Gus Kenworthy Protests ICE with Snow Message at Winter Olympics
Freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy is preparing to represent Team Great Britain at the 2026 Winter Olympics. This comes after he switched allegiance from Team USA, where he had previously competed. Kenworthy recently made headlines for urinating a political message into the snow during the Winter Olympics, clearly addressing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issues.
Political Protest at the Winter Olympics
Kenworthy shared an Instagram post with more than 1.2 million followers. The image displayed the words “F* ICE” written in yellow snow. He later confirmed that the message was created using his urine. Alongside the image, Kenworthy encouraged his followers to contact their senators to advocate against ICE, especially during the ongoing negotiations for Department of Homeland Security funding.
At 34, Kenworthy remains outspoken about political issues. He humorously noted, “My last post was pee so it only felt appropriate to follow it up with a lil’ dump… of photos from January. Yes, I’m a child.” His protest comes as U.S. ICE agents are expected to be present at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, coinciding with Vice President JD Vance’s attendance at the opening ceremony.
Olympic Guidelines on Free Speech
Interestingly, Kenworthy will not face any penalties for his actions. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) clarified that athletes are free to express their opinions on personal social media platforms. They remarked, “During the Olympic Games, all participants have the opportunity to express their views as per the Athlete Expression Guidelines. The IOC does not regulate personal social media posts.”
Kenworthy’s Olympic Journey
The 2026 Winter Olympics will mark Kenworthy’s fourth appearance at the Games. He was born in Britain to an American father and moved to Telluride, Colorado, during his childhood. Kenworthy earned a silver medal in slopestyle at the Sochi 2014 Olympics and competed for Team USA in Pyeongchang 2018. He switched to Team GB for the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Kenworthy is recognized as one of the first extreme sports stars to come out as gay. He has garnered a significant following, including actors like Ryan Reynolds. Recently, he expressed admiration for Heated Rivalry, a project that highlights the experiences of closeted queer athletes.
