Winter Olympians Rally in Support of Hunter Hess Following Trump's 'Loser' Attack
American-born freeskier Eileen Gu, who competes for China, has voiced her sympathy for fellow athlete Hunter Hess after former US President Donald Trump labelled him "a real Loser" on social media. The controversy erupted when Hess, during the Winter Olympics, expressed ambivalence about representing the United States amidst Trump's immigration crackdown, stating, "Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US."
Athletes Speak Out on Unity and Compassion
Gu, who won a silver medal in slopestyle on Monday, revealed she had been in contact with Hess, noting he felt she was one of the few who could relate to his predicament. "As someone who’s been caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes," said Gu, whose decision to ski for China has previously drawn intense scrutiny. She described the situation as "an unwinnable press war" for Hess, lamenting that the political fallout could distract from the Olympic Games' true essence.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim, whose parents are South Korean immigrants, emphasised the importance of solidarity. "I think in moments like these, it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that’s going on," she said. Kim, who has faced racism in her career, added, "My parents being immigrants from Korea, this one definitely hits pretty close to home. I’m really proud to represent the United States... but I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions."
Broader Reactions from the Winter Sports Community
Other athletes joined the chorus of support, highlighting themes of diversity and free expression. Snowboarder Bea Kim commented, "I think there are a lot of different opinions in the US right now. Obviously we’re very divided... I personally am very proud to represent the United States. That being said, I think diversity is what makes us a very strong country." Teammate Maddie Mastro echoed these sentiments, stating, "I’m also saddened with what’s happening at home. It’s really tough and I feel like we can’t turn a blind eye to that."
In a related incident, British-American skier Gus Kenworthy reported receiving death threats after his anti-ICE protest last week, underscoring the heightened tensions surrounding political issues at the Games. Gu expressed regret that the controversy was overshadowing the Olympic spirit, saying, "I’m sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so... unrelated to the spirit of the Games. It really runs contrary to everything that the Olympics should be."
The Olympic Ideal Amidst Political Discord
Reflecting on the core values of sport, Gu added, "The whole point of sport is to bring people together. One of the very few common languages, that of the human body, that of the human spirit, the competitive spirit, the capacity to break not only records, but especially in our sport, literally the human limit. How wonderful is that?" This incident has sparked a broader conversation about the role of athletes in political discourse and the challenges of maintaining Olympic unity in a polarised world.
