Jason Kelce’s experience at the Winter Olympics, from hockey to figure skating: ‘I really was just there to have fun’

The Winter Olympics was full of exciting moments for Team USA — from the men’s and women’s hockey teams winning gold to Alysa Liu stunning fans every time she took the ice. And one man was there to witness it all: Jason Kelce.

The former Eagles center joined his wife, Kylie Kelce, who attended on behalf of NBC and YouTube. While Kylie was there on business, Jason enjoyed his time as a spectator and had no problem with CBC Olympics labeling him as Kylie Kelce’s husband.

“I really was just there to have fun and enjoy the Olympics” Kelce said on the latest episode of New Heights. “So, I was 100 percent — this was the correct way to say it. I wanted to tell them I prefer ball and chain.”

During his time in Milan, Kelce got some hands-on bobsledding experience and attended four Olympic hockey games, the short program for figure skating and short track speed skating. Here’s everything he had to say about his experience at the Winter Olympics:

Ahead of the games, Kelce had the chance to get some hands-on experience with Team USA’s bobsledding team at their headquarters in Park City, Utah, where he learned about their training and got to see what it feels like going down the track with Team USA member Frank Del Duca.

“The ride itself, way more intense than I imagined,” Kelce said. “Like I thought it would be like a rollercoaster. I really did. The energy that you are moving down this thing at over 80 miles per hour. And when you go into these bank turns, it pushes you into the bottom of this thing.

“And on the bottom of the sled, there’s like these metal rails and my [expletive] is so [expletive] wide, they’re sitting on those metal rails. I’m being pinched down onto these metal beams. I’m trying to keep my head up so I can see. [Expletive] is flying by. I have no [expletive] idea how [Frank] was even knowing when to do the turns and everything. Like, you have to memorize it.”

After the men’s U.S. hockey team made history, winning the gold medal for the first time in 46 years, Kelce went to social media to express his feelings with a simple, “Let’s [expletive] go!”

“There is just something about hockey, whether it’s playoff hockey or national hockey,” Kelce said. “When guys are like going all out, it’s just the most fun sport to watch on the planet. USA, hockey capital of the world. Men’s and women’s gold medal. Best country on the planet in hockey. I don’t want to hear any arguments.”

Kelce supported both teams in Milan, attending two women’s hockey games and two men’s hockey games — including the men’s dominant 6-2 win over Slovakia in the semifinals, and the women’s gold medal win over Canada.

“Canada got out to a quick lead and it made it very stressful,” Kelce said. “It was an electric game and then obviously we got to see USA men’s dismantle Slovakia. And I was sitting with the Tkachuk family. Keith Tkachuk was over there on the end of it. Got to shake the hand of a [expletive] legend.... We were right by the Hughes family, too. Jack Hughes who had the golden goal for the US in the gold medal game.”

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After both teams’ win, Kelce was able to meet the entire women’s hockey team — including Laila Edwards, another Cleveland Heights native whose family was helped to Milan by a donation from the Kelce brothers.

“After talking to her, you realize she is from the Heights,” Kelce said. “There’s just like this humbleness but also she’s a great person and it comes across very apparent when you speak to her. ... They’re a great team, man. They’re tightknit. They’re playing jokes on one another. Just so proud for all of them. It’s an incredible moment to win a gold medal, especially in a team sport like that.”

Kelce attended the short program for figure skating and he had just one recommendation when it comes to watching in the arena.

“I would have liked to have heard Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir announcing it live,” Kelce said. “When you don’t have that, especially for someone newer to the sport, you like to hear the excitement in the announcer’s voice that they just did something difficult or they just nailed a routine or they just missed something.”

But when it came to speed skating, Kelce had no notes.

“In speed skating, it is a [expletive] party in that speed skating arena,” Kelce said. “There’s DJ’s playing music. It’s fast paced, there’s bells ringing, it is high-stakes action in the speed skating short track.”

Kelce even had the chance to meet Apolo Ohno, a speed skating legend and eight-time medalist.

“Apolo, we watched him all growing up,” Kelce said. “Unbelievable speed skater. ...Speed skating was electric as [expletive]. ... These things were fast paced, they were moving. They’re doing Tush Pushes because we saw the relay version where they get in there and push the [expletive] of the guy in front of them.”