British Skier Gus Kenworthy Escapes Censure Over Controversial Anti-ICE Message
British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy is set to avoid any formal censure after posting a graphic and obscene social media image targeting the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, just hours before his arrival at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. The image, which shows the words 'f*** ice' apparently urinated into snow, has sparked debate but will not result in disciplinary action from Olympic authorities.
Olympic Officials Unconcerned by Provocative Post
The Press Association understands that officials from the British Olympic Association 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 that the IOC is "fully supportive" of athletes' freedom of expression.
Kenworthy, who was born in Chelmsford but has lived in the United States for most of his life, accompanied the image with a message urging US citizens to pressure their senators to deny funding for ICE. In his post, 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."
Political Tensions and Olympic Protests
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, highlighting the political undertones surrounding the event.
Kenworthy, 34, is no stranger to controversy at the Olympics. 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 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 situation, but no official statement has been released at this time.
This incident underscores the ongoing tension between athletic expression and political neutrality in international sports, particularly at high-profile events like the Winter Olympics. Kenworthy's ability to avoid censure may set a precedent for future cases involving athletes' use of social media to advocate for political causes during global competitions.
