Team GB Skier Avoids Sanction for Controversial Anti-ICE Snow Message
Team GB freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy has escaped any form of punishment from the International Olympic Committee after posting an obscene social media image protesting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just hours before arriving at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.
Political Protest at the Games
The Winter Olympics found itself mired in controversy even before Friday night's opening ceremony in Milan. The outcry began when Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala criticised the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stationed at Olympic venues. This prompted Team USA to rebrand its hospitality headquarters, formerly called 'The Ice House,' in response to the growing tension.
Kenworthy, a former Team USA athlete who switched allegiance to Team GB and was subsequently branded a traitor by some critics, made his stance abundantly clear through a creative protest. The 34-year-old skier urinated the message "f*** ICE" in the snow and shared the image with his 1.3 million Instagram followers, framing it as an anti-ICE demonstration.
Social Media Support and Political Advocacy
The freestyle skier has garnered significant support on social media following his controversial post. Kenworthy accompanied his image with a call to political action, encouraging people to contact their local senator about ICE funding negotiations. "You can call your Senator at (202) 224-3121 to speak up against ICE and put pressure on them during the current DHS funding negotiations," he posted on Instagram.
Kenworthy provided followers with a sample script to use when contacting senators, which read in part: "Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I'm a constituent from [Your City, State]. I'm calling to urge Senator [Name] to refuse to support any final Department of Homeland Security funding agreement that fails to meaningfully rein in ICE and Border Patrol." The skier referenced accusations that ICE agents have been responsible for deaths in Minneapolis, stating "Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough."
Olympic Charter Violation Concerns
The protest directly challenges Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which seeks to maintain separation between sport and politics. The rule declares it a "fundamental principle that sport is neutral and must be separate from political, religious or any other type of interference." Despite this clear prohibition, the International Olympic Committee has decided not to sanction Kenworthy, allowing him to compete in the Milan-Cortina Games as scheduled.
Kenworthy's Dual Allegiance and Response to Criticism
The skier, who was born in England but previously competed for Team USA, winning a silver medal in Sochi in 2014, has faced criticism for his country switch. "I've definitely gotten s*** where people are like, 'You're a traitor,'" Kenworthy told People magazine. "I don't think of it that way. I had this choice in 2014 to go for either country and at that time I was like, 'Well, I live in the States. I wanna go for the States,' and I did and I won a medal and I represented the States at another Games after that."
Despite the controversy surrounding both his country allegiance and political protest, Kenworthy expressed no regrets about his decisions. "I feel good about it," he stated. "I mean, I do feel like I'm American, but I also do feel like I'm British, and that's where I was born and my mum's British."
The IOC's decision not to punish Kenworthy sets a significant precedent regarding political expression at the Olympic Games, particularly as the controversy surrounding ICE presence at the venues continues to develop alongside the athletic competitions.
