Chloe Kim and Eileen Gu, two Olympic standouts who’ve confronted their share of hate through the years, every weighed in on Donald Trump’s criticism of their pal, American freeskier Hunter Hess, for having mentioned he did not again the US president’s heightened crackdown on immigrants.
“I feel in moments like these, it’s actually essential for us to unite and sort of arise for each other for all that’s occurring,” mentioned Kim, the two-time Olympic gold medallist whose dad and mom are South Korean immigrants and who has confronted racism all through her profession for her Asian heritage.
Gu, the American-born freeskier who competes for China, mentioned after her silver-medal win in slopestyle that she had been in contact with Hess, who instructed her she was one of many few individuals who might relate to what he is going by means of.
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“As somebody who’s been caught within the crossfire earlier than, I really feel sorry for the athletes,” mentioned Gu, who was born in San Francisco and whose resolution to compete for China turned her right into a lightning rod.
Hess drew Trump’s ire when he was requested by reporters to present his views on the immigration crackdown that has claimed the lives of two protestors in Minnesota and disrupted 1000’s of lives of immigrants and US residents. Hess answered: “Simply because I’m sporting the flag doesn’t imply I symbolize every part that’s occurring within the US”.
Chloe Kim of Crew United States. Getty
The following day, Trump lashed out at Hess on his Fact Social account, calling him “an actual Loser” and saying he could be onerous pressed to root for him on the Video games.
Hess’ pals — snowboarders and freeskiers competing this week in Livigno — have been requested for his or her response.
“My dad and mom being immigrants from Korea, this one undoubtedly hits fairly near residence,” mentioned Kim, who begins defence of her title Wednesday.
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“I’m actually proud to symbolize the USA,” she mentioned.
“The US has given my household and I a lot alternative, however I additionally suppose that we’re allowed to voice our opinions of what’s going that we have to lead with love and compassion.”
Different American snowboarders spoke out for variety and the proper of expression.
“I feel there are a whole lot of completely different opinions within the US proper now. Clearly we’re very divided,” snowboarder Bea Kim mentioned. “I personally am very proud to symbolize the USA. That being mentioned, I feel variety is what makes us a really sturdy nation and what makes that so particular.”
Ailing Eileeni Gu appears on throughout the Ladies’s Freeski Slopestyle Freestyle Snowboarding. NurPhoto through Getty Photographs
Teammate Maddie Mastro added: “I’m additionally saddened with what’s taking place at residence.”
“It’s actually powerful and I really feel like we will’t flip a blind eye to that. However on the similar time, I symbolize a rustic that has the identical values as mine of kindness and compassion. And we come collectively in occasions of injustice,” Mastro mentioned.
Gu referred to as it “an unwinnable press battle” for Hess and lamented the truth that the controversy could possibly be a distraction for the athletes, and overshadow the fantastic thing about the most important occasion in winter sports activities.
“I’m sorry that the headline that’s eclipsing the Olympics needs to be one thing so … unrelated to the spirit of the Video games,” she mentioned. “It actually runs opposite to every part that the Olympics must be.”
