Why a Sexist "Joke" in an Olympic Locker Room Matters

The 2026 Winter Olympics, first and foremost, offered us an opportunity to see some of the world’s top athletes excelling at their sports. Yet increasingly, sporting prowess brings expectations for how athletes conduct themselves outside of the sporting arena as well as during their performances.

One stark example of this happened shortly after the U.S. men’s and women’s ice hockey teams both won Olympic gold. A video showed Donald Trump phoning the men’s team in their locker room to congratulate them on their gold medal and invite them to the White House for a celebration. Then, with clear reluctance, he added, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team.” This was followed by laughter from most present.

Put simply, the comment was sexist—it framed the invitation for the women’s team as a joke, a burden that had to be reluctantly borne, even though the women had also just won Olympic gold. This suggests that there’s a hierarchy to the teams’ achievements, and that the men’s win matters more.

Some commentators have responded online that it was "just a joke," and therefore, nobody should be offended. Yet I argue that it’s not about offence; it’s about tackling everyday sexism and changing the culture of sport. When equality is framed as optional or inconvenient—even if done so as a "joke"—it sends a clear message about whose achievements are seen as important and whose are not.

Why Didn't More of the Men Speak Up?

Despite laughter from most people in the locker room, two male voices stood out on the video. In response to the statement “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” one voice near the camera replies, "Absolutely," while another says, "Two for two," highlighting that both teams had won gold. These voices were in the minority and were largely drowned out by the laughter of the others, but the fact that they were there at all is vitally important.

It’s easy for male athletes to say that they respect their female counterparts, but it can be harder to put into practice. The men’s ice hockey scenario offered a test of respect and equality in real time, and the failure rate was concerningly high.

Burrell (2023) carried out a series of focus groups looking at male student athletes’ responses to violence against women and girls, and the importance they placed on initiatives to prevent violence, misogyny, and sexism. The findings suggested that young men often struggle to understand the role that they can play in tackling sexism and misogyny, using their understanding of masculine norms to mediate their response to prevention campaigns. In other words, they look at other men to develop an idea of how a man should respond to such situations, then use that to guide their own behaviour.

In that moment, the U.S. men’s ice hockey team had a major opportunity to be role models for young men; they had just won the gold medal and were flying high. But what did those young men actually see? The men’s and women’s national teams both reached the top of their sport by securing Olympic gold; they both carried the same flag and won the same medal. Yet in the celebration, led by the president of their country, the language used placed one team firmly as the default heroes, and the other as an obligation, a burden that must also be invited along to celebrate.

What Can Young Athletes Learn From This?

Had all the players laughed along with the "joke," those watching may have internalised the idea that you’re supposed to react this way to sexism—at least if you want to be part of the team—and thus may go on to behave similarly when encountering sexism or inequality both inside and outside of sport. The choice of two players to go against the tide and acknowledge the women’s right to celebrate gave a different example of a role model: one who won’t join in with problematic behaviour simply because those around them are doing it, but instead stays true to their own set of values.

In doing so, they showed that you don’t need to be confrontational or hostile to stand up to sexism. You can simply choose not to go along with the crowd.

Sport prides itself on fairness, merit, and respect. So, when two teams achieve the same victory, equal recognition should follow. In the days following the locker room phone call, hopefully, more of the male players will reflect on their response to that comment in the moment and speak up about the need for role models and active bystanders in sport. They achieved an impressive victory on the hockey rink—now it’s time to show us who they are off of it.