Out Olympic freestyle skier and LGBTQ+ icon Gus Kenworthy has officially ended his retirement, announcing a dramatic comeback to competitive freeskiing with his sights set on qualifying for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Kenworthy, who will be 34 years old when he attempts to make his fourth Olympic appearance, retired following the Beijing 2022 Games. His decision to return comes after realizing his deep passion for the sport had been reignited.
Kenworthy stated his return had to be now, emphasizing, “I didn’t know if I would be able to come back after three-and-a-half years, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to after seven and a half. So, it’s this Olympics or nothing.”
A major factor in his return is the desire to “rewrite the final chapter.”
He retired immediately after placing eighth in the halfpipe final in Beijing following two major crashes, a result he admitted was “hard to walk away on a sour note.”
The time away, during which he pursued acting (including roles in American Horror Story: 1984 and 80 for Brady) and advocacy, helped him regain perspective and feel a fresh, youthful love for the sport.
