Hunter Hess Finds Strength in Controversy, Advances to Olympic Final
LIVIGNO, Italy — American freeskier Hunter Hess responded to criticism from President Donald Trump by flashing a gesture referencing the label “loser” after qualifying for the final of the men’s freeski halfpipe competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 27-year-old Hess had updated his Instagram bio to read, “A real loser.”
The gesture came after Hess successfully completed both of his qualifying runs in Livigno on Friday, February 20, 2026, earning a spot in the 12-man final. The controversy began earlier this month when, during a news conference, Hess stated that representing the United States “brings up mixed emotions” and was “a little hard,” particularly in light of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. President Trump subsequently called Hess “a real Loser” on social media, adding that it would be “very hard to root for someone like” him.
Hess described the period following Trump’s comments as “probably the hardest two weeks of my life,” stating he had “never been subject to that type of criticism before.” He also reportedly received threats following the President’s remarks.
Teammates Birk Irving and Nick Goepper expressed support for Hess, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation. Irving described the experience as “pretty taxing on his mental, for sure,” while Goepper added, “Normally you don’t do an interview and get called out by the President.”
Hess credited the outpouring of support from his teammates, friends, and family – including those who traveled to Italy and those following from his hometown of Bend, Oregon – with helping him navigate the controversy. “Team USA has really helped me get back on my feet,” he said.
Other Olympians, including Chloe Kim and Eileen Gu, also voiced their support for Hess. Gu, a five-time Olympic medalist, emphasized the unifying nature of sport and expressed sympathy for athletes caught in political crossfires.
Despite the emotional toll and physical challenges – including a hematoma in his right hip requiring a blood drain and bruising in his shoulder – Hess delivered strong performances in qualifying. He improved his initial score of 82.75 to 85.00 on his second run, finishing fifth overall among 25 competitors. All four American skiers – Hess, Goepper, Irving, and Alex Ferreira – qualified for the final, securing top-six positions.
Hess expressed pride in his performance and reaffirmed his commitment to representing the United States. “I definitely wear it with some pride,” he said. “I’m just so, so lucky to be here in the first place and to be representing Team USA. Whatever I can do to make my friends and my family and my country proud, I’m happy to do.”
The qualifying rounds were delayed due to heavy snowfall in Livigno, adding to the challenges Hess faced. He noted that it had been a long time – “maybe 12” years – since he had competed in a format where qualifying and the final were held on the same day.
“I’m so happy just to be skiing and riding to the best of my ability right now,” Hess said. “This sport is my lifeline. It’s everything to me. So to be able to come out here and put down a run I’m proud of and happy with means the world to me… I wear this flag with pride. I’m so honored to be on the team and representing with my teammates.”
