American Skier Hess Embraces 'Loser' Label from Trump

Hess uses criticism as motivation at Olympics, finishes 10th in halfpipe final

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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American freestyle skier Hunter Hess nailed his first halfpipe run at the Olympics in Livigno, Italy, and took a moment to embrace the "loser" label bestowed on him by President Donald Trump. Hess looked into a nearby TV camera, shaped an "L" with his fingers and held them to his forehead, saying "Apparently I'm a loser." Hess said the criticism from Trump and others was distracting, but he had decided to use it as extra motivation to ski his best. While he struggled in the evening contest, finishing 10th, Hess said he was happy to represent Team USA.

Why it matters

This story highlights the challenges athletes can face when their political views or statements draw criticism from public figures. Hess's response to embrace the "loser" label and use it as motivation shows resilience in the face of adversity, and raises questions about the appropriate role of politics in sports.

The details

Hess, a 27-year-old from Bend, Oregon, skied two impressive runs in the morning qualifying, landing smoothly after flipping and twisting high above the 7.2-meter-tall halfpipe. He finished fifth out of 25 skiers to advance to the finals. However, Hess struggled in the evening contest, falling on two out of three runs and finishing in 10th place overall.

  • Hess competed in the Olympics in Livigno, Italy on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Hunter Hess

A 27-year-old American freestyle skier from Bend, Oregon who competed in the 2026 Olympics in Livigno, Italy.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who criticized Hess, calling him a "real loser".

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What they’re saying

“Apparently I'm a loser.”

— Hunter Hess, American Freestyle Skier

“I worked so hard to be here. I worked my entire life to make this moment happen. I'm not going to let controversy like that get in my way.”

— Hunter Hess, American Freestyle Skier

What’s next

Hess will look to build on this experience and continue his freestyle skiing career, with the 2030 Winter Olympics in Vancouver as a potential future goal.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates how athletes can use criticism as motivation to push themselves to new heights. Despite the distractions and controversy surrounding his comments, Hess remained focused on his performance and represented his country with pride, showing resilience in the face of adversity.