Team USA Skier Hunter Hess Admits ‘It’s a Little Hard’ Representing the U.S. Right Now. I’ll Say!
Olympians are no strangers to hard work, but it can’t be easy having to represent Team USA on the world’s biggest sports stage if you have even a drop of awareness, empathy, or understanding about all the horrors happening in the country right now. So I very much appreciated that on Friday, when skiers were asked how they felt about representing the U.S., our dear compatriots didn’t hold back.
“I feel heartbroken about what’s happen[ing] in the United States,” Chris Lillis said. “I think that as a country we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect.”
“It’s definitely a tough time in our country right now,” commented Svea Irving. “I just continue to represent my values, compassion and love and respect for others.”
“It brings out mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now. It’s a little hard,” freestyle skier Hunter Hess added. “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and I think a lot of people aren’t. I think for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe that are good about the U.S. I just think, if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it.”
For some inexplicable reason, Trump really didn’t like Hess’ comments specifically, and on Sunday called the 27-year-old debut Olympian a “real loser.”
Naturally, MAGA piled onto the crashout. Katie Miller—otherwise known as the anti-immigration troll’s wife and the country’s least charismatic podcaster—tweeted, “If you can’t say you love America while competing on behalf of our nation then you shouldn’t be at the Olympics.” “YOU chose to wear our flag. YOU chose to represent our country. YOU chose to compete at the [Olympics],” wrote Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fl.) “If that’s too hard for you, then GO HOME.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fl.) went a step further, saying—without explicitly naming Hess, “Representing the United States—a beacon for freedom and democracy—at the Olympics is an honor. Anyone who feels otherwise should be stripped of their USA Olympic uniform.” I know it’s the Winter Games, but even this is too many snowflakes for me.
Speaking to CNN, a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Spokesperson said in a statement, “Our focus is on Hunter’s protection and on ensuring he has the support and resources in place to compete on the world’s largest stage.” Their comment also followed Amber Glenn’s remarks. The Team USA figure skater faced backlash after saying in a separate press conference that the LGBTQ+ community has faced “hard times” under Trump, and that this year “isn’t the first time we’ve had to come together as a community to fight for our human rights.” (Glenn identifies as pan and bi.) In a now-expired Instagram Story, Glenn said she received “a scary amount of hate/threats” after her comments.
“I’m sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so… unrelated to the spirit of the Games,” Eileen Gu, a freestyle skier who used to compete for the U.S. but switched to China, told The Athletic of Hess’s comments. (The publication noted that Gu paused while speaking, and seemed to mull her words carefully.) “It really runs contrary to everything the Olympics should be.”
“Obviously, my parents being immigrants, this one definitely hits pretty close to home. I think in moments like these it is important for us to unite and stand up for one another,” Chloe Kim, a two-time gold winner, added. “I’m really proud to represent the United States. The U.S. has given my family so much opportunity, but I also think we are allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on.”
On Instagram on Monday, Hess seemingly replied to Trump on Instagram: “I love my country. 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. The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.” U.K. Olympian Gus Kenworthy—who has my formal endorsement for a gold medal this year—put it best in his comment on Hess’ post: “Love you and proud of you, Hunt!”