British Skier Gus Kenworthy Avoids Censure Over Graphic Anti-ICE Snow Message
British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy is set to avoid any formal censure after posting a graphic social media image featuring an obscene anti-ICE message, apparently urinated into snow, just hours before arriving at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. The image, which shows the words ‘f*** ice’ etched into the snow, constitutes a direct attack on the controversial United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Officials Unconcerned by Social Media Post
The Press Association understands that British Olympic Association officials are not concerned by Kenworthy’s post, as it does not reference Team GB and was shared outside the official Olympic environment. Similarly, the post is not believed to contravene International Olympic Committee guidelines, which explicitly state the IOC is “fully supportive” of athletes’ freedom of expression.
Kenworthy, who was born in Chelmsford but has lived in the US for most of his life, accompanied the image with a message urging US citizens to pressure their senators to deny funding for ICE. He wrote: “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.”
Olympic Protests and Political Context
The build-up to the 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, highlighting the political tensions surrounding the event.
Kenworthy, 34, is a seasoned Olympian who won a silver medal in ski slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi while representing the US, along with five medals at the prestigious X Games. He switched to represent Great Britain in 2019, competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where he previously voiced criticism of China’s human rights record and its stance on LGBT issues.
Competition Schedule and Future Actions
Kenworthy is scheduled to compete in the men’s snowboard halfpipe competition in Livigno, with qualifying rounds beginning on February 19. The IOC has been approached for comment regarding the incident, but no further disciplinary action is expected given the current assessment of the post as protected speech under Olympic protocols.
