Hunter Hess says last two weeks ‘probably hardest’ of his life after President Trump remarks
LIVIGNO, Italy — After the onslaught, Hunter Hess found a way to have fun with it, appearing to shape both hands to form the letter ‘L’ after his first competitive appearance in these Games since President Donald Trump’s remarks about him. He had even changed his Instagram bio. “A real loser,” it reads.
Truth be told, it belies everything the American freeskier has been through since Trump labeled him that on social media Feb. 8, with the President also saying that it would be “very hard to root for someone like (Hess)” after the Olympian said in a news conference that representing the United States in these Milan Cortina Games “brings up mixed emotions” and was “a little hard.”
“It was probably the hardest two weeks of my life,” Hess said Friday in Livigno, where he aced both of his qualifying runs in the freeski halfpipe to easily advance to the evening’s final. “I’ve never been subject to that type of criticism before.”
The 27-year-old had to wait 12 days after Trump’s comments to make his Olympic debut, and the condemnation that came his way wore on him.
“Really pretty taxing on his mental, for sure,” said halfpipe teammate Birk Irving. “I definitely wouldn’t wish that upon any competitor,” added another, Nick Goepper. “Normally you don’t do an interview and get called out by the President.”
What helped him behind the scenes was the flood of supportive texts and calls he received from his teammates. It felt like all of Team USA stepped up to back him, he said, as well as the dozens of friends and family members in town for the Games and those following along from his hometown of Bend, Ore. Hess said the messages “meant the world to me.”
“Team USA has really helped me get back on my feet,” he added.
Hunter Hess pictured during his first run in the men’s freeski halfpipe qualification. (Kirill Kudryavstev / AFP via Getty Images)
The United States’ Chloe Kim and China’s Eileen Gu were supportive of Hess when asked about Trump’s remarks last week. “The whole point of sport is to bring people together,” said Gu, the 22-year-old five-time Olympic medalist from San Francisco. “As someone who has got caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes. I hope that they can ski to their very best.”
Goepper, a four-time Olympian and three-time medalist, has seen firsthand the way Team USA has picked up Hess amid the controversy. “I just think from a human level, it’s been (a lot of ) very big love and support for Hunter,” Goepper said. “I’m impressed with how he’s handled all that.”
Most Winter Olympians aren’t used to that kind of attention, especially freestyle skiers. But Friday there were two competing who had been under the spotlight during these politically charged Olympics. Gus Kenworthy, who won Olympic silver for the United States in 2014 but is now representing Great Britain, made headlines for his criticism of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In an Instagram post last week, the three-time world champion said he had received threats on social media.
“It was tough. No-one wants to read bad things about themselves, things that are threats and violent and scary and homophobic,” Kenworthy, who is gay, told BBC Sport. “I also took it with a grain of salt. I couldn’t imagine writing something like that about someone, especially on a public forum, anyone who does that has something wrong with them. I think I’m on the right side.”
For Hess, his excellent qualifying runs quieted his nerves and helped him fight through some serious injuries in the process. He bettered his first-run score of 82.75 with an 85.00 the second time out, good enough for fifth overall in a field of 25 competitors. All four American — Hess, Goepper, Irving and Alex Ferreira — finished inside the top six.
“I definitely wear it with some pride,” Hess said of Friday morning’s performance. “I’m just so, so lucky to be here in the first place and to be representing Team USA. Whatever I can do to make my friends and my family and my country proud, I’m happy to do.”
What makes Hess’ performance even more impressive is that it came a few days after a nasty fall in practice. He suffered a hematoma in his right hip that required a blood drain Thursday night. He had an MRI on his shoulder that revealed bone bruising. He may or may not have broken his hand, he said. And he’s been slogging through persistent pain in his knee throughout the ski season.
Adding to the physical toll, due to heavy snow this week in Livigno halfpipe qualifications were moved from Thursday to Friday. Hess said the last time he had qualifiers the same day as a final he was “maybe 12.”
“I’m so happy just to be skiing and riding to the best of my ability right now,” Hess said.
All that’s left is the final. Despite the injuries, Hess believes he can medal. His runs Friday spoke to that.
“This sport is my lifeline,” he said. “It’s everything to me. So to be able to come out here and put down a run I’m proud of and happy with means the world to me … I wear this flag with pride. I’m so honored to be on the team and representing with my teammates.”
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