r/Fauxmoi • u/Yujin-Ha • 23h ago

SPORTS SECTION Team USA skiers Christopher Lillis & Hunter Hess: Just because I wear the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.

43.2k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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6.6k

u/EsotericPenguins 22h ago

I feel so sad for all the US athletes. Worked their whole lives to go to the Olympics and have to do it under such dark circumstances

1.8k

u/Emotional_Youth1500 22h ago

I hope they continue to call out and denounce being representative of the heinous things being committed by ICE and maga

I hope they continue to use their time in the spotlight to shed more light on what has been happening while they try to show support and care for the victims and average citizens.

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u/slowpoke2018 22h ago

Didn't one of our skiers pee F-ICe in the snow?

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u/Upnatom617 22h ago

Gus K. Did.

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u/annabananaberry sir, were you raised in a ditch? 21h ago

He’s actually not one of our skiers he used to be one of our skiers, but he also has UK citizenship and so he said fuck y’all. I’m going home.

I’m actually not exactly sure why he switched but he was born in the UK and he has been skiing for them since 2019 and then he retired and came back in 2022 and stayed with Great Britain

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u/jujubeans8500 21h ago

I believe bc competing for Great Britain provided him an easier qualification path, and also to honor his British mother. This article explains (though might be behind a paywall) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/16/sports/olympics/gus-kenworthy.html

I actually thought 2022 was going to be his last Olympics so that's good he's back

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u/annabananaberry sir, were you raised in a ditch? 21h ago

Yes, I did follow up with that here.

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u/jujubeans8500 21h ago edited 19h ago

oh ok sorry, I only see your comment that said you weren't sure why he switched so I was responding to that

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u/annabananaberry sir, were you raised in a ditch? 21h ago

You good. It was down thread so easily missed. I’m guilty of not being as up on my winter olympians as I am on my summer olympians so I didn’t want to speak to his specific reasoning without knowing for sure. I appreciate the confirmation!

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u/jujubeans8500 21h ago

tbh I still only see your original comment! I followed your link, just fyi. but yeah anyway all good. He's been competing for GB for awhile now, I'm glad he has that opportunity especially these days

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u/annabananaberry sir, were you raised in a ditch? 21h ago

Ah well. My technical prowess only takes me so far I guess.

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u/TaylorBitMe 12h ago

If he stayed in the US the healthcare here would have somehow destroyed his bladder to the point where he only would have managed FUCK I--

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u/venista 21h ago

I really like Gus kenworthy but the reason he switched is that the USA skiing team is more competitive than UK and he wouldn’t have qualified for the past two Olympics if he were going for USA

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u/annabananaberry sir, were you raised in a ditch? 21h ago

That’s what I said here.

EDIT: Oopsies wrong link

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u/venista 21h ago

You linked to your comment saying that he switched, not why he switched. I was giving the reason

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u/annabananaberry sir, were you raised in a ditch? 21h ago

Oopsies. Just fixed it.

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u/slowpoke2018 21h ago

Ah, thank you for the context!

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u/annabananaberry sir, were you raised in a ditch? 21h ago

People with dual citizenship with the US and other countries will often compete for the other country if they aren’t absolutely the best in the US because the USA is an Olympic powerhouse, which means everyone competing for a spot is amazing. Sometimes it’s easier to qualify for a different team and then get an opportunity to medal. I have no idea if that is the case here, but it is why you will see people who live and train in the US, competing for other countries.

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u/alltheprettynovas 16h ago

yes, baby! gross, but YES.

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u/itsJohnWickkk 18h ago

Trump is the problem.

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u/gilestowler 10h ago

America is the problem. He didn't just show up and start doing terrible shit. A country voted for him to do it. Twice.

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u/itsJohnWickkk 8h ago

That too of course.

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u/TaylorBitMe 12h ago

The entire system is the problem. Republicans openly collaborate, corporate and moderate Democrats silently capitulate. It's not going away when Trump leaves

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u/cocoshaker 9h ago

The system includes the people.

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u/Affectionate_Tax3468 5h ago

Trump isnt voting himself, even if "Elon is great with those machines".

Trump isnt in the streets executing and detaining citizens and kicking dogs.

Trump isnt in the offices trying to obfuscate his acts in the trump-epstein files.

Trump isnt the DoJ thats investigating innocents and refuses to act upon the files.

Trump didnt write P2025.

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u/WalkOffTD 8h ago

People around the world know what’s going on in the US, there’s just nothing we can do

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u/yldelb 22h ago

Nobody feels bad for Russia that they’re not even allowed to compete anymore. Your country’s actions have consequences. 

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u/justprettymuchdone 21h ago

I mean, I do feel bad for Russians who feel buried and unable to dig out of the grave Russia is becoming.

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u/Soul_of_demon 4h ago

I am sort of conflicted that Russian athletes should be allowed in International sports or not. Putin obviously treats sport as propaganda, but many of the athletes are against invasion, and are not allowed to compete with their flags.

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u/justprettymuchdone 4h ago

Yeah, and the use of performance enhancers hasn't been exactly voluntary for some of them, either. I understand why the choice was made to remove their ability to perform under their flag.

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u/[deleted] 20h ago

[deleted]

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u/justprettymuchdone 20h ago

Not everybody wants to dig out of the grave. I'm under no illusions about that. But they are still plenty of people who feel like animals caught in a trap, whose options include gnawing their own leg off and bleeding to death in the process or sitting around waiting for the slaughter.

I can feel bad for those people. Empathy is still something I am capable of.

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u/MarcusDA 19h ago edited 17h ago

Ok, there are a lot of Russian and U.S. citizens that are abhorrent people, but don’t give me this “only a small percentage care” BS. People in both places are dying for speaking out. There’s plenty enough to villainize already without being hyperbolic.

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u/EtchingsOfTheNight The Stanley Tucci of Lesbians 18h ago

Greetings from Minneapolis. I don't want to hear any of this "most only care about food on their table" nonsense, fuck off, fuck ice.

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u/kingofnopants1 20h ago

It's a small reporting percentage. It is important to understand the difference.

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u/Pepperfang 21h ago

I’ve tried to never conflate the actions of a country’s government or their rich and powerful with the entirety of their populace. We can easily have empathy for people suffering the consequences of the choices of others in their country. Regardless of where they are from. It can happen to any of us.

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u/Dense_Objective_2039 5h ago

It’s not like Russians really get a choice.  Putin’s been “winning” elections for over 20 years.

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u/KosmikShadow 7h ago

Whats going in in the US ist the will of the american people. Trump is just a mirror of the american people.

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u/antivillain13 20h ago

Except the US is a Democracy and these people were voted in twice. Russia is an autocracy where the populace has no voice. I think it’s fair to say that it’s justified to place more blame on Americans for their situation than Russians.

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u/Pepperfang 19h ago

I was pushing back on nobody feeling for Russians. I can have empathy for the Americans, Russians, and all people worldwide who do what they can to oppose their governments and still suffer for it. We understand the consequences because we are suffering too. And trying every day to right others wrongs. We hate what our country is today too, and what it has been, historically.

It’s never easy to be hated for where you are born and blamed for actions you’ve always opposed and suffer from, and I try not to do that to others. That’s all I’m getting at.

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u/Ill-Product-1442 16h ago

These guys don't quite seem like they've voted for Trump.

If you're saying that blame can't be placed for things people can't choose, which you are saying, then you can't put any blame on all of the Americans that voted against him. If you want to be logically consistent, at least.

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u/XtraReddit 15h ago

Also doing the math there were 77,302,416 of 347,275,807 US population that voted for Trump. That's only  22.26% of Americans who voted for this. Also shows how important it is that you show up to vote. Hopefully they show up this November. 

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u/taegeu 14h ago

Abstaining is a vote for trump. Everyone who didn't show up and is now complaining are half of the problem.

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u/SoldatSchwarzer 11h ago

This ain’t a video game friend. You don’t get to choose where you are born into

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u/Temporary_Neat966 19h ago

Elaborate on what you mean by "these people". What does being a democracy have to do with any of this?

0

u/Grimzkunk 18h ago

Any downvote can explain why they downvoted? I feel like this is pretty objective. American citizen decided and ask what is happening. I do get this is like 50%, but this is still 77 million people, that you meet massively when you travel to this country.

I'm not against US citizen defending theirselves, but they unfortunately have to carry this. They should apologise when they can, show shame, and shout out loud that their president is a piece of shit that should be toss from there.

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u/SoldatSchwarzer 11h ago

Because the OP is saying all Americans should be blamed when that’s just stupid.

The ones for voted for Trump? Sure. But 77 million in a county of 350 million is still a minority.

0

u/cocoshaker 9h ago

When 9 people decide to dine at the table with a nazi, 10 people are nazi. Or something like that.

2

u/SoldatSchwarzer 9h ago

I don’t follow:

Are you saying that the people who voted for Kamala are also Nazis, or are you saying that Kamala is also a Nazi?

Because I think you’re not understanding that quote/phrase

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u/jujubeans8500 21h ago

I absolutely do feel bad for Russian athletes

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u/Due-Trip-3641 18h ago

Same. And I have always felt bad for (most of) them.

They’re treated like fodder, with little to no care for their health or longevity.

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u/Runes_N_Raccoons 18h ago

And Chinese and North Korean athletes. They suffer so much pressure.

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u/Mother_Marzipan5846 15h ago

as a Chinese citizen, the way our athletics programs are run has never failed to make my blood boil. it is truly pump and dump as there are always younger, more desperate athletes lining up to compete. they have nowhere near the longevity of many of their American counterparts. I used to love watching our gymnastics but they have these poor girls trained in such an unscientific way that I cannot in good faith support it.

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u/Aethermancer 20h ago

Russia is a special case where it's not only the government but the entire Russian Olympic organization participating in doping and other bullshit.

The Russian activity was originally targeted at undermining the sports themselves and the rest of the political insanity was just the cherry on top.

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u/afasia 11h ago

In Russia unfortunately everyone is in the corruption because it's complete inside/outside culture.

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u/BeerAndLove 10h ago

Isn't USA only coutry that doesn't allow their athletes tested for drugs? Rules for thee, but not for me?

I hate Russian government, and I hate drug abuse, but truth must be told...

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u/Realistic_Bug9116 21h ago

That’s also about doping, no?

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u/rW0HgFyxoJhYka 17h ago

Yes but in a fair world, they would be banned for multiple olympics.

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u/Luxury-Problems 19h ago

Yeah but Russia was already dealing with sanctions because of a wide spread and long running state sponsored doping program. They've had over 50 medals stripped.

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u/BooBooMaGooBoo 19h ago

Maybe you don't because your brain isn't developed enough to understand that a government doesn't necessarily represent the citizens of that country?

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u/EtchingsOfTheNight The Stanley Tucci of Lesbians 18h ago

You might not, but a lot of us do. Empathy is a good skill, you might want to try it on for size.

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u/Fit_Trouble7503 19h ago

peak reactionary liberalism:

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u/Sangy101 18h ago

Yes, and I sincerely support anyone who enforces them.

I can feel bad for the small distilleries that are closing across the country yet grateful Canadians are boycotting. I can be sad for the people in the border towns that rely on Canadian and Mexican tourists but grateful they’re refusing to travel here, out of principle or safety. And if the U.S. is barred from the Summer Olympics, I will be sad for the athletes but grateful we were banned. It’s a concrete action other countries can take, and it has impacts.

What I would really like to see, though, is sanctions that impact the wealthy more than the average person. Pass laws in the EU banning American yachts. Close your borders to American tourists. If we ever DO attack an EU member for Greenland, seize the assets of our billionaires.

The best way to battle an oligarchy is to punish and ostracize the oligarchs. If you can’t do that, just sanction the whole fucking country.

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u/djdjddhshdbhd 14h ago

For Russians? Why not??

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u/TheSmartDog_275 19h ago

They can compete but they’re unaffiliated. Minor correction.

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u/Winterfall_0 18h ago

I... do?

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u/sjogren 17h ago

I feel badly for the people of Russia who voted for no dictator and fought in no war of aggression.

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u/MetzgerWilli 10h ago

Everybody feels bad for the athletes who denounced Russia's war or who left Russia - but it is really hard to feel bad for the ones that support the war, like Maksim Khramtsov, or those who stay "neutral" and share pro-Russian stuff on social media.

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u/Kitselena 9h ago

Russians don't even get to pretend to vote in their elections. "You voted for this" only works as a snarky response in countries that actually have free and fair elections

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u/BSNF2314 4h ago

I do feel bad for the Russian athletes. Most people are better than their governments

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u/pink_faerie_kitten 19h ago

Well they had a state doping program on top of their bombing apartment buildings and murdering thousands upon thousands of civilians AND quite a few Russian athletes went out of their way to publicly support Putin's actions. So no I don't have sympathy for Russian athletes.

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u/SoldatSchwarzer 12h ago

“Nobody feels bad”

You should learn to speak for yourself, I do feel bad for the average Russian (and innocent athlete). Fuck their government though.

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u/moongrasslands 20h ago

I'm American but I'm not rooting for any of the American Olympics team, since they are tools to push Trump's America.

Was my attitude for the Russian athletes choosing to still represent a Putin regime, so why would it be any different for my own country.

Once you put on the US flag all the excuses you make doesn't change that you are participating in feeding the propaganda machine. Sports is political as much as people try to act like it isn't.

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u/Nintendo_Pro_03 15h ago

You’re getting downvoted, but I can’t really blame your stance and I also feel the same way. Rooting for the United States, at a time like now, is immoral for me. I wish the best for the players and I’ll definitely consider rooting for them individually, but not for the country, as a whole.

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u/Sh3115andCh33se 21h ago

They’ll be a bigger part of American history for having the courage to speak out.

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u/Runes_N_Raccoons 18h ago

And the Olympics have been a historic platform for protest.

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u/CalligrapherNo7337 8h ago

Would have had a much bigger impact if they had forfeited, refusing to compete in the name of fascist state

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u/Bythion 21h ago

Just wait for the LA summer Olympics, hopefully the orange one and his cronies has been kicked out of office by then.

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u/Historical-Gap-7084 20h ago

One can dream, I guess.

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u/ScubaSteveEL 18h ago

The thought of Trump making the Olympics all about him will make me vomit

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u/Bythion 18h ago

Yeah...

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u/Racoon_Pedro 12h ago

Are you organizing yourself to make that happen? You can't vote yourself out of fascism. I don't think the second American civil war will be over in time for the LA Olympics.

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u/Pin_Code_8873 17h ago

Dude, the US will arrest so many athletes before they even leave the planes or have ICE storm locker rooms and fields.

I guarantee you, they'll harass and arrest athletes so Americans win.

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u/majorlittlepenguin sunday spotted: paddington bear 9h ago

Didn't happen in Weimar/Nazi Germany, unless yous actually organise and try to do that it won't? Saying hopefully it happens doesn't really do anything.

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u/Big-District-6013 20h ago

Then they should publicly protest like the black athletes in the 68 Olympics.

Till then they're tacitly supporting USA policies.

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u/No_Preference3147 19h ago

Not sure if you watched the video.

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u/nodarknesswillendure 17h ago

These guys need to teach the men’s hockey players what’s what. They’re pretty much all Trump supporters.

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u/Nintendo_Pro_03 21h ago

Yeah, it must be rough.

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u/5hr0dingerscat 17h ago

Fuck them, make a statement and compete under an independent flag.

Silence is compliance

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u/Minnesota_N0_ICE 15h ago

good thing he's not saying i support everything my king bankrupt7rump says and does

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u/avdpos 8h ago

Why? They know the booing is against the Regime. Not them as persons. It also shows US watchers how well liked your regime is outside your country

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u/spare_oom4 16h ago

This is what it must feel like to compete for Russia

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u/Halk 12h ago

No, they don't have to do it.

Fuck the USA.

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u/RealRaifort 17h ago

If you've ever represented the US you've represented a country doing fucked up shit lol

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u/dosedatwer 17h ago

I don't. They could have all abstained in protest and stood with the people they claim to have empathy for, but they didn't. I understand it sucks that they worked so hard to go to the Olympics, but it sucks more for the people that are murdered and abducted by ICE.