The Moment
Gillian Cooke, a former Scottish bobsledder, is trending again after her unforgettable wardrobe malfunction at the 2010 Games resurfaced online.
During a World Cup event in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Cooke was preparing to push off when her spandex suit suddenly split open, exposing her rear end to the cameras and the harsh alpine conditions.
The Race
Cooke and teammate Nicola Minichiello finished seventh, a respectable result under any circumstances. Remarkably, they managed to complete the run despite the distraction.
The pair went on to compete in the Vancouver Olympics the following month, though their luck didn’t hold—they crashed out on their third run and did not start their last.
Cooke’s Reaction
“I’m just so grateful I was wearing underwear that day,” she said. “I hesitated only for a second, but if we’d pulled out we’d have been disqualified. There was nothing I could do but go for it.”
The physical discomfort was real: “I blocked it out until I got in the sleigh and sat down, when I was suddenly reminded it was mighty cold.”
The 2026 Games
This year’s Olympics have produced their own share of viral moments including an exposed thong on the ice that’s generating plenty of attention.
The Bottom Line
Gillian Cooke handled an embarrassing situation with professionalism, humor, and determination. She finished the race. She laughed about it later. And now, more than a decade and a half later, she’s still making people smile.
Sometimes the best Olympic moments aren’t about gold medals. They’re about how you handle the unexpected.