A Tennessee Republican is taking aim at American athletes who sell out their country for foreign paychecks, introducing legislation that would hit these Benedict Arnolds where it hurts most – their wallets.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) has unveiled the "Officially Limiting Yearly Money Procured by Individuals Concerning Sportsmanship Act" – cleverly dubbed the OLYMPICS Act – that would impose taxes on income earned by U.S. citizens who choose to represent foreign governments in international competition.
The legislation directly targets cases like freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who infamously ditched Team USA to compete for Communist China in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, reportedly earning millions in Chinese endorsement deals while American athletes struggled for sponsorship dollars.
America First Extends to the Playing Field
"When American athletes choose to represent foreign entities of concern over their own country, they're essentially becoming paid ambassadors for regimes that oppose our values," a congressional source familiar with the legislation told reporters. "This isn't about limiting freedom – it's about consequences for choices."
The OLYMPICS Act would specifically apply to athletes representing "foreign entities of concern" – a designation that includes nations like China, Russia, and Iran. These are countries that have been identified as strategic competitors or adversaries to American interests.
"Why should American taxpayers subsidize the training and development of athletes who then turn around and compete against us for our enemies?"
The timing couldn't be more perfect. With President Trump's America First agenda in full swing, patriots across the nation are demanding accountability from those who benefit from American opportunities only to stab us in the back on the world stage.
This legislation sends a crystal-clear message: if you want to cash Chinese checks while wearing their colors, don't expect Uncle Sam to give you a tax break. It's about time someone in Congress had the backbone to say what millions of Americans are thinking.
Will other Republicans join Ogles in putting America first, or will they continue letting our athletes play for the other team without consequences?