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 stated he did not again the US president’s heightened crackdown on immigrants.
“I believe in moments like these, it’s actually necessary for us to unite and form of arise for each other for all that’s happening,” stated Kim, the two-time Olympic gold medallist whose mother and father 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, stated 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 may relate to what he is going by way of.
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“As somebody who’s been caught within the crossfire earlier than, I really feel sorry for the athletes,” stated 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 offer 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 characterize every little thing that’s happening within the US”.
Chloe Kim of Workforce 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 exhausting pressed to root for him on the Video games.
Hess’ mates — snowboarders and freeskiers competing this week in Livigno — have been requested for his or her response.
“My mother and father being immigrants from Korea, this one undoubtedly hits fairly near dwelling,” stated Kim, who begins defence of her title Wednesday.
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“I’m actually proud to characterize the USA,” she stated.
“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 believe there are a variety of completely different opinions within the US proper now. Clearly we’re very divided,” snowboarder Bea Kim stated. “I personally am very proud to characterize the USA. That being stated, I believe variety is what makes us a really robust nation and what makes that so particular.”
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Ailing Eileeni Gu seems on through the Girls’s Freeski Slopestyle Freestyle Snowboarding. NurPhoto by way of Getty Photos
Teammate Maddie Mastro added: “I’m additionally saddened with what’s occurring at dwelling.”
“It’s actually robust and I really feel like we are able to’t flip a blind eye to that. However on the identical time, I characterize a rustic that has the identical values as mine of kindness and compassion. And we come collectively in occasions of injustice,” Mastro stated.
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Gu referred to as it “an unwinnable press warfare” for Hess and lamented the truth that the controversy might be a distraction for the athletes, and overshadow the great thing about the most important occasion in winter sports activities.
“I’m sorry that the headline that’s eclipsing the Olympics must be one thing so … unrelated to the spirit of the Video games,” she stated. “It actually runs opposite to every little thing that the Olympics must be.”
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