Ten American Olympians who serve in the United States military were honored at the Pentagon on April 17 by War Secretary Pete Hegseth, even as he oversees ongoing military operations related to the war with Iran. The athletes are members of the military’s elite World Class Athlete Program and recently competed in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, with some earning medals for Team United States.

Among those recognized were Army infantryman and bobsledder Frankie Del Duca, Air Force skeleton athlete Kelly Curtis, and Air Force bobsledder Jasmine Jones, who won a bronze medal. The athletes spoke about balancing elite competition with military service, describing their roles as both a form of national representation and a commitment to defend their country.

The ceremony took place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Hegseth reiterated strong warnings to Iran over naval activity in the Strait of Hormuz and said the United States stands ready for further action, while also expressing hope for a potential peace agreement. A second round of talks between American and Iranian officials was recently postponed amid ongoing disputes.