There was a lot of hype around downhill skier Lindsey Vonn going into this year’s Olympic games. A championed athlete, she covered the 2014 Olympics as a correspondent due to injuries, so this year marked her return to the games after eight years away. So it was disappointing when she stumbled during her super-g run and lost her shot at a medal.
Frustrating to be so close to the podium and to have made such a big mistake…but that’s ski racing. I’m proud of the way I skied and how I attacked the course. I gave it my all and came up short. That’s life. Now it’s on to the Downhill! ??
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) February 17, 2018
What ended up being entirely more disappointing–disgraceful, really–was the reaction from so many Trump supporters online, who took the opportunity to mock and disparage Vonn over her loss.
Back in December, Vonn was asked by CNN how it felt to be competing during a Trump presidency. She responded by saying, “I take the Olympics very seriously and what they mean and what they represent, what walking under our flag means in the opening ceremony. I want to represent our country well. I don’t think that there are a lot of people currently in our government that do that.”
When asked if she would accept the traditional post-games invitation the White House, her response was a solid no. “Absolutely not,” she said. “No. But I have to win to be invited. No actually I think every US team member is invited so no I won’t go.”
So when Vonn failed to medal (whether or not that would be required for a White House invitation), Trump’s supporters took that as motivation for mockery.
Your president was watching. You let him down. Karma
— Kris S (@kscctx) February 17, 2018
Sweet u failed to medal. Glad u didn’t get hurt. Hope u stumble out the gate on downhill. Don’t get hurt or injured #LindseyNotMyRep
— rowan christopher (@nativenmrowan) February 17, 2018
Maybe you should have focused on your sport more instead of foolishly bashing our American President right before the Olympics…
— James Wehner (@JimWehner) February 17, 2018
The Trump Curse is real!!! Lindsay Vonn fails to medal in the Super-G.
Maybe next time she’ll think twice before disrespecting HER President.#MAGA https://t.co/O5oAfgtBkJ
— Georgia🍑Peach™ (@holly_thor_gaz) February 17, 2018
Yes the Trump Curse is real
A perfect run…and DOHHHH
Hahahahaha#Olympics #LindseyVonn #MAGA #Choke pic.twitter.com/vsUxqhVr9r— 🇺🇸 USA OVER PARTY (@michaelbeatty3) February 17, 2018
@lindseyvonn you got what you deserved
— DOUGLAS E. DEBLASE (@DOUGLASEDEBLASE) February 17, 2018
The GOP has always prided themselves on being the “patriotic” party, that insist they love America more than those damn liberals. Where is the patriotism in mocking athletes representing their country at the Olympics? How does this make any sense at all? Can you think of anything more partisan, more representative of the party-over-country mentality than the trolling of Olympic athletes after a loss?
If only it were random trolls and bots who were doing this. But alas …
Really? Then Perhaps you shouldn’t have spent the past few weeks talking about him. I haven’t heard him mention you once??? https://t.co/8lcCsoyBsq
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 14, 2018
That was in response to out gay figure skater and self-described America’s Sweetheart Adam Rippon saying he didn’t want his Olympic experience “to be about Mike Pence.”
As for Vonn, she’s taking the trolling in stride. ESPN commentator Julie Foudy posted about the trolling.
I just spent last 20 min’s reading thru tweets directed at @lindseyvonn. Sickened & disgusted once again by the lack of humanity that engulfs our country. She just raced her damn heart out & Trump supporters gloat/cheer/celebrate her inability to medal. Is this what we’ve become?
— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) February 17, 2018
Vonn responded,
It’s ok Julie. Not everyone has to like me but my family loves me and I sleep well at night. I work hard and try to be the best person I can be. If they don’t like me 🤷🏼♀️ their loss I guess… Thank you for the support🙏🏻❤️ https://t.co/EaySJE7QAe
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) February 17, 2018
I’m so glad Vonn isn’t letting the trolls get to her. But as Foudy says, while Vonn may be the target, this mentality is a threat to us all.
I hear you. But the vitriol in our country is everyone’s loss. Cheering for an Olympian to fail sent me over the edge. Go kill it on Wednesday sister. https://t.co/SnsDORwdb2
— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) February 17, 2018
(image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
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