(AFP) – US Olympian Hunter Hess said Friday he had found extra motivation after President Donald Trump called him a “real loser” for saying he had mixed feelings about representing America in the current political climate.
The freestyle skier was asked earlier at the Milan-Cortina Games how he feels about representing his country, given acute tensions over violent immigration raids and other political crises. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US,” Hess said at the press conference in Italy.
Trump then blasted Hess on his Truth Social platform, saying: “Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics.” Hess, who qualified for the men’s freeski halfpipe final in fifth place on Friday, made an “L” sign on his forehead as he completed his first run. When asked why he had made the gesture, the 27-year-old said: “Apparently I’m a loser”.
Hess said he was embracing the label and that the furore had boosted his motivation. “I worked so hard to be here. I sacrificed my entire life to make this moment happen,” he said after completing his second qualifying run at Livigno Snow Park. “I’m not going to let controversy like that get in my way. I love the United States of America. I cannot say that enough.”
But Hess admitted the media storm had been distracting. “I had a week that was pretty challenging,” he said. “Luckily my family was there to support me to get through it. There was a lot of noise and I’ve never been subject to that type of criticism. But with my family’s help I was able to get through it.”
“Skiing has saved my life time and time again. And it seems to have done so again.” Hess emphasised that he stood by his previous remarks. “I love the United States of America. I cannot reiterate that enough. My entire family, they all live there. It means the absolute world to me to be able to represent Team USA here.” – John WEAVER
© 2024 AFP
