At the 2026 Winter Olympics, it is not just athletes turning heads inside the arena. Team Poland has arrived with an unexpected companion that keeps popping up on camera. Fans are starting to notice, and broadcasters cannot ignore it.
But suddenly, the unlikely presence of an unofficial mascot of Team Poland is becoming one of the most talked-about sights at the Games.
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‘Pieroguszka’ is an unofficial mascot adopted by Team Poland during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. It is a smiling plush toy shaped like a pierogi, which is a traditional Polish dumpling.
The toy itself was created by Luft. Luft is a Katowice-based workshop in Poland that produces handmade plush items while supporting people with disabilities. Since appearing at the Olympics, demand for Pieroguszka has surged internationally and quickly sold out online.
The mascot first gained attention when Polish figure skaters began celebrating their performances with it during competitions. In figure skating culture, fans often throw plush toys onto the ice after routines. In this case, a pierogi plushie made its way into Team Poland’s hands and quickly became part of their on-camera celebrations.
Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
“You have no idea (but you can guess) how moved and grateful we are, along with our entire pierogi team, to see Pieroguszka make it to the Olympics and win so many hearts around the world,” the Luft team wrote on Instagram.
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Although Poland finished tenth in the team skating event, Pieroguszka has emerged as a viral sensation at the Games. The plush mascot has been spotted traveling with athletes from event to event and is now seen by many fans as a symbol of Polish national pride on the Olympic stage.
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