Rich Ruohonen is the oldest athlete on Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 54-year-old works as a personal injury attorney in Minnesota in his day job, but he is also one of the most successful figures in his sport as a two-time national champion. This is their first appearance at the Olympics after years of falling short.
Ruohonen used his focus on the Olympics on Tuesday to deliver an important message: What’s happening in his home state of Minnesota right now is not right as federal immigration agents tear up the city to meet deportation quotas.
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“What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There are no shades of gray. It’s clear.”
“We love our country. We play for America, for Team USA,” Ruohonen continued.
Watch Ruohonen’s full comments here:
ICE already killed two people during their raids on Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were trying to help their neighbors avoid being detained.
Ruohonen’s comments follow Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy writing “Fuck ICE” in the snow, while Hunter Hess, a freestyle skier on Team USA, said: “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s happening in the USA.” President Donald Trump responded by calling Hess “a real loser.”
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The Olympics have always been political throughout the history of the games, and Team USA athletes are using their voices to speak out against Trump during these games. Ruohonen is not the first and probably won’t be the last.