Sports · 20 February 2026
Hunter Hess Flashes 'L' Sign at Olympics
Tail furry via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
American freeskier Hunter Hess made an "L" sign after his Olympic halfpipe qualifying run in Livigno, Italy, on February 20, 2026. He explained this gesture responded to President Donald Trump calling him a "loser" at the Games' start. This comment caused threats to his family and sparked a major political issue during the Olympics. Hess used the episode as motivation and stated his love for the United States.
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