Team USA Skier Hunter Hess Admits To “Mixed Emotions” Wearing The Flag At 2026 Winter Olympics [Video]

As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina goes underway, Team USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess is making headlines for more than just his skills in the halfpipe.

The 27-year-old athlete recently opened up about the internal conflict he feels while representing the United States on the world stage, citing a deep sadness over the current social and political climate back home. For Hess, wearing the red, white, and blue isn’t a blanket endorsement of every government action, but rather a complicated duty that he balances with his own personal values. He spoke candidly about the tension between his love for his sport and his disapproval of specific domestic policies, including recent ICE raids and civil protests.

During a recent discussion about his role in Italy, Hess didn’t shy away from the controversy. “I feel heartbroken about what’s happened in the United States when, you know, and pretty sure you’re referencing ICE and some of the protests and things like that. Uh, I think as a country we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect. And uh, I hope people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that is the America we’re trying to represent,” Hess explained. He views the Olympic spirit as a better reflection of what the country should strive for, rather than the headlines currently dominating the news cycles.

Despite the pride that comes with being an Olympian, the weight of the flag feels heavier this year for the Bend, Oregon native. “It brings up mixed emotions to representing the US right now. I think um, it’s a little hard. There is obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and that a lot of people aren’t if it aligns with my moral values. Uh, I feel like I’m representing it just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US. So yeah, I kinda want to do it for my friends, my family, people that support me getting here,” he added.

For Hess, the focus remains on the community that helped him reach this peak, even as he remains vocal about his hope for a more respectful and unified country.

Team USA skier: Just because I wear the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US. pic.twitter.com/1ZDvKB4A8a

— HQ (@headquarters68_) February 6, 2026