Hunter Hess endured what may be the hardest stretch of his life, and he still found a way to smile through it as he took the slope again. In Livigno, Italy, the American freeskier leaned into resilience after President Trump’s public remarks cast a shadow over his Olympic journey. He even turned a moment into a lighthearted gesture, shaping his hands into an L after returning to competition for the first time at these Games since the controversy began, and he refreshed his Instagram bio with the blunt line: “A real loser.”
The statement seemed at odds with the reality Hess has faced since Trump’s February 8 post. The president suggested it would be “very hard to root for someone like Hess” after Hess described competing at the Milan Cortina Games as provoking mixed emotions and being “a little hard.”
Hess himself later described the two weeks leading up to his debut as “probably the hardest two weeks of my life.” He spoke these words in Livigno after delivering two strong qualifying runs in the freeski halfpipe, securing a solid advancement to the final. He admitted he had never experienced that level of public criticism before.
The 27-year-old had to wait 12 days between the remarks and his Olympic appearance, during which the backlash wore on him. Teammate Birk Irving noted the mental toll, while Nick Goepper added that it’s unusual for athletes to face such public scrutiny from a presidential figure. In Hess’s corner, however, support poured in from Team USA, his friends and family in Bend, Oregon, and many others following from afar. Hess described those messages as “the world to me” and credited the team with helping him regain his footing.
“Team USA has really helped me get back on my feet,” he said.
During the event, Hess watched allies including Chloe Kim (USA) and Eileen Gu (China) offer words of solidarity. Gu emphasized that sport should unite people and expressed sympathy for the athletes caught in crossfire, while Goepper highlighted the strong support Hess received, praising how he handled the situation with grace.
The Games also spotlighted two athletes who had drawn political attention: Gus Kenworthy, who won silver for the U.S. in 2014 and now competes for Great Britain, criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Kenworthy, who is openly gay, spoke about threats he faced online but said he tries to keep a balanced perspective and supports the right side of his beliefs.
Hess’s on-snow performance helped quiet nerves that had been frayed by recent events. He posted an 85.00 on his second run, topping his first-run score of 82.75 and placing fifth among 25 competitors. All four American freestylers in the field—Hess, Goepper, Irving, and Alex Ferreira—finished in the top six.
Hess spoke with pride about the moment: he’s grateful simply to be at the Games and to represent Team USA. He emphasized his determination to do whatever he can to make his friends, family, and country proud.
What makes Hess’s performance even more remarkable is the context of his physical ordeal just days earlier. He sustained a hematoma in his right hip that required drainage, underwent an MRI revealing bone bruising in his shoulder, and suspected a hand issue. Knee pain has also lingered throughout the season. Yet he still managed a superb run in competition.
Adding to the challenge was weather-related disruption: heavy snow in Livigno pushed the qualifiers from Thursday into Friday, a schedule shift Hess admits was a rare experience for him. Still, he said he was grateful simply to be skiing and doing his best.
“This sport is my lifeline,” Hess affirmed. “Being out here and putting down a run I’m proud of and happy with means the world to me. I wear this flag with pride. I’m honored to be on the team and to represent with my teammates.”
Would you like this rewrite to lean more toward a strictly factual recap, or should I weave in more reflective commentary about the culture of social media and sportsmanship in modern Olympic competition?
