In an eventful moment at the Winter Olympics in Milan, U.S. Vice President JD Vance attended the women's hockey match where the United States team triumphed over Finland with a clear 5-0 scoreline. Vance made his entrance with family during the intermission following the first period, at which point the U.S. was leading 1-0. Jake Paul, known both for his social media influence and boxing career, joined the Vice President soon after. Paul's fiancee, Jutta Leerdam, competes for the Netherlands in speedskating at these Games.
The Vice President was seen holding his youngest daughter, Mirabel, on his lap, while his wife, Usha Vance, donned a sweatshirt emblazoned with "USA," enthusiastically clapping in rhythm with Queen’s anthem "We Will Rock You" before the start of the second period. The couple demonstrated their support by standing and applauding as the U.S. women's team scored their second and subsequent goals, visibly energized by the team’s performance.
Seated nearby were notable figures such as 2010 Olympic figure skating gold medalist Evan Lysacek and the hockey twin sisters, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando. Both sisters are Hall of Famers and were members of the U.S. gold medal-winning team in the Winter Olympics of 2018.
This appearance at the rink marks the second occasion that Vice President Vance has observed the U.S. women’s hockey team during the course of these Games. On Thursday, he was present at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, witnessing the team’s 5-1 victory against Czechia in the first game of the preliminary round.
U.S. hockey player Taylor Heise commented on the significance of their attendance, describing it as “awesome” but noted that players were unaware of Vance and Paul’s presence during gameplay. Heise mentioned a teammate, Abbey Murphy, who expressed an interest in meeting Jake Paul, indicating a potential meeting could be arranged. She emphasized that the players were focused on their performance, valuing the spectators who come to watch but maintaining an emphasis on the game.
The relationship between Paul and the U.S. women’s team is underscored by his connection to Leerdam, who competes in speedskating for the Netherlands. This adds a layer of familiarity among the athletes given speedskating rivalries; notably, U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight’s girlfriend, Brittany Bowe, is also a speedskater competing at the Games.
Heise highlighted the athletic caliber of Leerdam, complimenting her training efforts and expressing excitement to support both Leerdam and Bowe during the Olympics. This intersection of personal and competitive connections contributes to a unique dynamic among the Olympic participants.