Team GB Skier Gus Kenworthy Launches Graphic Anti-ICE Protest as Winter Olympics Controversy Escalates
British Winter Olympian Gus Kenworthy has ignited a firestorm of controversy by posting a graphic social media message condemning the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). The freestyle skier, who is competing for Team GB at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, joined a growing chorus of protests against ICE's alleged brutality and its involvement in policing the Games.
Graphic Snow Message and Social Media Outcry
The 34-year-old athlete, who will participate in the freeski half-pipe event, shared an image on Instagram appearing to urinate the phrase "Fuck ICE" in the snow just before the Olympics commenced. This provocative act came amid widespread backlash over ICE's role in the Games' security operations, albeit without a physical street presence in Milan.
Kenworthy accompanied the image with a passionate statement: "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." His post referenced recent protests in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of two US citizens by federal agents in January.
Political Advocacy and Draft Letter Campaign
Beyond the visual protest, Kenworthy actively encouraged his followers to engage in political action. He shared a draft letter urging them to contact US senators and demand significant reforms. The letter called for senators to "refuse to support any final Department of Homeland Security funding agreement that fails to meaningfully rein in ICE and Border Patrol."
In his advocacy, Kenworthy emphasized that senators still possess leverage and must use it to establish real accountability measures. These include removing ICE and Customs and Border Protection from communities, ending what he termed "blank-check funding for brutality," and setting clear limits on warrantless arrests, profiling, and enforcement at sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals.
Athlete Background and Olympic Rule Considerations
Gus Kenworthy, who was raised in Colorado and previously represented the United States in the 2014 and 2018 Olympics—winning a slopestyle silver medal in Sochi—now competes for Great Britain but continues to reside in the US. His protest carefully navigates the International Olympic Committee's regulations, particularly Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political demonstrations at Olympic sites to protect the neutrality of sport.
However, an IOC spokesperson clarified that "during the Olympic Games, all participants have the opportunity to express their views as per the Athlete Expression Guidelines." The spokesperson added that the IOC does not regulate personal social media posts, effectively placing Kenworthy's actions outside direct Olympic jurisdiction.
Team GB's Stance and Local Protests
Team GB officials have indicated they are not concerned about Kenworthy's post, viewing it as a personal opinion on a topic external to the Games that does not involve the team in any form. Meanwhile, local protests erupted in Milan on Saturday over ICE's involvement in the Olympics, highlighting the broader societal tensions surrounding the agency's activities.
As the Winter Olympics progress, Kenworthy's protest underscores the complex intersection of sports, politics, and human rights, with athletes increasingly using their platforms to advocate for social change despite traditional sporting boundaries.
