This was news to us, too.
United States women’s hockey coach John Wroblewski coached Team USA to a gold medal. Wroblewski himself doesn’t get a gold medal.
Seriously. The coaches don’t get medals.
Afterward, Wroblewski was seen asking captain Hilary Knight to see her medal:
USA women’s hockey coach John Wroblewski asked Hilary Knight, “Can I check out your gold medal?” pic.twitter.com/OGX43I97AM
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 20, 2026
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Fans took to social media in utter confusion.
Truly, many of us were today years old when we learned that this is a thing.
Some were simply mad, with one writing, “The fact that coaches don’t get gold medals is absolutely asinine.”
Many were confused how a team sport coach couldn’t get a medal, while acknowledging maybe an individual sport coach shouldn’t.
In team sports it’s crazy coaches don’t get medals. I get like figure skating and curling has coaches but in like a team sport where it’s 10 or more athletes in a roster. The HC should get a gold https://t.co/uCcUSOlwOG
— Scott Picard (@scottpicard1090) February 20, 2026
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A few people cited the fact that a coach doesn’t have to be from the same country as the reason they don’t get a medal.
That wouldn’t apply to Wroblewski, though, who is from the United States.
Besides, if you coach a team to the championship, don’t you get a part of the trophy?
Apparently in this case, you don’t.
