As is often the case with a multi-week sporting event — even one as enthralling as the Olympics — viewer fatigue sets in, so it wasn’t expected that many people tune into the final event of the Games, the women’s 30 km mass start cross-country race. However, an error by the second-place athlete almost an hour into the grueling endurance test would create a dramatic twist that no one, least of all the skier, expected.
Ostensibly on pace for silver medal contention, Teresa Stadlober led the pack behind her as she worked to whittle down the minute-plus distance between her and the leading skier. However, NBC’s coverage briefly cut out. When the broadcast of the event resumed, Stadlober appeared to be entirely alone, having shed both the pack on her heels and, somehow, the skier leading her.
The announcers themselves couldn’t figure out what had transpired, musing, "That's a huge gap, a lot of daylight! Now, where are the Finns? Are they ahead of her or behind? It almost seems unrealistic that she’s opened up that kind of gap."
Stadlober, unable to see the path the leader had taken, veered right to an uphill segment instead of keeping on a straight course. By the time she’d proceeded uphill and turned around, she had ceded her second-place position.
Unfortunately, embeddable video of the bizarre events and the announcers’ befuddled reactions aren’t available, but the recap below offers glimpses of the erroneous turn that cost her a medal and relegated her to ninth place.
Stadlober was at a loss when she finished, telling NBC, "I don't know, I really don't know. I took the wrong way — and I did this twice. The second time I wasn't sure anymore. I had a blackout. I don't know why I took the wrong way."
Sure, her folly made for one last great story from Pyeongchang, but there’s little doubt that Stadlober would have rather left the Olympics with a medal than the story of how she lost one.
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.