Gus Kenworthy on death threats, Olympic comeback and coming out

gus kenworthy said he was "on the right side" after receiving death threats tied to a shared graphic about ICE, and then went on to finish sixth in the Olympic halfpipe final at his fourth Games. The comments, the threats and his return to competition have together kept the skier in the headlines during the Winter Olympics in Italy.

Death threats after anti‑ICE graphic

The athlete shared a graphic in which the letters for the United States immigration enforcement agency were preceded by an expletive; that post came a week before he was due to compete. He described the response as difficult, saying, "It was tough. No-one wants to read bad things about themselves, things that are threats and violent and scary and homophobic. " He added that he "took it with a grain of salt, " and said he felt he was "on the right side. "

The post followed high-profile local unrest after two Minnesota residents were killed by immigration officers, unrest that prompted protests and debate about enforcement operations in that state.

Gus Kenworthy's Olympic return

The skier is competing at his fourth Olympics and finished sixth in the halfpipe final, with an American competitor completing a set of Olympic medals by winning gold in that event. Kenworthy was born in Chelmsford, grew up in the United States and won silver in slopestyle at the 2014 Games before switching allegiance to Great Britain in 2019.

He had retired from competition in 2022 but reversed that decision the previous spring and later qualified for the British team. His placement in the halfpipe final came after qualifying runs earlier in the day.

Coming out, criticism and public moments

Kenworthy has long been a visible figure on issues beyond sport. He first publicly acknowledged his sexuality on a sports magazine cover in the years after his Olympic silver, becoming one of the relatively few active athletes at the time to do so. Coverage of his openness and broader public life has at times mixed personal moments—such as rescuing dogs from a Korean puppy mill—with commentary and criticism from observers.

Other competitors at these Games have also used their platforms to comment on U. S. policy. One fellow skier, who has spoken against enforcement actions, placed tenth in the halfpipe final and had both made a gesture in response to a political comment and offered a public statement about dedication to his Olympic moment.

What remains unclear and what to watch

The immediate effects of the threats on Kenworthy's public role and any longer-term fallout are not publicly confirmed. His competing at these Games, his switch to represent Great Britain and the timing of his return to competition are observable facts that will shape how his career is seen going forward.

Observers should watch whether the athlete competes in additional events at these Games and how public discussion of enforcement actions continues to intersect with coverage of competitors. If controversy over those enforcement actions remains elevated, it may continue to draw attention to athletes who speak about them.

• Key takeaways: Kenworthy received death threats after sharing an anti‑ICE graphic; he described the response as "tough" but said he was "on the right side. "
• He is competing at his fourth Olympics and placed sixth in the halfpipe final.
• He previously won Olympic silver, switched to represent Great Britain, and had briefly retired before returning to qualify for the team.

Kenworthy's situation highlights how high‑profile athletes can become focal points in broader political debates while still pursuing competitive goals at the Olympic level. Further schedule details and any additional comments from the athlete about the threats have not been specified.