Toronto-based writer likely yelling on Twitter about the Leafs, Raptors, or *gestures generally at society*.

When CBC Olympics reporter Ariel Helwani took to the streets of Livigno, Italy looking for interviews, he probably wasn&#8217;t expecting one as emotional as he ended up with.
Helwani, best known in the non-Olympic world as an MMA reporter, was perusing the streets chatting with fans when he stumbled upon a group of Canadian fans.
And it turns out that among them was first-time Canadian Olympic freestyle skier Maïa Schwinghammer&#8217;s dad, Rick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Get your tissues ready 🥹
While doing interviews in the streets of Livigno, <a href="https://twitter.com/arielhelwani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@arielhelwani</a> finds Maïa Schwinghammer&#39;s dad, who cries talking about watching his daughter compete at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MilanoCortina2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MilanoCortina2026</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinterOlympicsToday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinterOlympicsToday</a> presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/AirCanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AirCanada</a> <a href="https://t.co/KSAIZXzDDB">pic.twitter.com/KSAIZXzDDB</a>
&mdash; CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOlympics/status/2020312600198680643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After figuring out who he was, Helwani asked the proud father to try to explain his feelings on seeing his daughter compete on the world stage.
&#8220;It&#8217;s hard to say,&#8221; Schwinghammer said. &#8220;Gets you all emotional, but it&#8217;s so fun to be here. It&#8217;s awesome.&#8221;
And while winning an Olympic medal is the goal of pretty much any athlete competing, that isn&#8217;t necessarily the same for their parents.
&#8220;She&#8217;s doing great. We decided that she&#8217;s done so well, and she&#8217;s already, at the top, made it here just great,&#8221; Schwinghammer said.
In the middle of the chat, a few tears were shed.
&#8220;This is real, right here?&#8221; Helwani asked about Schwinghammer&#8217;s emotions.
&#8220;Oui,&#8221; he said with a smile.
&#8220;From one dad to another, I understand,&#8221; Helwani replied.
The elder Schwinghammer himself was a <a href="https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/athlete-biography.html?sector=FS&amp;competitorid=55228&amp;type=result" target="_blank">World Cup-level freestyle skier</a>, no doubt inspiring his daughter&#8217;s passion for the sport. Given that she grew up a notoriously flat part of Canada in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, having a supportive family would&#8217;ve been paramount to reaching the top levels of the sport.
But despite being so choked up about the whole experience, the emotional father didn&#8217;t quite want to chock it up to his own parenting.
&#8220;I guess her mom taught her good things,&#8221; Schwinghammer said about how his daughter made her way to the Olympics.
&#8220;Take some credit,&#8221; Helwani said with a laugh.
Schwinghammer competes in the moguls event taking place Feb. 10 and 11.
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When CBC Olympics reporter Ariel Helwani took to the streets of Livigno, Italy looking for interviews, he probably wasn't expecting one as emotional as he ended up with.