...is actually considered more dignified than playing a role and pretending to be someone or something they are not.

The Netherlands happens to be one of those countries. Since most U.S. viewers don't have a clue who Sven Kramer is any way, why should be play along with the U.S. norms and values instead of the ones for his native country, where people do know who, from where and what he is?

You can prefer what you approach to other humans you want, but that does not make it a universal truth or the best approach all over the world.