Olympic Winter
Firsts
Firsts
This nation became the first from the Southern Hemisphere to win a Winter Olympic gold medal
Australia
Long before playing Deadpool, he appeared for a single line in X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Ryan Reynolds
Originally released in 1971 and hitting the charts again in 1990, this song is about a man reflecting on lost love and longing
“Imagine” by John Lennon
Danube
Vienna
Best known for the rap hit “Ice Ice Baby”, this artist was the first solo rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100
Vanilla Ice
This was the first Winter Olympics to use artificial ice for skating events
the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics
This legendary Marvel co-creator made a brief cameo in nearly every MCU film from Iron Man (2008) to Avengers: Endgame (2019), often playing civilians who cross paths with superheroes
Stan Lee
This 1971 soul track about loyalty and dedication in a romantic relationship became a hit again in 2003 after a commercial revival (32 years later)
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Dnieper
Kyiv
Famous in country music almost exclusively for “Achy, Breaky Heart”
Billy Ray Cyrus
This country won its first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal in women’s cross-country skiing in 2018
Sweden
He appeared in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York as a hotel guest, decades before leading a beloved time-travel franchise
Michael J. Fox
Released in 1965 and hitting the charts again in 1994 (29 years later) after being featured in a movie, it’s an empowering song demanding respect and equality
“Respect” by Aretha Franklin
Nile
Cairo
This electronic track “Barbie Girl” became a 1997 pop sensation, though the group had few other hits
Aqua
At the 2022 Games, she became the first woman to land a triple cork in Olympic competition, winning gold
Eileen Gu
In Jurassic Park, this famous director makes a quick cameo as a tourist in the visitor center, barely on screen
Steven Spielberg
First released in 1997 and re-entering the Hot 100 in 2025 (28 years later), this alt-rock classic is about feeling disconnected and overwhelmed by modern life
“Let Down” by Radiohead
Potomac
Washington, D.C.
Known for the 1987 rap hit “Bust a Move”, this artist’s other songs didn’t match its popularity
Young MC
This country won the most medals at the very first Winter Olympics.
Norway
In The Office, he delivers a single line about “taking care of business” during the Diversity Day seminar
Mose Schrute
This 1971 song about a festive, romantic holiday fling became a chart-topper again in 2007
"Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano
Tiber
Rome
Known almost entirely for “Clair de Lune”, this French composer’s other works are less frequently heard
Claude Debussy