Team USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess made a hand gesture shaped like the letter “L” after completing a successful halfpipe qualifying run. The gesture took place during an international competition where Hess advanced out of the qualifying round.
The move drew attention because it appeared to reference a reported past insult from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had allegedly called Hess a “loser” in a private setting.
Event officials recorded Hess’s result as one of the more notable performances in the qualifier. The halfpipe event featured athletes from several countries competing for limited spots in the final. Scores depended on difficulty, execution, amplitude and overall impression. Hess’s performance ranked high enough on the leaderboard to secure his place in the next round.
The “L” sign is widely recognized in popular culture as a symbol for the word “loser.” The gesture often appears in sports and entertainment settings. In this instance, sources close to the skier said Hess intended the sign as a reference to Trump’s earlier remark. The comment reportedly occurred during a previous interaction in which Trump used the term “loser” in connection with the athlete.
Hess did not issue a detailed public statement immediately following the qualifier run. He answered routine questions about his performance from sports reporters in the mixed zone.
Trump has a documented history of using the word “loser” to describe opponents and critics in political and media contexts. The term appears in his social media posts, rally speeches and interviews.
The governing body for the event did not announce any disciplinary review regarding the gesture. There were no immediate reports of complaints from other teams or officials. The code of conduct for many international sports events places limits on explicit political demonstrations. The “L” hand sign in this case did not include written slogans, banners or verbal statements aimed at a political figure during the run. As of the latest reports, organizers treated it as an individual athlete’s expression after competition.
Social media users circulated clips of Hess’s run and the subsequent gesture. Some posts paired the footage with past instances of Trump using the term “loser” in other contexts.
Hess remained in contention for a medal following the qualifier. His advancement placed him among a group of athletes expected to compete for podium positions.