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Another US Winter Olympian at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games is speaking out against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, specifically those conducted in Minnesota.
American curler Rich Ruohonen took time during a press conference to reflect on what has happened in Minneapolis recently, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.
Ruohonen, a personal injury attorney in Bloomington, Minnesota, said that “what’s happening in Minnesota is wrong — there are no shades of gray.”
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U.S. Olympians Luc Violette, Benjamin Richardson, Rich Ruohonen, Daniel Casper and Aidan Oldenburg attend the Team USA Welcome Experience at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on February 4, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
“First of all, I want to say that I’m proud to be here to represent Team USA and to represent our country,” Ruohonen began his statement. “But we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention what’s going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it’s been for everyone. This is happening right around where we live.
“I’m a lawyer, as you know, and we have a constitution, and it gives us freedom of the press, freedom of speech, protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures, and requires that we have probable cause to pull over. What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong — there are no shades of gray. That’s clear.”
Ruohonen has represented the United States at two World Curling Championships in 2008 and 2018, but this is his first time at the Olympics after previous failed trials. He is set to become the oldest American ever to compete in the Winter Games.
During his statement, he made sure to point out that many of his teammates — six out of 11, to be exact — are from Minnesota.
US OLYMPIC SKIER HESS ‘CAN’T WAIT TO REPRESENT TEAM USA’ AFTER TRUMP BACKLASH
“I really love what’s happened there now with people coming out, showing the love, compassion, integrity and respect for others that they don’t know and helping them out,” he continued. “We love Minnesota for that. And I want to make it clear that we’re out here, we love our country. We’re playing for the USA, we’re playing for Team USA, and we’re playing for each other, and we’re playing for our friends and family who have sacrificed so much to get here today.
“It doesn’t change anything because what the Olympics stand for is excellence, respect, friendship. And all of us, I think, exemplify that. We play for the people of Minnesota and the people around the country who share the same values.”
Ruohonen isn’t the first U.S. representative to speak out about what’s happening at home, as skier Hunter Hess was scared by the “mixed feelings” he said he had about representing the country.
He drew backlash from President Donald Trump and others after making initial comments to reporters last week.
U.S. Olympians Rich Ruohonen and Daniel Casper attend the Team USA Welcome Experience at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on February 4, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
“It’s mixed feelings representing the United States right now, I think. It’s kind of hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said.
“I think for me it’s more that I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people who represented it before me, all the things that I think are good about the United States. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m carrying the flag doesn’t mean I’m representing everything that’s going on in the United States.
A few days later, Hess made it clear what it means to represent the country at the Olympics.
“I love my country,” he wrote with an American flag emoji. “There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better.
“One of the many things that makes this country so great is that we have the right and the freedom to point it out. The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided, we need that more than ever. I can’t wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.”
Team USA curling has already exceeded its expectations for the Games as Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin took down Italy, the reigning Olympic team mixed doubles champions, on Monday.
While the U.S. squad fell to Sweden in the gold medal game, 6-5, they came away with silver, marking the seventh medal for the U.S.
There’s more curling ahead this week, with the U.S. set to face the Czech Republic in the men’s round-robin session on Wednesday, followed by the women’s first session against South Korea on Thursday.
