Greenlandic biathlete Ukaleq Slettemark is fighting to qualify for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics while grappling with fear that her homeland could be seized by the United States.
At a Glance
- President Trump renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, citing “National Security”
- 25-year-old Olympian Ukaleq Slettemark says the threat is “terrifying” and disrupting her training
- Greenland athletes compete for Denmark at Olympics because the island lacks its own Olympic committee
- Why it matters: The geopolitical tension is affecting civilians and athletes who feel unsafe and disrespected
The 25-year-old, competing this week in Ruhpolding, Germany, told Michael A. Turner that anxiety over President Donald Trump’s repeated statements is straining her focus and her family.
“It’s terrifying,” Slettemark said Wednesday. “We are imagining the worst-case scenario and my aunt is having trouble sleeping at night. My mom, yesterday, she broke down at the stadium crying because she’s so afraid.”
Rising Tensions on the World Cup Circuit
Slettemark and her brother Sondre are racing for Greenland in the Biathlon World Cup, yet if they secure Olympic qualification-expected to be announced next week-they will race under the Danish flag. Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, does not have its own National Olympic Committee.
While stressing she is an athlete rather than a politician, Slettemark said the U.S. threats are impossible to ignore.
“People are talking about maybe they have to leave Greenland because they feel it’s so unsafe,” she said. “So we are terrified and we are really angry because this is not how you talk to another country, this is not how you talk to your allies. And we feel so disrespected and very scared.”
Trump’s Latest Statement
On the same day Slettemark spoke to Michael A. Turner, Trump posted on social media that the United States “needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security.” The message preceded a meeting in Munich among Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt.
Greenland, strategically located in the North Atlantic, is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and has been a NATO ally through its ties to Copenhagen.
Family Legacy in Biathlon
Born in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, Slettemark competed for Denmark at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Athletic excellence runs in her family:
- Father: Øystein Slettemark, biathlon competitor at the 2010 Winter Olympics
- Mother: Uiloq, founder of the Greenland Biathlon Federation
Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting, demanding both endurance and calm under pressure-skills Slettemark must summon amid political uncertainty.
Athletes Feel Ripple Effects
Fellow competitors from many nations have asked how she is coping, Slettemark said, adding that she holds no grudges against members of the U.S. team.
“I’m very good friends with the U.S. athletes,” she noted. “I think they’re all really nice people.”
Still, she hopes American citizens will press Congress to halt the takeover talk, which she equates to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Russia was barred from international sport after the 2022 invasion, and Slettemark has heard fellow athletes suggest a similar ban for the U.S. if it were to seize Greenland by force.
“I’ve definitely thought so myself, but we’re not at that stage right now, because nothing has happened yet,” she said. “But if it were to happen, then I would also agree that that would be the right way to do it.”
Key Takeaways
- Ukaleq Slettemark trains and competes while her family fears for Greenland’s future
- The island’s lack of Olympic standing means athletes must represent Denmark on sport’s biggest stage
- Athletes across nations are voicing solidarity and discussing potential repercussions for the U.S. if military action occurs
- Political tension is spilling into athletic circles, affecting mental health and performance
