Navigating neutrality and national pride during the Olympic Games
Emma Voelpel, Staff Writer
The Olympic Games are typically an event where countries showcase their best overall athleticism in a spectacle of medals and ceremonies. However, the 2026 Winter Olympic Games taking place in Milan, Italy, this year are being met with a much different atmosphere than in years past.
With many countries finding themselves in both domestic and international conflicts, athletes are facing a crossroads between displaying sportsmanship and pride for their country while also speaking up about political unrest.
Team USA vs. the USA
Earlier this month, Team USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess shared his concerns during an Olympics press conference about his mixed emotions over representing the United States. He commented that he is competing more for his friends, family, and what he believes are the true values of the U.S.
“I just think, if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it,” said Hess. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
The athletes’ comments were met with scrutiny by U.S. President Donald Trump, who referred to Hess as “a real loser” in a Truth Social post.
However, Hess isn’t the only member of Team USA who has shared thoughts on the current political climate in the U.S.
Fellow skier Chris Lillis also commented on how “heartbroken” he was regarding the state of affairs back home. Figure skater Amber Glenn also noted how she “won’t stay quiet” about issues that directly affect her and her community.
Lori Williams, associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University (MRU), shared how those competing for Team USA have been put in an awkward position by the acts of the United States government and how other countries are reacting.
“What ICE is doing in the United States is something that a lot of democratic countries want to distance themselves from,” says Williams. “Especially a country that has experienced fascism, as Italy has done, it’s a real sore point for them.”
Athletes abroad
Olympic athletes speaking out against their own governments’ geopolitical conflicts or against the actions of other countries isn’t a new practice, but it hasn’t been this mainstream before.
Ukrainian athletes have been at the centre of these contentious debates. Skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified after refusing to remove a helmet that paid tribute to the Ukrainian athletes who had been killed in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.
The International Olympic Committee defended this decision, along with its strict stance on political neutrality at the games. In a recent statement from IOC President Kirsty Coventry, she expressed her support of Heraskvych’s mourning, but stood her ground on removing him from competing.
“It’s not about the messaging, it’s literally about the rules and the regulations,” said Coventry. “We have to be able to keep a safe environment for everyone. And sadly, that just means no messaging is allowed.”
Simultaneously, the IOC has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete independently after their countries had been barred due to their involvement in the invasion of Ukraine.
Williams provided insight on how athletes with no affiliation to a country have more leeway to speak up about their country’s actions, but that doesn’t always mean they can.
“There may be other countries that are engaging in activities that are highly controversial,” says Williams. “But without freedom of speech, those athletes feel constrained in saying something unless they go and compete in another country.”
Known for speaking her mind on politics, Team USA’s
Amber Glenn has also made history as the first out
2SLGBTQIA+ Olympic women’s figure skater. Photo
courtesy of Instagram / @womenshealthmag and
@amberglenniceskater
Canadian pride
As for Team Canada, the threat of Canadian sovereignty as well as annexation by the United States has made Canadians as supportive of their team as ever.
“It’s culture, it’s economy, you know, even its existence has been called into question. It’s brought a lot of Canadians together in a way I haven’t seen before,” says Williams.
As the maple leaf-decorated athletes continue to uphold each other after the games, their sportsmanship goes beyond medals.
Canadian freestyle skier Mikael Kingsbury dedicated his gold medal to his country after the dual moguls.
“I saw a lot of online comments saying Canadians were a bit ‘cursed’ here in Italy,” Kingsbury told CBC. “I really wanted to break that curse and win that first gold for my country. I do this sport for myself, but I’m very proud to share it with the country I love the most.”
However, for many participants, the line between sport and global politics is impossible to ignore. The removal of national symbols from some competitors and restrictions on certain tributes have raised questions about how patriotism should be expressed in an era of global conflict.
With another Winter Olympic Games in the books, the debate over nationalism, political expression and the role of the Olympics in a divided world is likely to deepen.
