U.S. curler Rich Ruohonen addressed the incident in his home state of Minnesota at an Olympics news conference, calling the situation “wrong” and saying he felt a responsibility to address it when he represents the United States on the world stage.Ruhonen, who is competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics, said he was proud to wear a Team USA uniform but also wanted to acknowledge what he described as troubling developments at home related to recent immigration enforcement actions. Near the end of the press conference, he emphasized that his comments reflected both his personal beliefs and his professional background as a lawyer with nearly three decades of experience.The Minnesota native cited constitutional principles, including protections for free speech and against unreasonable searches and seizures, in explaining why he believed it was important to speak publicly. He said the Minnesota situation was clear-cut and did not involve moral ambiguity, describing it as a matter of basic rights and fairness.Rohonen also praised Minnesotans for their compassion and solidarity during these difficult times. He said the responses reflected the values ​​of the Olympic Movement that he shares, including respect, integrity and solidarity.While athletes’ political statements at the Olympics remain controversial, Rohonen said acknowledging events affecting people back home is consistent with the freedoms athletes represent when they compete for their country. His remarks quickly attracted attention because of the time and context in which they were made.Ruohonen is a longtime curler and a licensed attorney in Minnesota. His decision to speak during the Olympics, making him one of the few U.S. athletes to use the Olympic platform to comment on domestic issues, has drawn both support and criticism from observers.The comments added a political dimension to Team USA’s participation in the Olympics, highlighting an ongoing debate over the role of athletes in public discourse during global sporting events.
