The New York Times highlighted American-born Olympic skier Irene Gu’s decision to compete for China while also criticizing the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team, suggesting they “lost the chance” to visit President Trump after their gold medal win.
In its sports section, The Athletic featured an article titled “Inside the Mind of Winter Olympic Superstar Irene Gu,” celebrating her as “the most accomplished freestyle skier.”
“Gu, who secured three silver and three gold medals in two Olympics, is described as a uniquely extraordinary individual. What’s next for this young athlete who seems to have everything?” the Times pondered.
The analysis continued to commend Gu, noting, “You might think Ms. Gu is a creation of artificial intelligence,” and remarked on how articulate her responses to the media were.
The piece further praised Gu, stating she “could soar without limitations” while skiing, and oddly mentioned that “this is the only time she doesn’t need to field questions about President Trump or Vice President J.D. Vance.”
The following day, the Times’ sports section showcased a vastly different perspective on the American athletes competing for the U.S.
In a Tuesday article with the headline, “U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team wins gold medal but loses opportunity,” Jerry Brewer from The Athletic acknowledged that meeting the president after an Olympic gold win is generally a “required celebratory affair,” but argued these weren’t “normal times” with Trump in office.
“This is not a neutral environment. This is not a neutral president. In a country as divided as ours, proximity matters—be it intentional or not,” Brewer commented.
“America won’t experience these rituals quite the same way ever again. Athletes need to understand that celebrations can quickly be turned into political currency,” he added.
The article suggested that the U.S. men’s hockey team “embraced the moment too quickly” and “diminished their opportunities.”
Brewer noted, “While their achievement in defeating a seemingly unstoppable Canadian team remains intact, the festive atmosphere has dissipated, and some of their goodwill has diminished.”
