Poland's Pierogi Plush Becomes Unlikely Olympics Mascot

The stuffed dumpling has captured the hearts of viewers at the Milan Cortina Games.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A plush pierogi, or Polish dumpling, has become an unexpected star at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. The stuffed pasta toy, dubbed 'pieroguszki' by Team Poland, has been spotted being held up by many of the country's Olympians, especially figure skaters. The popularity of the pierogi plush has led to a surge in demand at a Michelin-starred pierogi restaurant in Brooklyn, New York that sells the item.

Why it matters

The pierogi plush's rise to fame as an unofficial Olympics mascot highlights how organic, grassroots fan-driven moments can capture the public's imagination, even at the highest levels of international competition. It also speaks to the universal appeal of comfort foods like pierogi, which have transcended their Polish roots to become a beloved global delicacy.

The details

The pierogi plush, often seen in the figure skating Kiss and Cry zone, has been a frequent prop used by Team Poland's Olympians to celebrate their performances. Figure skater Ioulia Chtchetinina has been photographed multiple times holding up the stuffed dumpling and beaming. The popularity of the pierogi plush has led to a surge in demand at Pierozek, a Michelin-starred pierogi restaurant in Brooklyn, New York that sells the item. The restaurant's co-owner, Radek Kucharski, says they've been inundated with hundreds, if not thousands, of requests, and the plushies sold out almost immediately.

  • The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics are currently underway.

The players

Team Poland

The national Olympic team representing Poland at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

Ioulia Chtchetinina

A figure skater competing for Team Poland at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Pierozek

A Michelin-starred pierogi restaurant located in Brooklyn, New York that sells plush pierogi toys.

Radek Kucharski

The co-owner of Pierozek restaurant in Brooklyn.

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What they’re saying

“We've got hundreds, if not thousands, of emails – I would have to actually check – and lots of phone calls, but unfortunately, they literally sold out overnight.”

— Radek Kucharski, Co-owner, Pierozek (CBS News)

What’s next

The pierogi plush's popularity is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the Milan Cortina Olympics, with more Olympians likely to be spotted holding and celebrating with the stuffed dumpling.

The takeaway

The unexpected rise of the pierogi plush as an unofficial Olympics mascot shows how grassroots fan enthusiasm can capture the public's imagination, even at the highest levels of international competition. It also highlights the universal appeal of comfort foods like pierogi, which have transcended their cultural origins to become beloved global delicacies.