American Freeskier Hunter Hess Uses ‘Loser’ Label as Motivation at Olympics
LIVIGNO, Italy – American freeskier Hunter Hess responded to a critical label from President Donald Trump by embracing the moniker and delivering a strong performance in Olympic halfpipe qualifying on Friday, February 20, 2026. Hess secured a spot in the 12-man final, where he’ll compete for the U.S. Men’s first freestyle skiing gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The 27-year-old Hess punctuated his successful qualifying run by forming an “L” with his fingers and holding it to his forehead, a direct response to Trump’s comments. “Apparently, I’m a loser,” he explained to reporters afterward, according to NBC San Diego.
Trump had initially criticized Hess after the skier expressed “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. During a news conference regarding the administration’s immigration enforcement policies. Trump called Hess “a real loser” on TruthSocial, adding, “Very hard to root for someone like this.”
Hess, however, channeled the criticism into motivation. “I worked so hard to be here. I sacrificed my entire life to make this happen,” he said. “I’m not going to let controversy like that get in my way. I love the United States of America. Say that enough.”
While Hess qualified for the final, he faced a more challenging evening contest, falling on two of three runs and finishing in 10th place. Despite the setback, his initial qualifying runs were impressive, landing smoothly after complex flips and twists above the 7.2-meter halfpipe. The Straits Times reported that Hess acknowledged receiving threats to his family following his initial comments.
Hess clarified that his original statement was meant to express that representing the U.S. Doesn’t equate to endorsing every action taken by the government. “My original statement, I felt like I said that, but apparently some people didn’t take it that way,” he added. The incident reflects a broader history of political expression by athletes at the Olympic Games, and Hess’s response has sparked considerable discussion online. CBS News detailed the initial exchange and Hess’s subsequent performance.
