Olympic gold medalist Hillary Knight said Wednesday that President Trump’s widely circulated comments about the United States women’s team were a “distasteful joke” and that she is more focused on celebrating women’s achievements at the Milan Games.
During the U.S. men’s team’s locker room celebration in Milan, Trump invited the players to Washington and delivered the State of the Union address. “I have to tell you, we have to bring the women’s team, you know that,” he said, laughing that if he didn’t also invite a women’s team, “I believe I would probably be impeached.”
Appearing on “SportsCenter” on Wednesday, Knight said, “I thought it was kind of a distasteful joke and unfortunately it’s impacting a lot of successes, just the women’s success and the amazing gold medal wins for Team USA at the Olympics.
“We’re just focused on celebrating the extraordinary efforts of the women in our room, and will continue to celebrate the three gold medals in the program’s history, as well as the double gold at the same time for both men and women. And that really can’t be diminished with a distasteful joke.”
Knight later said that she was looking forward to “celebrating all the great things that came from the Olympics and feeling loved and supported and getting back to their respective communities and sharing this journey with them. And that’s what it’s all about.”
Many players of the men’s team were seen laughing at Trump’s comment, a reaction that was criticized after the video went viral. jack hugheswho scored the men’s gold medal game winner, and his brother Quinn were asked about the situation Tuesday and focused on the team’s relationship with the women’s team.
“Being in the Olympic Village, our relationship with them, I think we’re very strong with their group,” Hughes said in an interview with his brother Quinn on “Good Morning America.” “After we won the gold medal, we were in the cafeteria with them at 3:30 in the morning. We go from there, pack our bags and we’re on the bus.
“People are very negative about things. I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them. The same way we feel about them, the same way they feel about us.”
Knight reiterated that the teams have good chemistry among themselves.
“I think there’s a real level of support and respect there,” he said. “I think it’s being overshadowed by a quick omission. I think people were in a difficult situation, so I think it’s a shame that this story and narrative has been blown out of proportion and eclipsed the connection and genuine interest in each other and encouraging each other.”
While the men’s team attended the State of the Union address, the women’s team, which won the gold medal for the third time since women’s hockey competition was added to the Olympics in 1998, declined the invitation, citing logistics and scheduling concerns.
“We are deeply grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary accomplishment,” the U.S. women’s team said in a statement released Monday. “Due to time and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments after the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for this acknowledgment.”
Knight scored the equalizer against Canada on a redirect in the final two minutes. Megan Keller scored in extra time to give the Americans a 2–1 victory.
It was the final Olympic game for the 36-year-old Knight, who became the most decorated player in US women’s hockey history with her second gold medal. He announced in May that this game – his fifth – would be his last.
She ranks first among American skaters – male or female – in career Olympic goals (15) and points (33).
Knight told “SportsCenter” that the entire situation “is a really good learning point to really focus on how we talk about women not only in sports but in the industry. Women are no less than anyone and their accomplishments should not be overshadowed by anything other than how great they are.”
