American Swagger. I first heard it on February 22, 2026. Mike Sullivan, head coach of the US Men’s Olympic Hockey Team used it to motivate his players before their gold medal game against the favored Canadian team.

In part, he said, “Whatever it takes. You guys have done it to this point. Whatever it takes. Let’s bring it again. Let’s bring our best, right? Fast and fearless. You got a whole country behind you, like we just talked about earlier. Let’s get this thing done, alright?
American swagger. Let’s get it done.”

In a serendipitous twist, exactly 46 years to the day, the USA Olympic Hockey team of 1980, comprised of young, amateur college players beat the vaunted and highly favored USSR (Russian) team 4-3 in the medal round enroute to a Gold Medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics. They were given no chance to win. Zero. American Swagger won the day. But it is an ideal that transcends sports and represents the very best of American idealism and exceptionalism. It refers to a bold, unapologetic and confident self-assurance. A larger than life, culturally optimistic attitude.

The Moon Landing. D-Day. Washington Crossing the Delaware. Let’s show out and celebrate this great nation, founded not on religion, race or ethnicity, but on ideals and principles that we can all participate in and pass along to future generations!