Every four years, the spirit of sports — strength, agility and endurance — shines bright when the world comes together to go for the gold. As we prepare to cheer on elite athletes from the USA in the 25th Winter Games, we’re showcasing adaptations and behaviors of our very own Team SCA superstar species paired with your favorite events!
Cross-Country Skiing: Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Unparalleled Navigation Across Miles
Cross-country skiers showcase incredible endurance, trekking miles across snow to the finish line. We know another great navigator that travels thousands of miles to reach their goal: the loggerhead sea turtle. Did you know female loggerheads — no matter how far they’ve migrated — return to the very beach they hatched on to lay their own eggs? These sea turtles utilize Earth’s magnetic field to guide them. Talk about stamina and a great sense of direction!
Caretta, our resident loggerhead sea turtle, can be seen in our Great Ocean Tank.
Ski Mountaineering (Skimo): River Otter
Strength Plus Speed on the Mountains
Ski mountaineering — or skimo — makes its debut in the Winter Games this year! Athletes test their endurance and agility through natural terrain as they ascend a mountain on foot, then race back down upon skis. We’ve chosen our river otters, Charlie and Beau, to represent skimo for Team SCA. Their webbed feet and sharp claws propel them through water and brush, while their thick tail becomes the key to speed. Plus, with up to 373,000 hairs per square inch of fur, these otters are ready to tackle cold mountain environments with ease!
Charlie and Beau, our resident river otters, can be seen in the Mountain Forest.
Nordic Combined: Bald Eagle
Endurance Meets High-Flying Prowess
To be successful in Nordic combined — consisting of both cross-country skiing and ski jumping — one needs to be an expert in multiple skills and techniques. Team SCA has the perfect representative for this sport: Liberty the bald eagle! Bald eagles not only soar through the skies at altitudes of 10,000+ feet, but they also practice pinpoint precision, sticking their landing to snatch prey with specially-adapted talons. A visit to Liberty’s exhibit gives you the chance to get up-close views of this species, the national bird of the United States!
Liberty, our resident bald eagle, can be seen in the Mountain Forest.
Curling: Horseshoe Crab
Slow but Rock-Solid
Curling is played with a stone of polished granite. Through 10 rounds, one athlete uses controlled aim to reach a target across the “pebble ice” (named for the water droplets frozen on top) as their teammates sweep the path to reduce friction. Horseshoe crabs — with a protective rounded exoskeleton — move slowly across the ocean floor, foraging by “sweeping” with their 10 legs! Without teeth, they utilize a gizzard filled with sand and pebbles to grind down meals. Having lived on Earth for more than 450 million years, this species carries the torch when it comes to adaptations!
Horseshoe crabs can be seen (and gently touched) in our Boneyard Beach Touch Tank Experience.
Snowboarding: American Alligator
Born in the USA To Rock a Signature Roll
Did you know snowboarding originated in the United States? Throughout events like Big Air, halfpipe and slopestyle, athletes perform incredible tricks and spins, nailing the landing to take a spot on the podium. Our Team SCA representative for snowboarding is the American alligator! These radical reptiles are known to show off a unique style all their own. To execute their “death roll” hunting technique, alligators bite down with incredible force, then spin like a corkscrew to dismember prey. Talk about tubular!
American alligators can be seen in our Coastal Plain.
Alpine Skiing: Robust Redhorse
Downstream Survivors
Alpine skiing has been in Winter Games for 90 years. The newest event — super-G — was added in the 1980s. That’s about the same time the robust redhorse was rediscovered! These fish (easily identified by their downturned mouth) were thought to be extinct for more than 100 years, but just as a single skier makes their presence known through tracks down a mountain, these fish made their (re)appearance downstream in the Oconee River! Today, vulnerable robust redhorse populations are bouncing back thanks to teamwork from humans via reintroduction to natural habitats!
Robust redhorse can be seen in our Piedmont.
Short Track Speed Skating: Barracuda
Quick With Razor-Sharp Blades
Short track speed skating requires incredible energy, bursts of power and winning precision. The barracuda is our Team SCA pick to represent this sport. As ambush predators, barracudas can swim at speeds of more than 30 miles per hour! Just as elite athletes arm themselves with specialized skates, the barracuda overtakes prey with blade-like teeth. Their elongated body and pointed snout makes them adapted to win any sprint against the competition!
Barracuda can be seen in our Great Ocean Tank.
Ski Jumping: Bullfrog
Strong Legs Propel Amazing Lengths
Ski jumpers push the boundaries of remaining Earth-bound, soaring over distances topping 350 feet! To achieve this superhuman feat, athletes remain steady on their legs as they fly down a ramp, reaching speeds of more than 50 miles per hour. Our Team SCA jumper, the bullfrog, achieves incredible distance without the specialized equipment! Bullfrogs can leap up to 15 times their body length (or seven feet) in a single bound thanks to extremely strong and flexible legs. Their most unique adaptation may be the iliosacral joint at their lower back, which acts like a spring!
Frogs, including the bullfrog, can be seen in our Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Figure Skating: Mermaids
Sparkles and Grace Shine
Let’s finish with a true showstopper! Figure skating showcases strength, technique and grace as athletes glide, jump and turn in intricate positions, all while evoking emotion and artistry. Team SCA has the perfect representative for this fan-favorite sport! With a talent for elegant expression — in the water instead of on the ice — plus the charisma to connect with a crowd, mermaids captivate with dazzling demonstrations. Weekends in February, you can experience the enchantment in person as mermaids swim into our Aquarium!
Mermaids can be seen in Carolina Seas weekends in February.
When it’s time to hit “pause” on your home viewing of the Games, visit the stars of Team SCA at the South Carolina Aquarium! You’ll get a front-row seat to views of feats of strength, grace and agility from our animal representatives and even the chance to meet a mermaid. Pro Tip: Buy your tickets early and save!
Published January 30, 2026