At an Olympic news conference on February 10, Team USA Olympic curling athlete Rich Ruohonen said “[…] What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of grey. It’s clear,” in reference to recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-related attacks that have occurred over the past few months in the United States. American immigration enforcement and ICE-related incidents of violence have made global headlines, reaching this year’s Olympic Games host city, Milan, Italy. On January 31, hundreds of demonstrators protested outside of the Milan Olympic Games venue against the deployment of ICE agents into the city to support “diplomatic security details.”
What Did the Athletes Say?
Ruohonen was not the only American Olympian to speak out against current events in his home country. Several other athletes across sports including figure skating and skiing spoke up about the difficulty of championing the United States while reconciling with its recent violence. Three Olympians in particular—Hunter Hess, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Amber Glenn—made headlines for their comments.
When asked in late January how he felt representing the United States of America, Hunter Hess—a Team USA Olympic skier—replied, “it brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now, I think. It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.” He concluded his answer by saying that he is proud to represent his friends, family, and the things that align with his moral values. On February 9, he later followed up in an Instagram post, saying, “[…] There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better. One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.”
During her press week, two-time Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin was asked how she felt representing the U.S. during a time of deep social and political division. The elite alpine skier replied, “I think there’s a lot of hardship in the world globally, and there’s a lot of heartbreak, there’s a lot of violence. It can be tough to reconcile that when you’re also competing for medals in an Olympic event.” She concluded her answer by sharing Nelson Mandela’s words on a peaceful society: “Peace is not just the absence of conflict. Peace is the creation of an environment where we can all flourish regardless of […] social markers of difference.”
On February 4th during the pre-Olympics press conference, Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn opened up, saying, “It’s been a hard time for the [LGBTQ+] community overall and this administration. It isn’t the first time that we’ve had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights. Now especially, it’s not just affecting the queer community, but many other communities.” She concluded her answer by saying that she hopes “to use [her] platform and [her] voice throughout these games to try and encourage people to stay strong in these hard times.”
What Was the Response?
Athletes who voiced opposition to U.S. policies received significant backlash for their comments. Critics have called for these athletes to be removed from Team USA if they continue voicing dissent. On February 8, President Trump called Hunter Hess a “real loser” in a Truth Social post, arguing that “he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team” and stating, “[it’s] very hard to root for someone like this.” White House Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley echoed President Trump’s sentiments, posting that athletes should “Represent America with pride or GTFO” on X. A U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) spokesperson responded to the backlash in a statement on February 8, highlighting that there has been “an uptick in abusive and harmful messages directed at athletes during competition.” Glenn herself said that she received a “scary amount of hate” for speaking up and that she is “disappointed” in people’s responses to her calls for “human rights and decency.”
Amid the backlash, many have come to athletes’ aid, defending their right to speak out against the Trump administration or current events in America. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on X that “[America] is not a monarchy. This is the United States and no one is required to bow down to you. […] [Hunter Hess] is a proud American.” Senator Chris Coons of Delaware told The Hill that “[t]here is nothing more patriotic than questioning your own country when its leadership makes decisions that are so sharply out of line with our values and traditions.”
What Will Happen to the Athletes?
As the Winter Olympics continue through February, the pushback raises questions about how these athletes may be treated when they return home. According to its statement, the USOPC “stands firmly behind Team USA athletes and remains committed to their well-being and safety,” making it likely that athletes will not face penalties from the Team USA organization itself.