Freestyle skier Hunter Hess said Friday that wearing an American flag does not mean he supports what is “going on” in the United States.Members of Team USA at the Winter Olympics spoke to reporters and said they had mixed feelings about representing Team USA. “There are mixed emotions that come with representing the United States right now,” Hess said, adding, “It’s a little difficult and there’s obviously a lot of things that I’m not the most passionate about and I think a lot of people aren’t either.” “Just because I’m wearing a flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in America.”Chris Lillis, a 2022 Olympic gold medalist and freestyle skier from Rochester, New York, also commented, tying his concerns to immigration enforcement and protests in the United States.“I’m heartbroken about what’s happening in America,” Lillis said. “I think as a country we need to focus on respecting everyone’s rights and making sure that we treat our citizens and anyone else with love and respect.”“I hope when people see athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize this is the America we want to represent,” he added.
‘Boycott the Winter Olympics ‘
The comments spread on social media, with critics accusing him of criticizing the country he was supposed to represent and saying they would boycott the Olympics, the New York Post reported.“This privileged athlete’s comments make it clear that he puts himself far ahead of his country in this game,” one user on X wrote. “His comments are an insult to Team USA and the spirit of the Olympic Games. Cut them.”Another wrote that Hess’s “whole purpose of going there was to represent America,” adding that if he had mixed feelings, “there are other skiers out there who would love to be there.”Others said the comments were enough to make them stop watching.“You know what? I’m going to go ahead and shut it down now,” one critic on X wrote on the official Olympics account.“I was planning not to watch it, now it’s a done deal!” another added.Some believe there is no choice in patriotism.“When you wear the Stars and Stripes, you represent all of us, not just the parts you like,” another commenter wrote. “‘Mixed emotions?’ Then stay home and let the people who love this country shine.”Hess, 27, is from Bend, Ore., and competes on the U.S. Freestyle Tour. He has been on the podium at the World Cup and X Games several times, and in 2017 he joined the national team and competed in halfpipe competitions.
