Ex-ESPN star reveals why she felt 'ill' sitting next to JD Vance at Winter Olympics
Former EPSN star Sarah Spain has said she felt 'ill' as she sat in close proximity to JD Vance at the Winter Olympics.
The vice president was booed at the San Siro for the opening ceremony earlier this month after the cameras panned to him and his wife, Usha, who were waving American flags during the event to kick start the Milano Cortina 2026.
One of the commentators for CNN said of the matter: "There is the vice-president JD Vance and his wife Usha – oops, those are not … uh … those are a lot of boos for him. Whistling, jeering, some applause.”
Spain, the Good Game With Sarah Spain host, says she was sat just 20 metres away from Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the Trump administration officials stuck around after the opening ceremony to watch the US women's team play Czechia in the hockey.
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Speaking on her podcast, Spain said: "Twelve minutes into the first period, that area suddenly is awash with large men in suits with earpieces. And here comes JD Vance carrying a child and a bunch of security, and eventually Marco Rubio.
"When I see JD Vance's eyeliner face, I literally feel ill, like a basilisk had looked you in the eye and death was awaiting you on the other side."
The podcaster added: "And I don't even believe in that, but my body felt like when you've been spooked and you have a little tingle that feels like, 'ooh, something's not right.' That’s what my body felt like. And I was in no way prepared to see him."
The sports presenter, who's in Italy covering the Winter Olympics, went on to claim Vance and Rubio's security blocked her view of the sporting action.
"It made me so angry," Spain said of the obstruction. "Not just because his f****** Secret Service were blocking half the ice … like, we’re trying to watch a hockey game."
Speaking of Vance, she then concluded: "You ruined it."
UNILAD has reached out to the vice president's office for comment.
After Vance was jeered at the opening ceremony, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said at a press conference: "What I would say from the IOC point of view is with the next Games coming up in Los Angeles, we are super happy that the US administration is so engaged with the Games here and going forward. That’s a great thing for the Olympic movement.
“We are largely a sports organisation and seeing the US team cheered as they were by the audience, fair play, that was fantastic, so very happy.
"In general at sporting events we like to see fair play, but in terms of having a good relationship with the administration, that’s good news for us.”
Callum Jones