At the 2026 Winter Olympics, the focus wasn’t only on the athletes on the field. The Polish team brought along an unexpected item that kept appearing on camera. Fans started noticing it, and broadcasters couldn’t ignore its presence.
The unofficial mascot of the Polish team became an unexpected hot topic of this edition of the Winter Olympics.
Named “Pieroguszka” (see picture
here
), it is the unofficial mascot introduced by the Polish team during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. It is a smiling plush toy that bears a striking resemblance to the traditional Polish dumpling – pierogi.
This toy is manufactured by Luft company. Luft is a handmade plush toy workshop based in Katowice, Poland, dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities. Since its debut at the Winter Olympics, Pieroguszka’s international demand has surged, with it quickly selling out online.
The mascot initially gained attention when Polish figure skaters used it to celebrate their spectacular performances during the competition. In figure skating culture, audiences often throw plush toys onto the ice after a performance. This time, the Polish team members held the Polish dumpling plush toy as part of their celebratory routine in front of the cameras.
“You can’t imagine (but you can guess) how excited and grateful we and our entire pierogi team are, seeing Pieroguszka being able to participate in the Olympics and winning the hearts of so many people worldwide,” wrote the Luft team on Instagram.
Despite Poland finishing tenth in the team figure skating competition, Pieroguszka has become a popular topic at this year’s Winter Olympics. This plush mascot frequently accompanies the athletes to various events, and is now seen by many fans as a symbol of national pride for Poland on the Olympic stage.