For Winter Olympic favorites, the pursuit of gold brings risk for their legacies, unfair or not

"Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story."

"The athletes in Milan and Cortina dreamed about these two weeks long before the flames were lit in northern Italy. They have poured their lives into the pursuit of this moment. This chance. For some for most really merely getting here is the goal. It is enough. More than enough. For others who arrived here as the bold-faced names in their sport and heavy medal favorites, the business of the Olympics is more complicated. Shiffrin knows there is a danger to all this."

The Independent covers developing stories across reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, conducting investigations and producing documentaries. Journalists investigate subjects such as the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC and produce films like 'The A Word', which highlights American women fighting for reproductive rights. The outlet keeps reporting accessible without paywalls and requests donations to fund on-the-ground journalism that interviews both sides. Olympic athletes including Mikaela Shiffrin, Ilia Malinin, and Scotty James devote years to competing, with many athletes valuing qualification itself. High-profile competitors gain unrivaled exposure from the Olympics, but that platform can also impose personal costs and eclipse other achievements.

Read at www.independent.co.uk