While Olympic athletes are often consumed with their craft, Milan Cortina 2026 is offering up a slight distraction from their singular focus.

Many athletes in Olympic Village have taken to adopting and fostering plants as a way to liven up their rooms.

U.S. ice dancer Madison Chock explained the impact these plants have had on the athletes:

"I was pleasantly surprised that we could foster plants in the village while we were here," Chock said. "It really brightens up our room; it freshens up the air. So there's a spot in this little Corona house, which is also an incredibly tranquil space. If you go inside, there are tons of plants everywhere. The ceiling and all the windows — it's all glass.

"So you can just go in there and relax and listen to calming music. And then you can also take a little plant back to your room and feed it and water it and give it sunlight. And then at the end of your stay, you return the plant and they give it to a local from Milan and the plant gets a new home. So I thought that was really beautiful and just a nice little touch in the village."

U.S. figure skater Isabeau Levito documented her plant journey in a TikTok video, including a live FaceTime chat with 2018 Olympian Adam Rippon:

In an added layer, some Olympic athletes have built off the viral popularity of the TV show "Heated Rivalry" when choosing names for their plants.

Canadian figure skater Madeline Schizas acknowledged she named her plant Ilya Rozanov, the name of one of the main characters from "Heated Rivalry."