US Olympics star names noble initiative after Donald Trump's 'real loser' insult
US Olympics star names noble initiative after Donald Trump's 'real loser' insult
Jarrod Castillo Fri, August 7, 2026 at 3:49 PM UTC
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US skier Hunter Hess has launched a nonprofit aiming to help disadvantage children through sports (Image: Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Olympian whom Donald Trump labeled a "real loser" transformed the insult into a meaningful mission. Hunter Hess' Winter Olympics experience fell short of expectations, placing 10th in the halfpipe final. He also faced intense criticism for his answer to a question about representing the United States during a period when tensions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement reached unprecedented levels.
Although Trump had the final word, the 27-year-old Olympic skier converted the 89-year-old's remark into a fundraising effort called "The Real Loser Project," which later became STOKED, a nonprofit organization helping disadvantaged youth discover "confidence and community" through action sports.
Reflecting on the criticism he faced, Hess told the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), "For me, I didn't intend for my statement to ever reach anyone, really. We were asked a tough question and we all thought we answered accordingly. It's a sensitive time and a sensitive topic, but no one thought they said anything out of the ordinary..." It comes after Trump was brutally snubbed by most women's hockey players after an Olympics controversy.
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"I think people interpreted what I said in a million different ways, but I knew what I meant. It was never about me trying to be defiant against the U.S. or anything like that," Hess continued. "It was me speaking up in a sensitive time and answering the question that was asked, doing so to the best of my ability while holding my morals in the right place, trying to speak from the heart and speak with honesty and be a genuine human being, because that's how I always was."
Hess stated he was "extremely proud" of his response to the media attention in the subsequent days and weeks, including Trump's remarks. Months later, the celebrity has leveraged his newfound prominence to establish an initiative aimed at helping others.
Donald Trump called Hess a 'real loser' during the 2026 Winter Olympics (Image: AP Photo/John Locher)
"And yet again, it's put me in this position of opportunity to reach so many people," he continued. "Whether they loved me or hated me, it gave me the ability to reach them and for them to sit down and listen to my words. That was a big, big piece of coming up with The Real Loser Project.
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"You have people's attention for only so long, and it will probably be the most exposure I ever have, so why not turn it into something positive? They can hate my words yet again, but at least they'll know about a good cause that's going toward something bigger than myself, you know? That was the biggest thing."
The athlete acknowledged that during his flight back from Milan, he decided to move past an Olympics experience he had anticipated would be "beautiful," but instead proved to be the "worst moment" for him due to the surrounding negativity. "The story felt too big to just let die, and we'd gone through too much to just sit around, say 'that was crazy' and move on. It felt like the biggest opportunity I'd ever had in my life to make something positive happen," he added.
He further emphasized that despite facing criticism, athletes should maintain their advocacy. "If you're in a position where your voice can reach thousands if not millions of people, why not use it for what you think is right, stand behind your beliefs, and speak up for what you think matters?" he posited.
To date, "The Real Loser Project," which debuted in May, has already contributed $15,000, with funds allocated toward training additional coaches. Hess envisions that by supporting coaches who will mentor young skiing enthusiasts, they'll become more engaged and follow a "positive career path."
When questioned about what it would signify to witness someone sporting a "Real Loser" hat down the line, potentially unaware of its origins, he responded: "There's so much negativity out there, I'd want them to feel as if they're part of something bigger than themselves, part of something positive.
"If people can walk away with a smile on their face and feel like they helped someone somewhere, especially a young kid, an underserved youth who's been able to get into action sports, develop self-esteem, develop a community, develop skills they would never have had otherwise, I think that's a really powerful message.
"And I hope people do feel that, because this isn't about me, I was just the messenger. It's down to all the people that supported it, all the people that went out and bought a shirt or a hat or donated money. They're the heroes. They're the ones making it happen, and they're the ones really changing people's lives."
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
