"The comments and the fierce reaction they have triggered from political figures, online influencers and the president himself have exposed a widening gap between how some athletes view their Olympic role and how parts of the political establishment believe they should use it. Trump intensified the dispute on Sunday, saying it was difficult to support American athletes who publicly questioned his administration's policies."
"He singled out freestyle skier Hunter Hess for criticism after the Oregon native said he felt mixed emotions about competing in the current political climate. Hess, a real loser, says he doesn't represent his country in the current Winter Olympics, Trump wrote on Truth Social, failing to convey the nuance of the skier's expression. If that's the case, he shouldn't have tried out for the team."
Some US Olympians at Milan-Cortina say they feel both pride and discomfort representing the country as political tensions at home and abroad spill into the Games. Political figures, online influencers and President Trump reacted sharply to athlete remarks, revealing a widening gap between athletes' views of their Olympic role and expectations from parts of the political establishment. The dispute intensified after Trump criticized freestyle skier Hunter Hess, who said he felt mixed emotions about competing, and follows a more assertive US international posture and visible political presence in Italy that heightened the Games' political atmosphere.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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