Megan Rapinoe blasts US men's Olympic hockey team for Donald Trump gesture
Megan Rapinoe has slammed the US men's hockey team for accepting Donald Trump's invitation to the White House following their gold-medal success at the Winter Olympics.
The United States won gold in the men's ice hockey following their dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.
They beat their North American neighbours to claim Olympic gold for the first time in 46 years.
Trump spoke to the US men's hockey team via a locker room call following their triumph in Milan-Cortina.
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But the US president was accused of making a 'distasteful' joke about the US women's hockey team, who also won gold at the Winter Olympics.
"I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team," said the 79-year-old. "You do know that. I do believe I probably would be impeached [if the women’s team wasn’t invited]."
His comments about the US women's hockey team have been condemned, with ex-football star Rapinoe making her feelings known.
She hit out at the US men's hockey team for celebrating their triumph with Trump and called him out for what he said during the call.
Speaking on her podcast with wife Sue Bird, Rapinoe, who won gold at the 2012 Olympics, went off on the US men's hockey team, calling out the players for visiting Trump - saying it tarnished their moment of glory.
"You have the medal. You have the medal swinging around your neck that you won, that you fought for, that you dreamt about your whole life, and then you just gave this whole moment over to this person who you know is just only gonna use it for him. Gonna totally co-opt it," she began.
"Why don't you respect you more than to have that moment be taken by someone who, for no reason at all, just takes a huge swing and a jab at women who did the exact same thing that you did?"
Rapinoe also had her say on Trump's 'impeached' comment and explained that she didn't understand the men's team's reaction to his jab on the call.
The 40-year-old added: "I think, for me, I left this whole interaction and this whole kerfuffle, if you will, like, yes, why are you laughing at your friends?
"But also like, why don't you respect you enough to not be used in this moment for this unique achievement that is truly one of the greatest achievements in life? And now this is what people think about your moment. And that sucks."
Topics: Olympics, Megan Rapinoe
Nasir Jabbar