U.S. Olympian Speaks Out Against ICE in Minnesota
Another American athlete preparing for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics is expressing concern over the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), particularly in Minnesota.
Rich Ruohonen, a curler from the U.S., took a moment during a press conference to address the recent incidents in Minneapolis, specifically the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Preti by federal agents.
“What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There are no shades of gray,” Ruohonen stated, emphasizing his pride in representing Team USA while also acknowledging the difficult situation back home. “Things like this are happening right near where we live,” he noted.
As a personal injury attorney based in Bloomington, Minnesota, he expressed his strong stance on the importance of constitutional rights, including freedom of the press and protection from unreasonable searches. “What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There are no shades of gray,” he reiterated.
Ruohonen has previously represented the U.S. at the World Curling Championships in 2008 and 2018, but this will mark his first appearance at the Olympics. Interestingly, he’s on track to be the oldest American to participate in the Winter Games.
In his remarks, he highlighted that many of his teammates are also from Minnesota—specifically six out of eleven. He expressed appreciation for the community’s response to recent events: “I really love what’s happening out there right now, with people showing love, compassion, and respect.” This reflects, he thinks, a deep sense of community and support among people who may not even know each other.
Ruohonen underscored the values that the Olympics embody, saying they stand for excellence, respect, and friendship. “We’re playing for the people of Minnesota and those across the country who hold similar values,” he added.
He is not the only Olympian raising concerns about representing the United States. Skier Hunter Hess recently faced backlash after sharing his “mixed feelings” regarding his national representation, pointing out that he has moral reservations about certain issues in the country.
“I think representing the United States right now brings up mixed emotions,” Hess commented, acknowledging ongoing issues he finds troubling. He later clarified his love for his country, stating that while there are many admirable aspects of America, there’s always room for improvement. “The best thing about the Olympics is that it brings people together,” he said, emphasizing the need for unity during divisive times.
In other news related to curling, the USA Curling team has exceeded expectations, with Corey Teese and Corey Dropkin managing an upset against the current Olympic champions, Italy. While they lost to Sweden in the gold medal match, the team still secured a silver medal, marking the seventh medal for the U.S. in these Olympics.
Looking ahead, more curling matches are scheduled this week, with the U.S. set to compete against the Czech Republic and South Korea in the upcoming days.
