Alright, so listen up, folks. Our very own hockey superstar, Hilary Knight, is highkey trying to move past what she’s calling a ‘distasteful joke’ from former President Donald Trump. After the U.S. women’s hockey team absolutely crushed it, snagging that highly coveted Olympic Gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games, Trump’s comments during a congratulatory call to the men’s team definitely threw a wrench in the celebratory vibes. Knight, a legend in her own right, didn’t mince words, calling the whole thing ‘sketchy’ and a real bummer that it overshadowed their monumental achievement.
For real, it’s a huge deal. The women’s team, after an intense battle against their rivals from north of the border, Canada, brought home the gold. But instead of the national narrative being all about their grit, determination, and this epic win, a significant chunk of the conversation shifted to a comment made by the former President. During a call with the men’s team, who also clinched gold, Trump joked about having to invite the women’s team to the State of the Union, quipping that he’d ‘probably be impeached’ if he didn’t. The comment, which drew laughs from some of the men’s players, was perceived by many, including Knight, as diminishing the women’s hard-earned success.
Knight, who is straight up one of the most decorated athletes in American hockey history, articulated her frustration on ESPN. She emphasized that this ‘distasteful joke’ unfortunately ‘is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats.’ And honestly, you can’t blame her. These athletes train for years, pour their entire lives into their sport, only for a political quip to steal their thunder. It’s a classic example of how sometimes, the focus gets pulled away from where it should be: the athletes and their incredible accomplishments.
The fallout was pretty swift. While the men’s team was later invited to the White House and many attended, the women’s team respectfully declined the invitation to the State of the Union address, citing ‘previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.’ Trump later claimed they ‘will soon be coming,’ but as of now, there’s been no commitment from the women’s team. This decision, no cap, sent a clear message: their focus is on their sport and their team, not political theatrics.
The men’s team, on the other hand, did make the trip to Washington. During their visit, President Trump even announced that he would award goalie Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an honor usually reserved for significant civilian achievements. While well-intentioned, the timing and context of these events, especially given the preceding comments, added another layer of complexity to the narrative surrounding both teams’ triumphs.
It’s not just Knight speaking out either. Teammate Hayley Sacamurra, when asked about the incident, played it cool, saying ‘the call was what it was.’ But she quickly pivoted, emphasizing that ‘the outpouring of love and support we’ve kind of received since that has outweighed any other feelings that I have.’ She’s legit focused on the positives, aiming to celebrate their dominance and the ‘double gold’ — a rare and incredible feat for both U.S. men’s and women’s hockey at the same Games.
And let’s get real about Hilary Knight. At 36, she’s a force of nature who announced her retirement after these Olympics. Winning her second gold medal, she solidified her place as the most decorated U.S. women’s hockey player ever. She leads all American hockey players, men or women, with an insane 15 Olympic goals and 33 points in her career. Heads up, she even scored the tying goal that forced overtime in the gold medal game against Canada! That’s clutch, dude. Her career is a masterclass in dedication and skill, and this medal was a perfect capstone to a truly legendary run.
The U.S. women’s team’s victory marks their third gold since women’s hockey was officially added to the Games in 1998. It’s a testament to the growth and talent within the sport. Knight’s closing remarks on the issue were spot on: ‘This is a really good learning point, to really focus on how we talk about women, not only in sport but in industry.’ She summed it up perfectly: ‘Women aren’t less than and their achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.’
So, while the political buzz was a bit of a distraction, the real story here is the unparalleled achievement of these athletes. It’s about the sweat, the sacrifice, and the sheer talent that went into bringing home those medals. The U.S. women’s hockey team proved their dominance, and that, my friends, is undeniably dope. Let’s celebrate them for who they are: world-class athletes who made our nation proud.
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