Ukaleq Slettemark, a 25-year-old biathlete from Greenland, is dealing with heightened stress as she aims to secure a spot in the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics amidst concerns raised by U.S. President Donald Trump about taking control of her country.
Expressing her fears, Slettemark shared with The Associated Press from Ruhpolding, Germany, where she and her brother, Sondre, are participating in the biathlon World Cup, “It’s a terrifying situation. We are envisaging worst-case scenarios, and it’s causing sleepless nights for my aunt. My mother even broke down in tears at the stadium yesterday due to overwhelming fear.”
Although the Slettemark siblings currently compete for Greenland in the World Cup, if they qualify for the Olympics – a decision expected next week – they will represent Denmark since Greenland lacks its own national Olympic committee as an independent nation.
Emphasizing her role as an athlete rather than a political figure, Slettemark highlighted the challenges posed by the U.S. threats, making it difficult to concentrate on training and competitions while worrying about developments in her homeland.
“There are discussions about potential relocation from Greenland due to safety concerns,” she expressed. “We are extremely anxious and outraged because such communication lacks diplomacy and respect towards a fellow nation. It’s a distressing and alarming situation for us.”
Trump restated his intentions on Wednesday to acquire Greenland, citing national security interests in a social media post. This statement came ahead of a meeting between Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Greenlandic representative Vivian Motzfeldt.
Greenland’s Association with Denmark
Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a member of NATO.
Born in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, Slettemark, who represented Denmark in the 2022 Winter Olympics, comes from a family deeply involved in biathlon. Her father, ├ ÿystein Slettemark, competed in biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics, while her mother, Uiloq, founded the Greenland Biathlon Federation. Biathlon involves a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
The ongoing U.S. threats remain a concern for Slettemark, with fellow athletes inquiring about her well-being. Despite the situation, she maintains positive relationships with members of the U.S. team.
“I consider the U.S. athletes as good friends,” she mentioned. “They are all genuinely nice individuals.”
Slettemark expressed hope for American citizens to urge Congress to halt the proposed Greenland acquisition plan, likening it to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
Following Russia’s ban from the Olympics post the 2022 Ukraine invasion, Slettemark noted discussions within the biathlon community suggesting a similar outcome for the U.S. if it were to forcefully take over Greenland.
“While we are not at that stage yet as nothing has transpired, if such an event unfolded, I believe it would be the appropriate course of action,” she remarked.