British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy is in the spotlight for a bold social media post made just before the Winter Olympics kicked off in Milan and Cortina. The 34-year-old, who now competes for Team GB after claiming a silver medal for the US in Sochi 2014, shared an image on social media that stirred up a fair amount of chatter. The post featured the words ‘f*** ICE,’ seemingly written in the snow, in a protest against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Despite the post going viral, the British Olympic Association and the International Olympic Committee have decided not to sanction Kenworthy. It’s important to note that his post, which was a call for Americans to push their senators against ICE, did not mention the Olympic Games or Team GB, keeping him clear of any immediate repercussions.
Kenworthy, born in Chelmsford but mostly raised in the US, will be showcasing his skills in the men’s snowboard halfpipe event in Livigno, with qualifying rounds starting on 19th February. His past exploits include five medals at the X Games, and he’s known for not shying away from political statements, having previously spoken out on China’s human rights and LGBT issues.
Despite the buzz, the Games are pushing on, with Team GB sending 53 athletes across 11 disciplines, hoping to match or even surpass their past medal success from Sochi and Pyeongchang.
It’s not just the snow that’s heating things up in Italy this year! Keep cheering for our Team GB stars as they go for glory amidst all the action on and off the slopes! 🏂🇬🇧 #WinterOlympics #TeamGB #GusKenworthy
