Rooting for the United States, whether it be in the Olympics, the World Cup or any other sporting event, almost always leads me to some degree of internal confusion. Sure, I’m as much of a red-blooded American as the next guy, but it’s often difficult to reconcile the instinct to root for the home team with the knowledge that its banner — so often touted as that of the ‘good guys’ — is emblematic of a nation flawed at its core.
This is always liable to be a hot-button issue when a big international tournament, such as the 2026 Winter Olympics, comes around, but the discourse seems to be particularly intense this time around (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement killing citizens in broad daylight will do that, I guess). In contrast to years past, this season’s winter Olympians have been particularly outspoken: Figure skater Amber Glenn said the LGBTQ+ community is having a “hard time” under the administration of President Donald Trump, superstar snowboarder Chloe Kim gave a media-trained, yet impactful, answer to a question about immigration and freestyle skier Hunter Hess was honored as a “real Loser” on the president’s Truth Social account after he admitted that representing the stars and stripes induced “mixed emotions” for him.
Vice President JD Vance, who was in Italy at the beginning of the games alongside Jake Paul, instructed American athletes to “represent the country” and not “pop off about politics.” I don’t feel the need to explain the irony contained in this statement.
However, in an attempt to alleviate my own guilt if nothing else, I am compelled to introduce an argument for a more morally-conscious Team USA fanship. Here, my core claim is that sports on the national level are inherently political, and thus the Olympics are a prime opportunity for Americans to reflect on the historical and current geopolitical position of their country. In doing so, they may find that parallels between the sporting and political realms are readily apparent. Perhaps, as we root for the United States to catch Norway on the total medal count, we will consider that America is practically the only country that ranks based on overall medals instead of golds. On the brighter side, the Associated Press estimated before the games that this year’s U.S. roster “could be the most diverse” yet, highlighting the nation’s growing multiculturalism, even as presidential rhetoric and policy have often moved in the opposite direction.
Besides, is there any better way to get your message across than winning? While I don’t necessarily love the idea of another Tkachuk-driven White House photo op, I’m willing to concede in hopes that the attention will be used for an overall positive by other athletes. In my perfect world, national pride is coexistent with critique, and the more we understand about our country — in its victories and its losses — the better equipped we are to meaningfully change it.
