Hunter Hess Battles Back: From Social Media Barbs to Olympic Halfpipe Finalist Amid Intense Scrutiny
hunter hess said the stretch since a president’s social media attack has been harrowing, calling the period “probably the hardest two weeks of my life, ” yet he still qualified cleanly for the freeski halfpipe final and leaned on teammates, family and the sport itself to get through the ordeal.
Hunter Hess: on-course gesture and online response
After the social media remarks that labeled him "a real loser, " Hunter Hess leaned into the moment in two visible ways. He updated his social profile to include the phrase "A real loser" in the bio, and at the end of his qualifying run he made a gesture forming the letter "L" with his hands. Those moves came in the same window in which he described representing his country as bringing up mixed emotions and said it could be "a little hard. " He later characterized the weeks that followed as extremely difficult and unique in his experience as an athlete.
Performance in Livigno and the path to the final
Hess waited twelve days after the social media exchange before making his Olympic debut. When he returned to competition at the freeski halfpipe in Livigno, he posted two strong qualifying runs and advanced to the evening final. In the final he completed three runs, with his best score recorded on the third run, and finished tenth overall.
The competitive timeline for Hess was compact and emotionally charged: a pause between the public controversy and his first Olympic appearance, followed by a day of qualification in which he executed successfully and an evening final where he placed among a 12-man field.
Team support and personal resilience
Behind the scenes, Hess received a flood of supportive messages from teammates, family and friends. Teammates described widespread backing from the squad and emphasized that the team had rallied around him. Hess said those messages and the presence of friends and family in town and back home meant the world to him and played a key role in helping him refocus on competition.
Fellow athletes who were asked about the episode highlighted the strain athletes face when pulled into political controversy, and noted that sport is often intended to bring people together. Teammates praised Hess’s handling of the attention and framed the response as one of collective support rather than division.
What this means going forward
The episode left Hess publicly tested in ways he had not previously experienced. He emphasized his love for his country and his commitment to representing the parts of it he believes in, while also noting the personal toll of the public criticism. The combination of a respectful competitive return—clean qualifying runs and a finals appearance—and the visible support network around him suggests he could draw on those resources for future events.
Recent updates indicate the situation has been emotionally taxing for Hess and that details may evolve as he continues his season and public profile. For now, his performance on course and the backing from the team and family form the clearest signals of how he is coping and moving forward.
