This Olympic Skiier Won the Gold Medal—but Refused to Take Off Her Goggles Until She Had Makeup On

Last-minute upsets and shocking surprises make for some of the most nail-biting aspects of the Olympic Games—but it seems that even Olympians would prefer a bit of prep time before the entire world's eyes are upon them. Yesterday in PyeongChang, Czech snowboarder and skiier Ester Ledecka turned the women's super-G on its head, taking the gold after rating 43rd in the Alpine skiing event's World Cup standings. The win came as a complete surprise to onlookers and competitors alike—the gold was the result of a 0.01 second lead ahead of Austria's Anna Veith, the defending champion—but it seems that no one was more caught off guard than Ledecka herself, who refused to remove her goggles during the subsequent winners press conference.

Her rationale? “I was not prepared to be at this ceremony, and I don’t have any makeup," explained the 22-year-old, who kept her ski goggles on through the duration of the day's coverage. The moment was at once ridiculous and relatable: on the one hand, Ledecka's exceptional skill should completely supersede any and all insecurities. On the other, it doesn't. Gold medals and preternatural athletic feats aside, consider it proof: Olympians are, in fact, human beings.