Ukaleq Slettemark, a 25-year-old biathlete from Greenland, is currently striving to qualify for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics amidst heightened stress caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated statements about acquiring her country. Slettemark, along with her brother Sondre, is participating in the biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding, Germany, where she expressed deep concerns over the situation. She shared how her family, particularly her aunt and mother, are struggling with fear and anxiety, with her mother breaking down in tears at the stadium due to overwhelming apprehension.
The Slettemark siblings compete for Greenland in the World Cup, but if they secure a spot in the Olympics, which they will know next week, they will represent Denmark since Greenland lacks its own national Olympic committee. Despite emphasizing her focus on sports rather than politics, Slettemark highlighted the distress caused by the U.S. threats, making it challenging to concentrate on her training and competitions.
The ongoing discussions about the potential acquisition of Greenland have evoked strong emotions within the community, with some even contemplating leaving the region due to safety concerns. Slettemark expressed her anger and fear over the lack of respect shown in the rhetoric, stating that such actions are not how allies should communicate.
President Trump reiterated his interest in obtaining Greenland for national security reasons, sparking further unease. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and a member of NATO. Slettemark, who represented Denmark in the 2022 Winter Olympics, hails from Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, with a family deeply involved in biathlon.
Despite the tense situation, Slettemark maintains amicable relationships with U.S. athletes and hopes that Americans will advocate against the proposed Greenland takeover. Drawing parallels to Putin’s actions in Ukraine, she stressed the importance of preventing any forceful acquisition, hinting at potential repercussions akin to Russia’s Olympic ban following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.