The morning after the night before can always be a sobering event.
But for Canada's women ice hockey players, the headache might last a lifetime.
The International Olympic Committee has decided to investigate a raucous party the women held on ice after their gold medal victory in Vancouver.
Fears are growing that they could be stripped of their medals for their distinctly un-Olympian efforts.
The women celebrated their 2-0 victory against arch-rivals America by guzzling beer, swigging from bottles of champagne and puffing on cigars.
Unfortunately, they chose to do it on the ice rink, in full view of the public and cameras, rather than in the changing room.
Even worse, star player Marie-Philip Poulin, 18, the youngest in the team and scorer of the two goals, is under British Columbia's legal drinking age of 19. Photos showed Poulin on the ice, with a beer in her hand.
Another player, Haley Irwin, poured champagne into the mouth of teammate Tessa Bonhomme while gold medals swung from their necks.
And one of the women, Rebecca Johnston, even tried to drive the ice-resurfacing machine during the party.
Gilbert Felli, the IOC's executive director of the Olympic Games, said he was unaware of the incidents until informed by a reporter.
'If that's the case, that is not good,' Mr Felli said. 'It is not what we want to see. I don't think it's a good promotion of sport values. If they celebrate in the changing room, that's one thing, but not in public.
'We will investigate what happened.' Steve Keough, a spokesman for the Canadian Olympic Committee, said they had not provided the alcohol nor initiated the party.
In terms of the actual celebration, it's not exactly something uncommon in Canada,' he said, referring to the wild locker-room celebrations that are a tradition in some professional team sports.
'If these athletes were of legal age, then it's not something that's against the law,' he said, adding: 'We don't condone actions of irresponsibility.'
Trying to head off any more problems, Hockey Canada apologised and said the celebrations were the result of the 'excitement of the moment'.
Celebrating with booze is hardly unique to Canadian sports stars.
England's cricketers famously marked their 2005 Ashes victory by partying for at least 24 hours, while more recently Welsh rugby star Andy Powell celebrated a dramatic victory over Scotland by driving a golf trolley down the M4 - a stunt which got him dropped from the team.
The gold winning Canadian team enjoy a bottle of Champagne following the medal's ceremony
Canada's Rebecca Johnston rides on an ice surfacing machine as teammates celebrate their gold medal victory against the U.S.
On ice: The IOC has launched an investigation into the Canadian's exuberant celebrations
Dejected but dignified: Caitlin Cahow and Monique Lamoureux of the United States look on after receiving their silver medals
Haley Irwin of Canada celebrates winning the gold medal with a bottle of bubbly during the ice hockey women's gold medal game between Canada and USA
Haley Irwin and Meghan Agosta of Canada kneel on the ice and celebrate winning the gold medal with bubbly and beer
Haley Irwin and Meghan Agosta of Canada kneel on the ice and celebrate winning the gold medal with bubbly and beer
Causing a stir: Danish curler Madeleine Dupont, 22, has sparked controversy after posing topless for a charity calendar and, right, U.S. snowboarder Scotty Lago voluntarily left the games after an embarrassing picture of him with a fan circulated on the internet
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