Rich Ruohonen is the oldest athlete for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 54-year-old works as a personal injury attorney in Minnesota for his day job, but he’s also one of the most accomplished figures in his sport as a two-time national champion. This is his first appearance at the Olympics after years of just falling short.
Team USA curler slams ICE at Winter Olympics: ‘What’s happening is wrong’
The oldest athlete on Team USA spoke out against ICE’s actions in Minnesota at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Ruohonen used his spotlight at the Olympics on Tuesday to deliver an important message: what’s happening in his home state of Minnesota right now is not okay as federal immigration officers tear apart the city looking to meet deportation quotas.
“What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of gray. It’s clear.”
“We love our country. We’re playing for the U.S., for Team USA,” Ruohonen continued.
Watch Ruohonen’s full comments here:
ICE has already killed two people during their raids in Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were trying to help their neighbors from 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 going on in the U.S.” President Donald Trump responded by calling Hess “a real loser.”
The Olympics have always been political through the history of the games, and Team USA athletes are using their voice to speak out against Trump during these games. Ruohonen isn’t the first, and he likely won’t be the last.
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