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Not everyone representing the red, white and blue necessarily sounded ecstatic about making it to the Olympics.
Freestyle skier Hunter Hess said he had “mixed feelings” representing the United States in Milan, while skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she wanted to represent her own “values” in Milan and it was “difficult to reconcile” violence in America as they “compete for medals at an Olympic event.”
But for double gold medalist Jordan Stolz, there were no problems.
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Gold medalist Jordan Stolz of the United States celebrates after the men’s 500-meter speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Ben Curtis/AP Photo)
In a recent interview with Pakinomist Digital, the speed skater who won gold twice in Italy, Stolz said he did not care about other athletes’ comments.
“I didn’t really pay attention to it, but I’m always happy to represent the United States,” Stolz said.
“I think we are the best country.”
It wasn’t just Winter Olympians who shared the trepidation of representing the United States on the biggest stage. In an interview with Pakinomist Digital months before the 2024 Summer Olympics, Noah Lyles said representing the United States was “bittersweet” and came with a “heavy heart,” saying black people in America have “a lot to deal with.”
Noah Lyles of the United States poses after winning the gold medal in the men’s 200 meters final at the World Athletics Championships. The event took place in Tokyo on September 19, 2025. (Matthias Schrader/AP)
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST DISCUSSES THE BALANCE BETWEEN CELEBRATING A VICTORY WHILE FIGHTING FOR OTHERS
Hess said it was “a little difficult” to represent the United States because “obviously there’s a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.” Those comments prompted President Donald Trump to call him a “real loser.”
“Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I’m representing everything that’s going on in the United States, I just want to do it for my friends and my family and the people who support me coming here,” Hess said in February.
Shriffin said: “I think there’s a lot of hardship in the world globally and there’s a lot of heartache. There’s a lot of violence. It can be hard to reconcile that when you’re also competing for medals at an Olympic event.”
Ahead of the World Baseball Classic, Bryce Harper, who played for Team USA, said it was “crazy” not to fully embrace wearing the Stars and Stripes.
USA’s Bryce Harper celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (Lynne Sladky/AP)
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The Philadelphia Phillies first baseman that said, no matter where you stand politically, it is always the greatest honor to represent the United States.
“Of course there are things that go on in the country that you know are not good or people don’t believe in or what, right? Politics aside, for me, when you have to and represent your countryyou represent your country, man. How to block all that. It’s sports.
“We want to put something on TV that’s happy and good and just great for everyone to see, right? So, representing your country, there’s nothing bigger than representing your country. There’s really nothing at all.
