Openly gay Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy has announced his retirement from the sport after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
After falling twice, Kenworthy dropped out of the 2022 Olympics – finishing eighth in the Freeski halfpipe (which was won by Kiwi Nico Porteous).
Scoring 71.25 in what would become the final event of his career, 30-year-old Kenworthy announced his retirement to pursue acting full-time.
Speaking with Olympics.com, Kenworthy described the experience as “The final hurrah.”
“My swan song. I’m done … I’m done competing. I’ve had a career that I’m really, really proud of,” Kenworthy said.
While his retirement may have been unexpected, fans were tipped off by his announcement on Instagram before competing, stating that the halfpipe would be his final day in a bib. “Win or lose. This one’s for you, mum,” Kenworthy wrote.
Following his announcement, Kenworthy, who has duel UK and US Citizenship, spoke to BBC Sport, saying, “Thank you for everything skiing.”
“This sport and the Olympics and competing on a professional level has changed my life in ways I could have never imagined.”
“I grew up in a town of 2,000 people,” he said of his hometown, Telluride in Colorado. “48 kids in my graduating class.”
“I’m gay. I felt like I just didn’t fit in in sport, and to be out and proud, competing at the Olympics and all of the opportunities that have come my way since the Olympics, I couldn’t be more thankful.
“I know that there’s an expiration date, and I’m at that date.”
