina and Milo Were Chosen for 2026
| Detail | Information |
| Contest Period | Collaboration between Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation and Italian Ministry of Education |
| Design Entries | Over 1,600 submissions from Italian students aged 6 to 14 |
| Public Poll Winners | Tina and Milo won with 53 percent of votes (designed by Istituto Comprensivo Taverna students) |
| Unveiling Date | February 7, 2024 at the Sanremo Music Festival 2024 |
The Italian Ministry of Education partnered with the Olympic organizing committee to give young Italians creative power. Schools nationwide submitted designs, and the winning entry came from Istituto Comprensivo Taverna students. These young artists understood something profound: the symbology of stoats and snowdrops perfectly embodied resilience. The student designers noted that stoats symbolize innocence and purity, and their seasonal coat changes represent adaptation and hope.
“They represent the contemporary, vibrant and dynamic Italian spirit.”
— Official Olympics Website, describing Tina and Milo
Why Are Stoats and Snowdrops Perfect Symbols for Winter?
Snowdrops are the ultimate winter warriors. Unlike most flowers that sleep during cold months, these delicate blooms awaken and bloom during winter, becoming “symbols of triumph and defiance” according to wildlife experts. They compete for scarce resources while other plants slumber, making them inspiring icons of resilience. Jenny Shelton, a wildlife expert at The Wildlife Trusts, explains that snowdrops “meet winter’s challenge head-on,” soaking up sunlight and attracting pollinators before spring flowers arrive. The six Flo characters represent this same unstoppable spirit.
Stoats face different but equally urgent threats. Climate change poses an existential danger to these animals, especially ermines with their white winter coats. As Marco Granata, a biologist at the University of Turin, points out: “The ermine faces a mismatch when it finds itself completely white in a world that should be white, but is no longer so.” Rising temperatures mean snow melts faster, leaving adapted stoats vulnerable. Both mascots represent creatures fighting against environmental odds, making them powerful symbols for athletes competing under these same pressures.
Are These Stuffed Animals Available to Buy Now?
Yes! Official Tina and Milo plush toys are available online through the Olympic Shop in multiple sizes, with prices starting around $20-$70 depending on dimensions. Different merchandise partnerships offer varying styles, and collectible versions range from 13 centimeter miniatures to larger 35 centimeter plush companions. Fans worldwide are rushing to buy these adorable figures as Olympics memorabilia.
Beyond stuffed animals, Euro coins commemorating the 2026 Winter Olympics have already been released in Italy, some featuring Tina and Milo’s charming faces. They appear on apparel, accessories, and Olympic merchandise celebrating the Games. These mascots have become so beloved that collectors anticipate their value increasing after the February 2026 closing ceremony.
