Former ESPN personality Sarah Spain recently shared details about an uncomfortable moment she experienced while covering the Winter Olympics, saying she felt uneasy after sitting near Vice President JD Vance during a women’s hockey game. Speaking on her podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, she described how a large security presence suddenly entered the arena, followed by Vance and other officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Spain said the unexpected arrival changed the atmosphere around her and disrupted her focus on the game itself. According to her comments, the moment triggered a strong emotional reaction. Spain said she felt “ill” and compared the experience to feeling suddenly spooked or unsettled. She explained that she wasn’t expecting to encounter the vice president so closely and described a physical sense of discomfort. Her remarks quickly spread online, sparking strong reactions from both supporters and critics.

Some agreed with her feelings, while others argued her language was overly dramatic and unnecessarily personal. Spain also expressed frustration over the security detail, saying agents blocked part of her view during the match, which she felt interfered with watching the athletes. She said photographers were focused more on the political figures than on the action on the ice, which added to her irritation.

The United States team went on to win the game convincingly, but Spain said the experience overshadowed part of the event for her. Vance, who was leading the American delegation at the Games, met with Team USA athletes and offered supportive remarks. Neither he nor his office publicly responded to Spain’s comments.