British Skier Gus Kenworthy Escapes Punishment Over Graphic Anti-ICE Protest
British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy is set to avoid any formal censure after posting a highly graphic and obscene social media image targeting the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, known as ICE. The controversial post emerged just hours before Kenworthy's arrival at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, sparking immediate debate.
Explicit Snow Message Draws Attention
The image in question shows the words 'f*** ice', apparently urinated into the snow, in a direct and provocative attack on the controversial US immigration agency. Kenworthy, who was born in Chelmsford but has resided in the United States for most of his life, accompanied the visual with a written message urging American citizens to pressure their senators to deny funding for ICE.
He wrote alongside the image: "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." In a subsequent, lighter-hearted post, he added: "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."
Officials Unconcerned by Personal Expression
The Press Association understands that British Olympic Association officials are not troubled by Kenworthy's post, as it does not reference Team GB and was shared outside the official Olympic environment. Consequently, he will not face disciplinary action from the BOA.
Similarly, the International Olympic Committee has confirmed that Kenworthy will not find himself in trouble with their organisation. An IOC spokesperson stated: "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."
Olympic Context and Past Activism
The build-up to the Winter Games has been marred by protests over the reported presence of ICE agents in Milan as part of the wider US delegation. US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended Friday night's opening ceremony at the San Siro stadium and watched their team's opening men's ice hockey match on Thursday.
Kenworthy, aged 34, is no stranger to using his platform for activism. He won a silver medal in ski slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi while representing the United States, along with five medals at the prestigious X Games. After switching to represent Great Britain in 2019, he competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where he openly criticised China's human rights record and its stance on LGBT issues.
Competition Ahead and Broader Implications
Kenworthy is scheduled to compete in the men's snowboard halfpipe competition in Livigno, with qualifying set to begin on February 19. This incident highlights the ongoing tension between athlete expression and Olympic protocols, particularly regarding politically charged statements made on personal social media accounts.
The lack of censure in this case underscores a permissive approach by sporting bodies towards personal views expressed outside competition, provided they do not directly implicate national teams or violate specific event rules. It remains a notable example of how athletes navigate freedom of speech within the structured world of international sports.
