U.S. bobsledder Kaillie Humphries voices concern over California fraud allegations, potential impact on 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Kaillie Humphries, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in women's bobsled and the only athlete to win Olympic titles piloting for two different countries, has criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom's response to recent allegations of financial fraud in the state.[1] Humphries, a resident of Mountain View, California, raised the issue in light of the state's preparations to co-host the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles.[2][3]
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Humphries stated: "As a California resident, I’m deeply concerned about the reports of alleged financial fraud and Governor Newsom’s apathy to it. Aside from the reality that any financial fraud is wrong, the fact that this allegedly happened in the state that is slated to host the 2028 Olympics is even more concerning. The Olympics are a multi-billion dollar event that requires substantial governmental support to ensure it runs correctly."[4]
Humphries referenced historical issues with Olympic hosting, including the bidding scandal ahead of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, which involved bribery allegations against International Olympic Committee members.[1][5] She continued: "Olympic host cities around the world have struggled with financial fraud surrounding hosting the Olympics for years. America is not immune from these problems."[4]
Governor Newsom's press office drew criticism for posting a response to an investigation by independent journalist Nick Shirley that included an AI-generated image depicting Shirley surrounded by cameras with a speech bubble reading, "Hey, can I see your kids?"[4]
In response to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Newsom's office said: "Our office does not typically respond to commentary from individuals who are not directly involved in or informed about the matter at hand. Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California is leading the nation in PREVENTING fraud, waste, and abuse — protecting billions of dollars intended for families, students, seniors, and communities," linking to a state anti-fraud resource.[4]
Canadian-born Humphries competed for Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, winning gold in the two-woman event both times. She switched to the U.S. team in 2019 and won gold in both the monobob and two-woman events at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.[1] She became a U.S. citizen in December 2021 and resides in California with her husband, fellow bobsledder Travis Armbruster, and their daughter, born in November 2023.[1]
Sources
- International Olympic Committee, "Kaillie Humphries," Olympics.com, accessed October 2024, https://olympics.com/en/athletes/kaillie-humphries
- LA28, "About LA28," la28.org, accessed October 2024, https://la28.org/en/about-la28/
- Wikipedia, "Kaillie Humphries," last edited October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaillie_Humphries
- Fox News, "Olympic bobsled legend Kaillie Humphries rips Newsom response to fraud allegations ahead of LA28," Fox News Digital, March 2026 (approximate based on draft context), https://www.foxnews.com/sports
- Wikipedia, "Salt Lake City Olympic bid scandal," last edited September 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_City_Olympic_bid_scandal
