Olympic snowboarder Scotty Lago is packing up his bronze medal and leaving Vancouver after racy pictures surfaced online.
Lago apologized to officials at the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association after TMZ posted photos taken on a public street of a girl on her knees kissing his medal which he had placed over his…ummm…private parts. In another photo, the same girl is seen biting the medal.
The 22-year-old New Hampshire native is voluntarily heading home before the Olympic closing ceremony.
So what are your thoughts? Are the pictures scandalous? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think.
It turns out the whole thing may have been intentionally staged by the girl in the photos – details here.
By way of contrast, Bode Miller, the bad boy of the Torino Games has shed his former image by winning bronze, silver and finally GOLD – check it out here.
photos via TMZ
Does anyone know the name of the girl?
To be truly honest. No one is to judge on whether this is right or wrong. Who cares. Tiger Woods did it, and it was a big damn deal. Who CARES. You get put on blast in Hollywood so reporters can make a dollar.
Hey, no big deal. The guy won a medal & was happy.
Next up, no more breathing, – it promotes life.
What a world full of hypocrites and non-sense! So regular people can party all they want without remorse, while athletes who work so hard to achieve their goals cannot have fun. Is being a successful athlete a blessing or punishment?
Was is good taste? No. But is it immoral? Not really. No one was being forced, nothing was illegal, the setting is well– a club. If they did it on stage when receiving his medal, then it is a contempt. Technology is gotten to a point where people get confused that athletes too have a private life we should respect.
Ok the girl maybe wanted to see if the medal was real by biting it. As for the other photo, it looks a little inappropriate but the medal is not around his waist. It is hanging, maybe the girl bent down on her own and someone else asked to see his abs. Sometimes pictures are not what they seem. Are there any other angles?
Sex in the city, The Bachelor, etc, etc those are not racy, bunch of hypocrites!
Oh yeah what Scotty did is what’s wrong the entire US of A. Give me a break!
A bumch of idiots that spoiled Scotty’s moment of joy. And to all those ‘morality preachers’ : “Go and clean up your life and that of your family first!” don’t be holier than the Pope! That piece of metal is just metal IDIOTS, there is nothing sacred about it.
I can’t believe how many people are commenting that his behavior is not a big deal. this is exactley what is wrong with america today. this kid should have shown some respect to his sport and the olympics.
It makes me sad that Scotty Lago had/volunteered to go home because of this. Yes, for some little kids this might be inappropriate, but Scotty is not a little kid and he was celebrating being one of the best snowboarders in the world. Who wouldn’t?
Ok really… He left because of those pics??? I really don’t see what the big deal is. He’s a young guy celebrating his win. I don’t see any harm in what he’s doing. Hell, if I was in his shoes, I’d be doing the same thing.
And for those so concerned about him making a mockery of the medal by letting her kiss or bite it., you probably don’t want to know what some other athletes are doing with their medals. Trust me, he’s having harmless fun with a cute girl. Get over yourselves…
Tacky, low class and crude. Why does sex have to show up EVERYWHERE? Why can’t people be tasteful, respectful and professional these days? This is the Olympics people, not some slimy low class freak/sex show. What happened to being a decent respectful human in a sporting event?
Haha I think the pictures are hilarious, I mean he’s very happy about winning his bronze and he’s young so things like this happens. I don’t really think it’s that bad but people can easily be offended but whatever though he’s still accomplished something that most will not.
This is insane. A young lad was out celebrating a well-deserved medal, what’s the big deal? Scotty, they are a bunch of pathetic hypocrites.
I’m a 60 year old woman who thinks Scotty is a hottie. I don’t see the big deal. He’s a kid having fun and out celebrating. Way to go Olympic committee for spoiling a kid’s big moment. Shame on you. It’s embarrassing to be an American at times like this.
This is what happens when you make things like snowboarding an Olympic event. These guys are partiers, not serioius athletes. What did people expect!
PLEASE. I am a 56 yr. old woman and as another commenter stated “Shame on you America.” Also, shame on the Olympic Commitee for finding those photos racy–they’re supposed to judge the competitive events, not the people. I find absolutely nothing wrong with these photos. Look at the media. They brought all this on and our Gov’t. allows it. He’s young, having fun, won a medal and boys love girls, always have, always will (well most of them anyway). Why always look for the negative???I’ll never understand.
Yes, it’s tacky, but mostly it’s sad that kids can’t do dumb things without it exploding all over the Internet.
Go to some bars in Vancouver on a weekend, and you will see far worse than that from the locals.. It may have been in poor taste, but nothing scandalous about it. Kids being stupid and having some fun. Canadians are not near as high and mighty as they would like the world to believe.. Not by a long shot..
Just a young man proud of his medal and having a good time. WTF?
These are not offensive pictures. What a bunch of ninnies Olympic officials must be. I’m 64 and don’t see anything wrong with young people having fun.
its purely a winners celebration. The picture does not reflect sexual context, its all in your dirty mind. If he was naked, then its considered porno. IOC needs to recall back Lago for the closing ceremony.
I am a 64 year old woman, and I am certainly not shocked by these pictures. Give the guy a break, he’s young and having fun. I think the USOC is overly controlling and sometimes just plain nuts in the decisions they make.
I don’t see what the fuss is all about. Much ado about nothing!
R U Kidd’n me??? Seriously??? These are not scandalous photos. Looks like a young guy having fun after a stressful race – give him a break – gees!
I’m no prude but putting a medal over someone’s dick and having a girl kiss it looks pretty bad. If you’re supposed to be on your best behavior while at the Olympics. Shaun White won the freaking gold and he didn’t go make an ass out of himself in front of the entire world. Other countries all ready think we’re stupid fatties who never exercise, now they probably think our youth parties endlessly and we can’t control our hormones.
And personally if I won a medal of ANY COLOR I would go to a party and with it and feed it to some girl. I’d treat it with just as much care as I would a baby because this could be the last medal he ever wins.
He looks like a douche. I have zero respect for him now. Go ahead. Flame me. I don’t care.
lol is that Greg Bretz in the background of one of the pics?
Also, I agree with Joni. It really does not surprise me in the least that a 20-something year old would do something like this.
When I heard that he was dismissed because of racy pics with his bronze medal, I thought that meant he had posed nude with it or something. These are not bad at all. It’s his medal. Who cares what he does with it?
what the hell I was thinking he had nudes on a website or something.. how is this sooo bad??
Give him a break he has to pack up and go home because of this?? wow
Its not even close to racy. He’s a snowboarder and part of the snowboarding culture is booze, girls, and just plain having fun. That is pretty much the status quo for all snowboarders in all countries!
Please, you have got to be kidding. I’m a 50 year old woman and I don’t find this offensive.
Kudos to Lago for leaving so it becomes a non-issue.
Shame on the rest of us for making him feel like he had to. Pathetic.
He puts all the time and effort into winning a medal for the US and then lets off a little steam with a little harmless fun and inuendo. Are we so delicate and self-righteous? Come on.
You’ve got to be kidding me. This is racy?? Obviously ppl who are offended by this have never hung out with shredders. This is nuthin!
I think his apology should be enough. Having to leave the olympics is over the top for the immature behavior. He was on a “high” from having worked for years and having won. Let it go and let the punishment suit the crime for goodness sake.
People are just looking for something to bitch about. Congrats on the bronze for the USA.
These athletes train their asses off for the Olympics and then ignorant people like members of TMZ go and rip them apart. I was a fortunate one to watch Lago’s performance on the half-pipe and found it marvelous!! He truly deserves that bronze medal! All he was doing was just celebrating his victory! To be honest when i heard this headline I imagined the pictures to be much worse so to me this is ridiculous!! The guy was just having some fun..give him a break. He deserves the fun not the ridiculous bashing he is getting for these pictures. Come on..give the guy a break!!
If people only knew what goes on in the Olympic Village during the games between the athletes. It’s like a UN smorgasbord, what flavor do you want tonight. Nothing to see here, folks.
Leave the kid alone. He is 22,,,no harm done. He didn’t hurt anyone.
TMZ shame on you. May karma get you someday. You deserve what you get by trying to destroy people and their lives. The Lord will get you.
Scotty,,,,,,,,,you did notheing wrong………you are a great boarder and a great kid. I know cause I knew you when I lived in N.H. In fact was a coach on your footballl team.
Hey Mike..Jealous much? We own the Summer Olympics and now we own the Winter Olympics. I’m guessing you are Canadian..when is the last time you won a Stanley Cup? Hahahaha!
Why must people claim America is ignorant because of a stupid picture? Was the girl American too? Hummmm……
There is not thing wrong with the photos. They are not smut. My only feelings are that he is degrading the girl. To me that is the biggest judgment error.
@ Mike
Only ignorant one is you, to take this guys action, and apply it to an entire country. One of the most diverse countries in the world. Makes TONS of sense.
It is quite unfortunate that our country’s “moral standards” are dictated by sexually repressed, narrow-minded, impotent old men and frigid women who have absolutely NO idea what it means to truly enjoy life.
He screwed up. I don’t care if it’s not that racy, the point is he’s treating a medal, which you should hold highly like that, being bitten an abused. When a bunch of other competitors would kill for it, and then he’s pulling stuff like that?
All it shows that he had a phase of classlessness, and made the right move by leaving. It’d make it worse if he dismissed responsibility for dragging that beautiful medal through the dirt. He’s taking responsibility so I won’t say he’s an idiot, he just did something really stupid.
This really isn’t that bad at all…plus during the Beijing olympics I remember reading an article about how they supplied condoms in the athletes rooms because of all the sex that seems to happen in the Athlete Village, I think that is a little bit worse than someone kissing a medal. Don’t the athletes do it all the time on the podium, If I met someone with a metal I would ask to kiss it too!
This is considered racy?LOL!How old are the people who complained?95?
Were’nt we all young once and did silly things?
Let these young people have their fun.I don’t see what’s the big deal and the US Olympic Commitee & Ski Officials should get over it and show some tolerance and just enjoy the fact that Scotty won another medal for the USA.
OMG! It’s no big deal besides he VOLUNTARILY LEFT on his own because he was embarrased. WHO CARES! This pic IS NOT RACY. He’s young & just having fun on a public street and celebrating! He’s taking pics with fans! What’s he suppose to do? Turn down fans who want to take pics with him??? Get over it.
Come on. It is exactly what it looks like. The Olympic committee is entitled to have it’s representatives behave a certain way while under their jurisdiction. Stop making excuses for unseemly behavior. He has the rest of his life to wear his medal around his hips (?!) — but while representing the USA in front of the world, why not try to show a little class?
I don’t see why this is such a big deal. Then again we live in a society that looks down on anyone who doesn’t act politically correct. No matter what nowadays it’s as if every person has to walk a certain path or they are deemed a menace to society. The land of the free isn’t looking to be so free anymore.
Silly really. The guy just finished stressing out, won a medal and was out letting off some stream. Shame on you TMZ for ruining his fun and making him end his olympic experiance early. By the way when did we all become puritans that we can laugh at some silliness. He deserved to stay and experience the full of his olympic moments He earned it!
I agree with other 90% this isn’t racy its stupid. If i was to win a medal i’d be partying a lot more than that. Kudos to the stupid person wanting some attention by leaking the pictures, and round of applause to the people making a big deal out of nothing
Really? Has anyone watched an episode of Two and a Half Men lately? Get a grip America! We got people dying in the Middle East. I say let the boy have fun…I’m actually a little disappointed in the lad for not having that thing around his junk while she was down there.
Burn him at the stake, his tattoo looks unfinished.
Just another example of America’s ignorance.
Scotty Lago is hot. Kudos to that chick. However, it is a TAD inappropriate…
what a bro!
I am a 43 year old woman and I do not feel that there is anything wrong with these picture. I really don’t.
Snowboarders are as dumb as a box of hair. Did anyone notice that they didn’t even know the words to the national anthem while they were on the podium?! It’s a shame the Olympics are funded by taxpayers!
The first pic, it’s the girl holding the medal in her hands..possibly just picking it up and or bowing to his washboard abs….second photo just looks like he is taking the medal from her as she bites it. It’s the girl’s actions and why blame Lago for it. This is SO taken out of context ppl! Shame on IOC for that! Get over yourselves… BUT allowing the publishing and advertising of the Olympic Athletes half dressed in provocative/sexy poses is OK to you?!
The pics depict that it’s all a joke…as the controversy over disrespecting his medal and what it stands for!
In support of Lago…and I am from another country!!!
This is racy? wow this country is so sensitive. I see worse on TV all the time.
I’ve got a 20 year old son, who also snowboards. They’re all idiots at that age. Is anyone REALLY that shocked?
Not scandalous, unless you have the self-righteous, hypocritical sensibility of, say, SP or MM. He’s a happy kid being a kid. The Olympics are not sacrosanct. They are part of the business of entertainment. Nothing more. Nothing less. And these pictures are entertainment…otherwise, why would TMZ be publishing them…certainly not to make the lives of these entertaining kids miserable. Shame on TMZ and shame on you scandal-mongers.
What is the big deal? That is his personal life.
what the hell its not like a medal is a holy object that he was desecrating. he won a medal and was having some fun, its not like he was destroying it. anyways if all u goodie goodie people have a problem with it, you can go fudge yourselves.
I think its just a matter of a young guy having fun. I mean it was a party, its not like he was smoking up, or drinking beer. Hes just having a good time, he deserves it, i mean he probably worked really hard to get that medal, anyone would party like this.
I see a young man and a young woman celebrating. Perhaps it is in bad taste for some, but I’m not that much of a prude.
I really do not think that these images are scandalous. Its just a young guy having fun and having a laugh.