Preparing for the worst: Greenland biathlete reacts to Trump's threats
Photo: Ukalek Slettemark (instagram.com/ukaleqastri)
Greenland biathlete Ukaleq Slettemark, in her interview with The Associated Press, admitted that U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements about a possible takeover of her homeland have seriously affected her emotional state and preparation for competitions.
“Scared and very angry”
The 25-year-old biathlete spoke about her feelings during the Biathlon World Cup stage in Ruhpolding, Germany, where she competes alongside her brother, Sondre Slettemark.
“It’s terrifying. We are imagining the worst-case scenario, and my aunt is having trouble sleeping at night. My mom, yesterday, broke down at the stadium crying because she’s so afraid,” Slettemark said.
The athlete emphasized that she is not involved in politics but cannot ignore threats to her homeland.
While stressing that she is an athlete, not a politician, Slettemark said the threats from the U.S. are impossible to ignore. It’s taking an extra effort to focus on training and competitions as she worries about what’s happening back at home.
According to her, some Greenland residents are already considering leaving due to safety concerns.
“People are talking about maybe they have to leave Greenland because they feel it’s so unsafe. 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,” added the biathlete.
Parallels with the war in Ukraine
Slettemark stated that she hopes for pressure from American society on the U.S. Congress to stop any plans to take over Greenland. She compared Trump’s statements to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Following Russia’s suspension from international biathlon competitions after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, Slettemark said she had heard discussions about possible similar sanctions against the U.S. in the event of a forceful scenario.
“I’ve definitely thought so myself, but we’re not at that stage right now, because nothing has happened yet. But if it were to happen, then I would also agree that that would be the right way to do it,” she concluded.
Who the Slettemark siblings are
Ukaleq and Sondre Slettemark were born in Nuuk (also called Godthåb), the capital of Greenland. Biathlon runs in their family. Their father, Eystein Slettemark, competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics, while their mother, Uillok Slettemark, is the founder of the Greenland Biathlon Federation.
The Slettemark siblings represent Greenland at the World Cup stages. However, if they qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics, they will compete for Denmark, as Greenland is not a sovereign country and does not have its own National Olympic Committee.
Notably, Ukaleq already competed for Denmark at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
