Team USA's freestyle skiers speak out against ICE

VIDEO SHOWS: TEAM USA'S FREESTYLE SKIERS SPEAKING ABOUT U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) OPERATIONS AT PRESS CONFERENCE / SOUNDBITES FROM CHRISTOPHER LILLIS, QUINN DEHLINGER AND HUNTER HESS RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 6, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)  1. TEAM USA FREESTYLE SKIERS ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE 2. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEAM USA FREESTYLE SKIER AND BEIJING 2022 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST, CHRIS LILLIS, SAYING: "I love the USA and I think I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics. With that being said, you know, a lot of times athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things. I feel heartbroken about what's happened in the United States when, you know, I'm pretty sure you're referencing ICE and some of the protests and things like that. I think that as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody's rights and making sure that we're treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect. And I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realise that that's the America that we're trying to represent." 4. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEAM USA FREESTYLE SKIER, QUINN DEHLINGER, SAYING: Yeah, the political divide in the United States is very prevalent. And competition and sports is always a way to bring people together. And I think the Olympics is a great spot in that where it brings every country and all athletes and all aspects of people from everywhere together. So I think that this is just a great way to show one country." 6. ANOTHER PANEL OF FREESTYLE SKIERS ARRIVING  7. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEAM USA FREESTYLE SKIER, HUNTER HESS, SAYING: "I think it brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It's a little hard. There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't. I think for me it's more I'm representing my, like, friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S.. I just think, if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I'm representing it. Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S.. So yeah, I just kind of want to do it like for my friends and my family and the people that supported me getting here." 9. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING  STORY: Team USA’s freestyle skiers have said the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents do not reflect the country they represent on Friday (February 6) as political tensions at home continue to beleaguer American preparations for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Speaking ahead of the Opening Ceremony in Milan, the athletes told a press conference that they feel conflicted about representing the United States in the current political climate.  ICE’s heavy-handed enforcement of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown has sparked protests across the country which resulted in the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens last month in Minneapolis. “A lot of times athletes are hesitant to talk about political views but I feel heartbroken,” said 2022 gold medallist Chris Lillis in reference to the ICE protests.  Mother-of-three Renee Good was shot dead in her car on January 7 with ICE claiming they acted in self-defense in the context of a violent protest. The killing of Alex Pretti followed on January 24. The intensive care unit nurse was shot 10 times while face down on the ground having been disarmed of his licensed firearm and restrained by the federal agents.  "I love the USA and I would never want to represent a different country,” Lillis explained before adding that he hopes to use the Games to project a different image of the U.S. on the world stage. “As a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody's rights and making sure that we are treating our citizens as well as anybody,” said Lillis who at 27 years old and appearing at his second Games, has stepped into a leadership role within the group. "I hope when people look at the athletes competing in the Olympics, they realise that that's the America we're trying to represent." Lillis starred for his country four years ago in Beijing, pulling off a quintuple in the mixed team aerials final to clinch gold for the U.S. and upset hosts China. The trick – a back triple flip with five twists – is widely considered the most difficult manoeuvre in aerial skiing with Lillis' jump receiving a score of 135.00 points, the highest of the entire competition.  Asked what it means to wear Team USA gear and the American flag, 27-year-old Hunter Hess, who's competing at his first Games having missed out in 2022 due to injury, said it brought up mixed emotions. "It's a little hard. There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't," Hess said. "Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S." Hess said he felt he was representing friends and family and "all the things I believe are good about the U.S." American athletes have been briefed to expect a frosty reception at the Games with the news of ICE agents’ arrival on Italian soil sparking protests across Italy in recent days. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and under ICE, will have a small presence at the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) joint operations centre in Milan focused on information sharing. DSS will provide protection for U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Secret Service will protect Vice President JD Vance, both of whom arrived in Milan on Thursday. The sensitive situation also forced U.S. officials to change the name of a shared hospitality space for US Hockey, Figure Skating and Speedskating from the "Ice House" to "Winter House”. (Production: Conal Quinn)

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