The ability to pursue excellence is not reserved for governments or institutions. It lives in individuals.
Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women's Single Skating–Free Skating on day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games, at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Jamie Squire/Getty Images
The United States defeated Canada in men’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, winning gold in overtime. The goal was dramatic, and the reaction was immediate. Almost instantly, the result was wrapped in familiar stories about national pride, rivalry, and meaning.
Kay Rubacek
Author
Kay Rubacek is an award-winning educator, filmmaker, author, and mother. Detained in a Chinese prison in 2001 for her human-rights advocacy, she has since dedicated her work to exposing the systems and ideologies that diminish human life and human sovereignty. She has been a contributor to The Epoch Times since 2010.
