Krueger and his family have long had a strained relationship with U.S. SpeedskatingGETTY IMAGES
Silver Medal-winning speedskater John-Henry Krueger will "no longer compete for the United States after a dispute with the U.S. federation and will switch allegiance to Hungary," according to Martin Rogers of USA TODAY. Krueger, the only American short-track speedskater to medal at the Pyeongchang Games, in an email wrote, "I was and am still proud to have represented the United States during my career but have been faced with an unsustainable situation where if I continue pursuing my career with the US team I will bankrupt myself and my family. Overall the financial costs necessary for me to perform competitively at the international level are unsustainable with the lack of sufficient financial support from US Speedskating and the [USOC]." He added, "I will be able to pay for basic necessities like groceries, rent, apartment furnishings, clothes and equipment without putting myself and my family in debt." Rogers notes Krueger and his family "have long had a strained relationship" with U.S. Speedskating, and his brother, Cole, in recent years has trained with the Hungary national team. Heidi Krueger, John-Henry's mother, said that the family "spent in excess of $70,000 over the past two years to help fund their son's Olympic dream." John-Henry Krueger earned a bonus of around $20,000 for winning a Silver Medal, but it "was used immediately to repay one of the several loans his family had taken out to meet his training requirements" (USATODAY.com, 4/30).
DEPARTURE A LONG TIME COMING: In DC, Rick Maese notes it has been "well-known in speedskating circles" that Krueger has "long been at odds" with U.S. Speedskating. The NGB reportedly "threatened to withhold a monthly stipend because Krueger declined to wear a heart-rate monitor and share the data with U.S. coaches." Both John-Henry and Cole Krueger "refused to sign an athlete agreement with US Speedskating, preferring to seek out their own sponsors rather than wear the logos of those supported by the federation." The Wall Street Journal last year reported the brothers "peeled sponsor logos off their suits ... and even turned their jackets inside-out before taking the podium at a World Cup event" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/1).
