Olympic Skier Gus Kenworthy Goes Viral for Graphic Anti-ICE Message Ahead of 2026 Winter Olympics

In 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Gus Kenworthy won silver behind Joss Christensen in the men’s slopestyle event in freestyle skiing for USA.

Olympic Skier Gus Kenworthy Goes Viral for Graphic Anti-ICE Message Ahead of 2026 Winter Olympics

Gus Kenworthy (Image via ESPN)

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The British skier Gus Kenworthy let the world know his stance on the recent backlash against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ahead of the opening ceremony yesterday. In a non-Olympic venue in the Dolomites, Kenworthy made an artwork with his urine, writing, “f**k ice,” on the snow.

The controversy came amid heightened attention on immigration enforcement, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance present in Milan during the opening ceremony, as well as ICE handling operations and crime monitoring during the Games.

In a post on his personal Instagram account, the free ski half-pipe athlete called out the enforcement agency and asked Americans to consistently write to their senators to rein in ICE and border patrol. Kenworthy wrote on Instagram:

Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough. We can’t wait around while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power in our communities. Senators still have leverage right now… demand real guardrails and accountability, including getting ICE and CBP out of our communities.

The post has received support from television and film producers Rich Burns and Jake Wilson, among a few others. He doubled down on his initial post with a call back through a second post, captioned:

My last post was p** so it only felt appropriate to follow it up with a lil’ dump… of photos from January. Yes, I’m a child.

According to the Olympic charter Rule 50.2, “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.” Since Kenworthy created the graphic at a different location and shared it on social media, he is not expected to face any sanctions from the IOC or Team GB.

Kenworthy, born to an American father and a British mother, was born in Chelmsford and moved to the States at a very young age. He graduated from Telluride High School and competed for Team USA in the Sochi Olympics in 2014, where he won silver in the men’s slopestyle.

Ahead of the Beijing Olympics, Kenworthy switched to Great Britain to perform for his home nation. However, he still resides in the States along with his boyfriend, Andrew Rigby. He competed in Beijing, where he actively spoke out against the inhumane treatment meted out to homosexual individuals by the host nation.

No rebuke from BOA Chief, but urges Gus Kenworthy to avoid distractions

The British Olympic Association Chief Dame Katherine Grainger addressed the graphic post made by the half-pipe skier Gus Kenworthy. The chief maintained that the skier will not be punished or sanctioned for his actions, as they didn’t violate any direct rule.

Gus Kenworthy-2
Gus Kenworthy came out of retirement and will be participating in his fourth Olympics (Image via @guskenworthy on Instagram)

She held that while the skier is open to expressing his views, he should not allow further distractions to his purpose at hand. Grainger told a press briefing on Saturday:

We have more athletes now who are more outspoken and the IOC are comfortable with athletes expressing an opinion. The important thing is not to be disruptive to themselves. Any advice from me, it comes down to performance, that’s the job you’re here to do and not distract anyone or yourself.

Earlier, a few athletes from Team USA, including skier Hunter Hess, also openly condemned the enforcement agency. She also revealed that she hasn’t spoken to Kenworthy directly about the post. She also admitted that she’s not aware of whether Kenworthy will return to the States after the end of the Winter Olympics.

Along with Liam Richards, Kenworthy is scheduled to represent Great Britain in the men’s half-pipe event in freestyle skiing. The qualification will take place on 19th February, followed by the final on the very next day.

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