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Kenworthy faces backlash after anti-ICE post
British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy has spoken out about receiving death threats following a controversial Instagram post criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just days before the Winter Olympics in Italy.
Incident sparks national debate
Kenworthy shared an image on social media with a profanity directed at ICE, referencing the deaths of two Minnesota residents-intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, 37, and Renee Good, 37-who were killed by ICE agents in January. The incident triggered protests across the U.S. and intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement policies.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Kenworthy described the backlash as "tough," acknowledging the distress of reading violent and homophobic messages. "I also took it with a grain of salt," he added. "Anyone who writes something like that has something wrong with them. I think I'm on the right side."
Olympic performance and career shift
Kenworthy, 34, born in Chelmsford but raised in the U.S., won silver in ski slopestyle at the 2014 Sochi Games before switching allegiance to Team GB in 2019. At the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, he finished sixth in the halfpipe final, while American Alex Ferreira claimed gold.
U.S. skier Hunter Hess, who also criticized ICE, placed 10th. Hess had previously made an 'L' gesture during qualifying-a direct response to former President Donald Trump calling him "a real loser." After the event, Hess told reporters, "I worked so hard to be here. I sacrificed my entire life for this moment. I love the United States of America."
ICE operations under fire
Tom Homan, a border enforcement official under Trump, defended ICE's actions in Minnesota, stating that Operation Metro Surge led to the arrest of over 4,000 undocumented immigrants, many with violent criminal records. However, the deaths of Good and Pretti sparked nationwide outrage, with critics arguing the surge disproportionately targeted communities.
Kenworthy's comeback journey
After retiring post-Beijing 2022, Kenworthy pursued acting, appearing in Will & Grace and American Horror Story, and guest-judging on RuPaul's Drag Race. However, the urge to return to skiing grew stronger, leading to a self-funded comeback after GB Snowsport's funding had already been allocated.
"I called it quits partly because of burnout and head injuries. Months later, when the symptoms subsided, I realized it wasn't the way I wanted to finish," Kenworthy said. "I didn't want to live with regret."
With no financial backing, Kenworthy covered all expenses-training, travel, insurance, and lodging-himself. "Money comes and goes," he reflected. "This opportunity won't."
Looking ahead to 2030
When asked about competing in the 2030 Winter Olympics in France, Kenworthy, who will be 38, replied, "I hope so. I'm having fun. I'm not done."
