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Greenland Olympians Assert Identity at Milano Cortina, Reject U.S. Acquisition Talk

Greenlandic biathletes leverage the Olympic stage to underscore sovereignty concerns and cultural pride.

Overview

  • Ukaleq Slettemark said “Greenland will never be American,” emphasizing she is competing first as an athlete while voicing fear of environmental exploitation.
  • Greenland’s culture minister Nivi Olsen presented Slettemark with the Greenland flag and said the athletes show President Donald Trump that “the whole world is standing with us.”
  • Sondre and Ukaleq Slettemark compete under Denmark because Greenland lacks its own Olympic committee, using race suits with Inuit designs to signal their heritage.
  • Sondre finished 62nd in the men’s 20 km individual biathlon and Ukaleq placed 52nd in the women’s 15 km at Antholz-Anterselva.
  • Trump says the United States needs Greenland for national security but has backed away from talk of taking it by force and withdrawn proposed tariffs on opponents of annexation.