Reflections on the Changing Landscape of American Patriotism in Sports
Back in 2014 at SB Nation, during the Sochi Winter Olympics, there was a certain level of mismanagement—well, maybe it’s more accurate to call it a social media tactic. This approach led to a flood of playful, yet somewhat ironic, expressions of patriotism throughout the games. There was lots of excitement around the classic medal count and American athletes’ performances, but then, there were also bizarre images circulating, like Ronald Reagan on a velociraptor or an overly muscular George Washington decked out in a bandolier, not to mention Abe Lincoln casually smoking a cigar.
At the time, it might have come off as somewhat trite—a cliché, really—but the vision was to blend sincere pride in our Olympic team with a tongue-in-cheek, bombastic online persona. It even had a whiff of that over-the-top North Korean propaganda style.
Fast forward twelve years, and things have shifted dramatically. What was once playful satire now feels more like presidential merchandise. Those isolationist attitudes that used to provoke chuckles have been normalized, becoming part of the official foreign policy narrative. When you consider the serious issues at play—like body camps being set up, foreign governments being toppled, and powerful figures seemingly shielded from justice—the once lighthearted expression of “Oh, America!” takes on a much heavier tone.
One athlete expressed, “I’m proud to be here representing Team USA. But I feel it’s important to acknowledge what’s happening in Minnesota. As a lawyer, the constitutional issues are glaringly clear—it’s just wrong.”
Freestyle skier Hunter Hess echoed this sentiment, saying, “Flying the flag doesn’t mean I support everything going on in America.”
Chloe Kim, a rising star in snowboarding, shared her perspective on the current socio-political climate, reflecting on her experience as an immigrant’s child. She emphasized a desire for compassion in leadership rather than the prevailing harshness.
Meanwhile, NBC finds itself caught in this uncomfortable juxtaposition. During a recent mixed curling gold medal match, a family member of one of the athletes sported a hat that read “ANTI-TRUMP” under an American flag. Following that, three more family members were spotted with similar hats. Rather than risk showing this family during the broadcast, NBC opted to cut away to a generic patriotic reaction shot from the crowd.
This decision echoes past choices made by NBC. The opening ceremony was initially aired live but was later trimmed in favor of a prime-time repeat, presumably to create a more wholesome image of a unified America—one that glosses over the troubling issues around immigration, international relations, and a media landscape that often shies away from challenging the current administration.
In this complex reality, we face a choice: we can cheer for individual athletes and their personal narratives, or we can just root for America as if everything else is irrelevant. Honestly, I’m not sure how to feel. I want to celebrate our flag and the athletes who embody it, but it just doesn’t feel right at the moment. The excitement has waned, and we’re left to navigate through this chaos however we can.
We were once great. But that seems like a distant memory now.
