By now, you’re probably familiar with Tina and Milo, the duo of sporty stoats serving as the official mascots of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. You might also have noticed that the pair does not travel alone. In fact, Tina and Milo can often be seen accompanied by an entire posse of adorable sidekicks, known as the Flo.
What are The Flo?
The Flo are a sextet of impish animated snowdrop flowers that, per the Olympics website, "never leave their friends and love to have fun even if sometimes this gets them into trouble.”
Just as Tina and Milo represent the Olympics and Paralympics, respectively, the Flo are divided into a pair of corresponding trios. Sport Flo, Cute Flow and Genius Flo represent the Olympics, while Fashion Flo, Super Flo and Rock Flo represent the Paralympics.
Beyond their names and appearances, not much is known about each individual Flo.
Do Olympic medalists get a stuffed Flo?
In keeping with recent Olympic tradition, athletes don’t just receive medals when they win a spot on the podium. They also receive a plushy of the Olympic mascot. At the Milan Cortina Games, it’s a two-for-one deal.
Olympic medalists not only receive a plushy of Tina the Stoat, but also a stuffed Flo for their efforts.
What is the origin of the Flo?
The search for the Milan Cortina Olympic mascots began in 2022 with "La Scuola per le Mascotte di Milano Cortina 2026” — or “The School for the Mascots of Milan Cortina 2026” — a program which allowed primary and secondary schools from across Italy to submit ideas for the mascots.
Over 1,600 ideas were submitted from 681 classes at 82 schools. Eventually, the public was polled to determine a favorite between two finalists: the stoats and the Flo.
While the stoats ultimately won the vote and the official mascot status, the Flo were determined to be too popular to do away with completely. Hence their “unofficial” mascot status, and ubiquitous presence at the Winter Games.
