Former Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon, who won bronze for the U.S. at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, set the record straight during a Q&A with NBC.
“If you were wondering where 3,000 of the condoms went from the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, I took them,” Rippon admitted.
“I wanted to know, where are all these condoms? I did eventually find them in the medical tent. In my mind, it was this lavish experience, but it was just a basket filled with condoms that said in Korean, ‘generic condom.’ No Olympic rings. No fanfare. No frills.”
“I took that basket of condoms, and I opened my backpack, and I shoved maybe 3,000 of them in my backpack. I gave those to my friends as souvenirs.”
Alpine skier Mialitiana Clerc confirmed to CBS News that this practice is common. Athletes take entire baskets of condoms not for their intended use, but as unique, free mementos from their Olympic experience.
If even a fraction of athletes follow Rippon’s souvenir strategy, the math works out perfectly. It’s not about Olympic Village romance. It’s about Olympic Village souvenir hunting.
The condom shortage at the 2026 Winter Olympics isn’t evidence of athletes having the time of their lives. It’s evidence of athletes wanting a free, weird souvenir to bring home to their friends.
The organization promised to restock. When they do, they might want to keep an eye on any athletes with unusually large backpacks.