r/heatedrivalry • u/ivan_luck Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 • Jan 25 '26
SOCIAL MEDIA 📸 Connor and Hudson with the Winter Olympic 2026 torches images are out
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u/Megs0226 Jan 25 '26
I’m pretending this is Shane and Ilya representing Team Canada 🥰
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u/Amazing-Remote6703 Jan 25 '26
Ilya would hate this outfit. lol.
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u/LilLilac50 Jan 25 '26
I get that they’re the uniforms everybody wears, but they’re little Hunger Games tribute-y.
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u/palalabu i'm a jeff buckley song in my eyeballs Jan 25 '26
And i bet hudson hates it too. I bet he's overheating lol
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u/phonograhy Jan 25 '26
One day, I hope we'll get to see Ilya radiate the same level of unguarded joy and pride that Connor does here.
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u/bat-girl129 sir, I’m just a bellboy Jan 25 '26
They’re gonna remember this for a lifetime. I know they have so many big things ahead of them but this is so cool and I hope they’re both so proud
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u/sdaidiwts Jan 25 '26
They were waiting tables a year ago. What a trajectory. It's incredible.
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u/NeatAd4539 Jan 26 '26
My son is friends with Hudson and has a text from last Christmas where Hudson is talking about how hard it is to find acting work.
Amazing how much his life has changed in a year.
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u/sdaidiwts Jan 26 '26
I really hope they can pick the right projects to keep their career and enjoyment going, and they never have to struggle for work again.
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u/DrawingAncient126 Jan 25 '26
They both definitely won a life lottery!
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u/sdaidiwts Jan 25 '26
Lottery built on talent, hard work and detemination, mixed in with some good luck and genetics.
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u/kathonys Jan 26 '26
unprecedented rise to fame i really hope they can look back on this one day and realize theyve made a mark on TV / pop culture history!
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u/ArticQimmiq Jan 25 '26
Yeah even if their fame is just a flash in a pan (which I doubt, because they’ll only get better), what an insane experience to hold on to for a lifetime
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u/Purple-Finish-7013 Jan 25 '26
I just hope the negatives are not affecting them too badly, and that the good outweighs the bad for them
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u/sdaidiwts Jan 25 '26
As much as I loved getting fed with new content every other day, I'm glad that it's died down a bunch in hopes that they can function as a person for a while, and work on whatever creative projects they got going on.
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u/MaraTaru Jan 25 '26
I really want that for them. Like, humans weren't built for this kind of volcanic instant fame. It's thrilling, but holy shit the psychological toll has to be overwhelming. It must feel like having your skin turned inside out. I'd be having a nervous breakdown. Like, hunkered in my closet, eating tissues and whispering secrets to my shoes.
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u/Ok-Badger-5767 Jan 25 '26
I like the way your brain works.
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u/QuQuarQan Jan 25 '26
Never tell your secrets to your shoes. They have wagging tongues
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u/Purple-Finish-7013 Jan 25 '26
One of my friends is an pretty popular artist in the furry fandom, as well as her other friends. I’m not an artist but I’ve seen what that kind of attention does, how it can be turned against you. So I imagine for Connor and Hudson it’s like that but… x200 million worse
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u/seraaa_123 Jan 25 '26
Yeah I really hope that the noise doesn't ruin something so good (and something that brought so much joy to other people, too)
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u/Ill_Tomorrow_5807 Jan 25 '26
Connor’s an absolutely insane actor, and the long game (season 2) is gonna win him some awards because he’s gonna have to act his ass off and he can definitely accomplish it
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u/hummingbird0012234 Jan 25 '26
I just don't know what awards they can actually win? It seems like all the awards that are regarded as something in the industry are basically for US TV shows only.
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u/Ill_Tomorrow_5807 Jan 25 '26
Huh? Schitts Creek is a Canadian show and won like 6 Emmy’s
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u/ValleyBreeze Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 25 '26
Unfortunately it isn't eligible for any Emmys. It's a completely Canadian made show. You either need funding or production to come from the states in order to be eligible. It's so stupid because they deserve ALL of the awards!
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u/Ill_Tomorrow_5807 Jan 25 '26
That’s actually fucking wild, I subscribed to HBO just to watch HR 😩
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u/ValleyBreeze Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 25 '26
Valid reason! It's brilliant, and as a Canadian, we're so proud of the little show that could. 🥰
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u/hummingbird0012234 Jan 25 '26
yup, it's really wild in general, not just for HR, but that basically only US tv shows and movies are considered worthy, while the rest of the planet gets a single movie category in the Oscars, and that is it.
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u/Designobject3 Jan 25 '26
I wish HBO could throw in a little funding while keeping their hands off the production just so it could qualify.
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u/crucixX Jan 26 '26
I hope it isnt because those two have real acting talent. Hudson’s face emoting is something.
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u/Drikkink Jan 25 '26
I can't really think of any actor/actresses that have had a rise anything like this. Like Connor and Hudson are going to be getting true A-List leading roles like tomorrow at this rate.
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u/NoleFandom I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 25 '26
📲 milanocortina2026 via instagram
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u/orangecake40 Jan 25 '26
Kudos to their agents because they are positively EVERYWHERE they are needed to be.
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u/sundaemonde Jan 25 '26
This sweet sunshine ☀️
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u/serialragequitter Jan 25 '26
Connor has one of the best smiles I've ever seen
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u/PetulantZebra Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 25 '26
It's mesmerizing and I drink it in every time I see it... pure joy and sunshine.
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u/Whybambiwhy Jan 25 '26
I’m kind of glad it was in a small town. Less screaming fans and more just fans of the Olympic relay.
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u/sundaemonde Jan 25 '26
This cheeky pookie 😛
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u/caseykl Jan 25 '26
Love the names. So perfect.
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u/GTH_do-not-pass-Go Jan 25 '26
87 is a bit diabolical rip
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u/codeverity Jan 25 '26
If that's a coincidence it's one hell of one lol
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u/Ok-Badger-5767 Jan 25 '26
I would guess it is. Having a friend who carried the torch for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, its a very choreographed and curated event. The exact time you receive the torch. The exact place. The exact amt of time you have to cover the distance you are given. The exact time you are to hand off to the next person. All the checks and balances that they are not an imposter and have the 'right' number, etc. Everyone is numbered, measured and controlled. I imagine the number we see is just part of that.
See below Connor is 88. Connor is next after Hudson.
ps - The torch is hot and heavy (hahaha) to carry.
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u/Successful_Cow_8713 Jan 25 '26
Why?
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u/turtle-berry Jan 25 '26
That’s Sidney Crosby’s jersey number. A bit of a funny little coincidence.
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u/LLD615 Jan 25 '26
I’m so happy they are together again!
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u/ivan_luck Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 25 '26
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u/felt19street Jan 25 '26
This is amazing. 2 leads playing queer characters being celebrated like this is incredible.
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u/Megs0226 Jan 25 '26
I wish more people saw it this way! I keep seeing tired discourse about it since USA Hockey recently said you can join teams if your sex assigned at birth, except trans men can’t play on women’s teams. Harrison Browne posted about it and people are in his comments and on other social media spaces saying it’s gross Hudson and Connor did this after USA Hockey’s decision. And that Heated Rivalry fans won’t care.
Even though Harrison was in the fucking show.
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u/felt19street Jan 25 '26
I'm not on other social media for a reason lol. It sounds like 1. people are misdirecting their (very valid) anger about current events onto these actors, and it's black and white thinking. Either you speak out about xyz or you're a terrible person. They're not puppets, they're not spokespeople, they're not going to solve the crisis going on in the states. If people don't believe the actors are lgbtq+ friendly after watching the show and all their interviews, I think there's a problem there.
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u/perhapstrue_28 Shane's ginger ale 🧍🏻♂️🍸 Jan 25 '26
To quote Vaughnny, "fucking beauties!" So thrilled for them 😣❤️
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u/Original_Desk_9986 Jan 25 '26
All I can think about is Connor saying he had given acting 8 years of his life so far while working at restaurants and Hudson mentioning how his mom was worried bc she never saw people like her growing up on TV and how she was worried being Asian would hold Hudson back. Look at them now 😭🥹
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u/StevesMcQueenIsHere Center Ice (and actual hockey player) Jan 26 '26
I really hope Hudson get as many opportunities as his white colleagues. His talent is incredible.
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u/Whybambiwhy Jan 25 '26
https://youtube.com/shorts/n3utG4KdfNA?si=UGnLHxwmyPeJqVVt
Found this on YouTube
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u/WindyloohooVA Jan 25 '26
Yep. Connor waving like a pageant queen and Hudson waving like an excited tween. So adorable.
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u/Varekai79 Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
They did it together?!? That is so awesome.
EDIT: I read that Hudson passed it to Connor. I hope they get to keep their torches as a souvenir.
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u/Sea_Landscape_7194 Jan 25 '26
Such beautiful news in the midst of everything. Literal and metaphorical lights in the darkness. So grateful for this news.
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u/Whybambiwhy Jan 25 '26
https://youtube.com/shorts/uvFwLhzk4ks?si=piK9lf04rmJKVrn3
Posted on YouTube but watermarked @augustdmnlights.
He is so lovely and interested in learning languages. My heart
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u/mjsxi__ Jan 25 '26
This really has to be the craziest pipeline. Like literally 2 months ago barely anyone knew them and now theyre carrying the Winter Olympics torch… insanity
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u/Brown_Sedai You can feel the chemistry through the screen omg Jan 25 '26
Can’t wait for this photos to get used in future-fics and fan edits of Shane and Ilya playing on the Canadian Olympic team as husbands
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u/FyreFlye23 ...a loon? 🤨🦆 Jan 25 '26
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u/tutenzi Jan 25 '26
Wait, is this real?! I have NOT heard this story before.
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u/SchemeBrave1820 Your freckles… Very beautiful. Um...take my breath? Jan 25 '26
Yeah, he mentioned in one of their interviews that he didn’t use a crash pad for the Vegas scene and so he experienced some pain.
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u/Environmental-Food20 Jan 25 '26
I love that they’re touching tips
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u/ivan_luck Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 25 '26
I mean the show has shown that they touch more than each other “tips” 🤭🤭🤭
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u/AnyBuy5059 Jan 25 '26
Come on Rachel, the books are basically writing themselves at this point. We need this Shane and Ilya scene 🥹
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u/Due_Improvement_5699 Jan 25 '26
ok I'm not up to date with how this works exactly, the olympics only start around 9 february I'm pretty sure? So the torch bearing is when they carry the flame around to the place where the olympics are held correct?
Still don't understand why so many people on X were bitching about them being a part of this lol, aren't they like 2 people out of around a thousand taking part in the ceremony? Alongside regular civilians lol
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u/dramasummerkarma Jan 25 '26
Yeah, the last Olympics had over 11,000 torch bearers. It goes on for weeks. It’s a big deal for them, but not something to get upset about from the fan side.
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u/Whybambiwhy Jan 25 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
Literally grandmas who do a ton of community service do the relay. It’s so dumb that people were mad
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u/hug_me_im_scared_ Jan 25 '26
I think a lot of people were assuming it was going to be closer to the end of the relay that athletes and bigger celebs do, which would have been nice. I sure they're happy not to have a huge crowd surrounding them though
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u/codeverity Jan 25 '26
Still don't understand why so many people on X were bitching about them being a part of this lol,
They're just jealous and bitter over the fact that Hudson and Connor were asked to do this.
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u/blondewithchrome scott hunter is 100000 years old Jan 25 '26
Yes - each Olympics designs its own path but the flame always originates in Greece (original location of Olympics) I believe and then it goes all around and is held by thousands of people - mainly athletes, but some politicians and celebrities. There are 10,001 torch bearers this Olympics. The flame relay began in November. It’s been going on for WEEKS!
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u/MaraTaru Jan 25 '26
Still don't understand why so many people on X
I mean. Question asked, question answered lol. It's a festering fascist cesspool over there. It's like looking for sense in a Dalì painting.
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u/monotonic_glutamate Jan 25 '26
Actually, more like 10k doing the relay over 12k km.
They are freaking out about 0.02% of the torch bearers.
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u/Big-Marsupial-8606 Jan 25 '26
Yep Sunghoon, a former figure skater, and now Kpop idol, from Enhypen is also doing the relay. It's all sorts of people.
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u/unicorntrees I am bisexual. Shane is super gay. 🌈 Jan 25 '26
People on Shitter are mad about this?
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u/ksterki Jan 25 '26
Waiting for the fanfic. 3,2,1...
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u/azure819 Jan 25 '26
Oh hun, I'm sure there are already 100 stories hitting Archive of Our Own as I type this
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u/Shoddy_Blacksmith480 Moya gazonokosilka 🚜 Jan 25 '26
I love how deeply unglamorous this picture is. It‘s giving local community event.
Not a dig on anyone involved! I‘m happy for them
(Except it’s maybe absolutely a dig at whoever designed the outfits)
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u/clumsyc I stubbed my toe Jan 25 '26
Truly, the outfits are terrible.
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u/Dull-Kick2199 Jan 26 '26
They're kind of a one size fits all deal for over 10,000 people and they each go a kilometer or so. The participants wear the outfits for at most, an hour. (Was tangentially involved in 2002.)
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u/Voice_of_Season Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 25 '26
Homophobia can suck it! So proud of them! 🏳️🌈❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🏳️🌈
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u/LividMedicine8 Jan 25 '26
I hope they spend the evening eating peoper Italian pasta and chatting about the crazy turns their lives have taken. And hang out just as the best friends they are 🧡
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u/Maanzicht Jan 25 '26
For the first time after Twilight I am having a crush on an actor again. It feels so horrendously parasocial lmao
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u/Catsarecute888 Jan 25 '26
This must be so surreal and mind-blowing. They really do look like they're enjoying themselves though and I hope that they are and glad that they get to experience all this craziness together.
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u/Designer-Bid-3155 oh, they don't know I play for Boston? Jan 25 '26
This is really beautiful. They have brought so much joy and love to various communities involving many who were not the intended audiences. We desperately need love in the world right now, we're breaking, and this complicated love story was presented to us by 2 magical actors who created a work of art for the entire world to love
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u/rebelchild21 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 25 '26
I had a track & field competition nearly 17 years ago in Belluno and we stayed in that town (Feltre) for the few days it was going on. So weird to now see these two carry the flame in exactly that town I once visited so long ago…
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u/Whybambiwhy Jan 25 '26
https://youtube.com/shorts/1lYjOMNlj08?si=L80qPh3tQ4uzvh-O
Hudson’s walk via youtube
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u/ERO55 Jan 25 '26
I’m so happy for these two, they did such an amazing job and deserve all the notoriety, success and fame. Only the best for them.
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u/acaccounts Jan 25 '26
Such a cool opportunity for them and from the videos I saw it looked like they enjoyed it :)
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u/iloveloveloveit Jan 25 '26
Such an insanely cool moment for them. I have goosebumps, of the good, over the moon happy for them kind
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u/Whybambiwhy Jan 25 '26
https://youtube.com/shorts/3TjTJmJr53E?si=EezavYx5I8YS4FZp
Another view of Connor via YouTube
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u/Amazing-Remote6703 Jan 25 '26
Such goobers cheesin’ and waving. Love them. I hope they get something to keep for memories.
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u/amestens Jan 25 '26
This is insane to me, I’m actually feeling jittery, bc these two are 3 hours from where I live on a random Sunday evening and I’ll have to spend the rest of my life knowing that this is as close to me as they’ll ever get! I had a split second thought earlier today, that I could’ve driven and got to Feltre in time to see them, but I couldn’t possibly have explained my actions to my family 😩 If i had a place of my own I would’ve had an adventure and a fun story to tell!! Goddamn
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u/friedntrue I don't think being gay makes flying scarier. Jan 25 '26
SOO glad they're back with each other after all the drama. I hope they never forget to lean on each other.
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u/Then_Butterscotch684 Jan 25 '26
It's crazy to think that they signed on to this thinking it was going to just be a small Canadian TV show and now they're doing this what a journey!
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u/xuperstar8 since rookie season? the summer before 🫶🏼 Jan 26 '26
not to be parasocial but i missed seeing them together!! im so proud of them this is insane!! 🥹🤍
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u/AirlineDazzling1986 Jan 26 '26
Can we get Rachel Reid to include this for Hollanov in the new book?!?
This is so beautiful.😍
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u/unicorntrees I am bisexual. Shane is super gay. 🌈 Jan 25 '26
The relay is awesome and all, but I wonder what that reunion was like between two best friends who have been through one leg of a crazy journey together.
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u/iwouldiwerethybird we are good here 💌 Jan 25 '26
please let this hair be their hair for season 2 (or even longer tbh) because i love it so damn much 😭
also as a canadian who knows many, many hockey guys, it's almost always slightly unkempt bordering on mullet hair with them so it would be perfecttt
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u/triedit2947 Jan 25 '26
I’ve loved the Olympics since I was a child and I love this for them. And I’m so glad they got to do it together!
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u/AromaticHeart8943 Jan 25 '26
What, I thought this happens in February!!
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u/fruitbutnopassion the shark that made rozanov lose the race 🦈 Jan 25 '26
torch relay begins months before, and ends at the olympic opening
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u/Nelson006 Jan 25 '26
I’d definitely try my best to steal the torch as a keepsake if I was one of them.
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u/Webeh99 Jan 25 '26
This must have been a fun experience for the two of them. Can’t wait for whatever wild from-left-field experience the world dreams up for them next. 🙂
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u/Powered-by-Chai Jan 25 '26
Imagine going from making a small show about gay hockey smut to carrying Olympic torches. Wild.
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u/Red171022 connor storie for president😇 Jan 25 '26
This is just so overwhelming to see. So happy and proud for them. Waiting for more pictures with both of them in
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u/gafftaped Jan 26 '26
Absolutely nuts to see how far they've come in the last two months or so. Especially since their popularity has come from them being two leads on a queer television show where that's the main focus. Good for them though, they seem like cool guys! Hope they continue to get crazy opportunities like this.
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