Your Monday Morning Dose of Positivity & Progress
President’s Day Edition | Reading Time: 8 min | Federal holiday ☕🇺🇸
☀️ GOOD MORNING, PATRIOTS & CHAMPIONS!
Happy President’s Day 2026! While many Americans enjoy a well-deserved day off, the world didn’t stop delivering incredible moments. From Britain’s historic “Super Sunday” at the Olympics to Norway’s continued dominance, today’s newsletter celebrates perseverance, national pride, and the human spirit. Let’s dive in.
🥇 BREAKING: BRITAIN’S GOLDEN BREAKTHROUGH
Team GB’s “Super Sunday” Makes Winter Olympics History
THE HEADLINE: Great Britain just had their best Winter Olympics EVER — and it happened in a single day.
For the first time in British Winter Olympics history (dating back to 1924), Team GB won TWO gold medals in one day. But they didn’t stop there. They won THREE golds total at Milano Cortina 2026, shattering their previous record.
The Historic Day:
Gold #1: Snowboard Cross (Mixed Team) Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale shocked everyone by winning Britain’s first-ever Olympic title on snow. This came days after both were knocked out in their individual events.
Nightingale set up Bankes perfectly in the final, leaving her just 0.14 seconds behind Italy. Bankes then delivered a stunning performance, overtaking France’s Lea Casta to storm to gold.
“I was in that start gate, knowing I was going for gold,” Bankes said. “It takes that weight off my shoulders. Hopefully it takes a bit of pressure off everyone else in Team GB.”
Gold #2 & #3: Skeleton (Individual + Mixed Team) Less than five hours after Bankes’ triumph, Matt Weston and Tabitha Stoecker won the inaugural Olympic mixed team skeleton event at Cortina Sliding Centre.
Weston had already won individual men’s skeleton gold on Friday (Feb 13), making him the first British athlete EVER to win two gold medals at the same Winter Olympics.
The Numbers:
- 3 gold medals at Milano Cortina 2026 (previous record: 1)
- 2 gold medals in a single day (previous record: never done)
- Matt Weston: First Briton to win 2 golds at same Winter Games
- 5 of Britain’s last 7 Winter Olympic golds came from skeleton
Historical Context:
- Beijing 2022: Team GB won 2 total medals (1 gold, 1 silver)
- PyeongChang 2018: Team GB won 5 total medals (1 gold, 4 bronze)
- Milano Cortina 2026: Already the most successful Winter Olympics for Britain
Team GB chef de mission Eve Muirhead: “Getting two gold medals today is just incredible, the most we’ve ever had in British Winter Olympic history. For Matt being the most decorated British Winter Olympian of all time is something really special.”
Source: Olympics.com | TNT Sports
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
🇳🇴 NORWAY EXTENDS DOMINANT LEAD
Winter Olympics Powerhouse On Track for Historic Three-Peat
Norway continues to cement its status as the Winter Olympics GOAT, leading the medal count after Day 9 with 26 total medals.
Medal Count (End of Day 9 – Sunday, Feb 15):
- 🇳🇴 Norway — 26 total medals (10 gold, 4 silver, 12 bronze)
- 🇮🇹 Italy — 22 total medals (6 gold, 4 silver, 12 bronze) — Host nation record!
- 🇺🇸 USA — 17 total medals (5 gold, 8 silver, 4 bronze)
- 🇯🇵 Japan — 14 total medals (4 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze)
- 🇩🇪 Germany — 10 total medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze)
Norway’s Dominance:
- Won 6 medals on Sunday alone (tied for most in a single day)
- On track to become first nation in 20 years to lead medal count at three consecutive Winter Olympics
- Led Beijing 2022 with 37 medals (16 gold)
- Cross-country skiing legend Johannes Høsflot Klæbo now has 9 career Olympic golds
Italy’s Home Success: After securing 4 medals on Sunday, Italy has officially surpassed its previous Winter Olympic record. With 48 events still remaining, Italy has already recorded its most successful Winter Olympics in history.
Source: NBC Olympics
“Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” — Shaquille O’Neal
🇺🇸 TEAM USA UPDATE: HOLDING STRONG
17 Medals and Counting
Team USA ended Sunday without adding medals but remains comfortably in third place with 17 total medals (5 gold, 8 silver, 4 bronze).
American Medal Leaders:
- Jordan Stolz — 2 golds (speedskating 500m, 1000m with Olympic records)
- Elizabeth Lemley — 1 gold, 1 bronze (women’s moguls, dual moguls)
- Madison Chock & Evan Bates — 1 gold, 1 silver (figure skating team, ice dance)
- Jaelin Kauf — 2 silvers (women’s moguls, dual moguls)
Most Successful Sport: Freestyle skiing with 5 podium finishes
Monday’s Medal Opportunities (President’s Day):
- Women’s Hockey Semifinals — USA vs. Sweden (3:00 PM ET)
- Figure Skating
- Curling
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Bobsleigh
Team USA fielded its largest Winter Olympics team ever with 232 athletes. The Americans continue showing star power with Mikaela Shiffrin, Chloe Kim (silver), and the Tkachuk brothers leading the charge.
Source: Yahoo Sports | NBC Chicago
🇺🇸 PRESIDENT’S DAY 2026: HONORING LEADERSHIP
Federal Holiday Across America
Today marks President’s Day (officially “Washington’s Birthday”), honoring all U.S. presidents with special emphasis on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
What’s Closed Today:
- 🏛️ Federal offices
- 📬 Post offices (no mail delivery)
- 🏦 Most banks
- 📈 Stock markets (NYSE, NASDAQ)
- 🏫 Many schools
What’s Open:
- 🛒 Retail stores (with Presidents Day sales!)
- 🍔 Restaurants
- 🎬 Movie theaters
- 🏪 Grocery stores
The History:
Originally established in 1879 to honor George Washington’s birthday (February 22, 1732), the holiday was moved to the third Monday in February in 1971 under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, creating three-day weekends for federal workers.
While officially still “Washington’s Birthday” at the federal level, most Americans call it Presidents Day and use it to honor all presidents, particularly Washington and Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809).
Presidential Facts:
- 46 people have served as U.S. President
- George Washington served 1789-1797
- Washington never lived in the White House (construction finished in 1800)
- Four presidents were born in February: Washington, Lincoln, William Henry Harrison, Ronald Reagan
Source: Historical records
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” — Thomas Jefferson
📅 TODAY’S SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Multiple Celebrations on February 16
National Almond Day Celebrating the nutritious nut packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Do a Grouch a Favor Day Inspired by Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street — spread kindness even to grumpy people!
National Innovation Day Honoring inventors, entrepreneurs, and creative problem-solvers who change the world.
International Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) Also known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras — the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.
💭 THE PERSPECTIVE CORNER
What Sunday’s Olympic Results Teach Us
Persistence Over Perfection:
Charlotte Bankes competed in four Olympics before winning her first medal. After being eliminated in the individual quarterfinals, she could have given up. Instead, she came back days later and won GOLD.
Timing Matters:
Britain had never won two golds in a day. They’d never won three golds at a single Winter Games. Then Sunday happened — and history was made in under six hours.
Specialization Works:
Five of Britain’s last seven Winter Olympic golds came from skeleton. Norway dominates cross-country skiing. Find your lane, master it, own it.
Underdogs Can Win:
Team GB’s medal hopes in snowboard cross were “low” after both athletes were eliminated in individual events. Then they teamed up and shocked the world.
Key Lessons:
- Previous failures don’t predict future success
- Team events can unlock potential
- Showing up matters — even after disappointment
- Records exist to be broken
- Your best moment might be waiting around the corner
“The comeback is always stronger than the setback.” — Anonymous
📊 MONDAY’S OLYMPIC HIGHLIGHTS
Medal Events Today | All times ET
Morning:
- 4:30 AM — Biathlon: Men’s 15km Mass Start
- 5:30 AM — Cross-Country: Women’s 30km Mass Start
- 9:00 AM — Bobsleigh: Two-Man Heats 3 & 4
Afternoon:
- 1:00 PM — Figure Skating: Women’s Free Program
- 3:00 PM — Women’s Hockey Semifinal: USA vs. Sweden
- 3:30 PM — Curling: Women’s Semifinal USA vs. Sweden
- 7:00 PM — Curling: Women’s Semifinal Canada vs. Switzerland
Source: NBC Olympics Schedule
🎯 3 WAYS TO SPREAD GOOD NEWS TODAY
- Celebrate a comeback — Share Charlotte Bankes’ story with someone facing setbacks
- Honor a leader — Presidents Day = perfect time to thank mentors and coaches
- Support Team USA — Watch women’s hockey semifinals (3:00 PM ET)
💬 QUOTES WORTH SHARING
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
“Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” — Shaquille O’Neal
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” — Thomas Jefferson
“The comeback is always stronger than the setback.” — Anonymous
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” — Vince Lombardi
🔮 LOOKING AHEAD
This Week:
- Final week of Winter Olympics (concludes Feb 22)
- Women’s Hockey gold medal game (Thursday)
- Figure skating finals
- More history-making moments expected
Wednesday, February 18:
- Ash Wednesday (start of Lent)
- Olympics continue with alpine skiing, curling finals
🌟 THE FINAL WORD
February 16, 2026 — President’s Day — reminds us that leadership takes many forms.
George Washington led a nation. Abraham Lincoln preserved the Union. Winston Churchill rallied Britain during its darkest hour.
And yesterday, Charlotte Bankes led herself from disappointment to Olympic glory. Matt Weston led Britain to its most successful Winter Olympics ever. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo led Norway to a historic three-peat.
Leadership isn’t always about holding office. Sometimes it’s about:
- Showing up after elimination
- Believing when others doubt
- Turning setbacks into comebacks
- Inspiring others through excellence
- Making history one moment at a time
Today’s Challenge: Be a leader in your own life. Whether that means pushing through adversity, supporting a teammate, honoring those who came before, or simply showing up when it matters most.
The world is watching. More importantly, you’re watching yourself.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
📱 STAY CONNECTED
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- Subscribe to our daily newsletter
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💚 That’s it for today’s Good Good!
Remember: The comeback is always stronger than the setback.
Happy President’s Day! 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇳🇴
Published by: All Good Things That Happened
Mission: Spreading good news, one story at a time
Date: Monday, February 16, 2026
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