At what is his last Olympics, Gus Kenworthy is not about to go quietly both as a competitor and a campaigner.
Seven years on from coming out publicly and now at what is his third Games, he is no stranger to travelling to countries with repressive attitudes toward its LGBTQ+ community.
Stonewall concluded in a report that LGBTQ+ people in China were largely invisible and ignored, that just six per cent of the LGBTQ+ population was open about their sexuality, and that since 2017 words such as homosexuality are deemed sensitive and negative meaning they should not be seen on public screens.
That allied to China’s human rights record make it more than a questionable host for the 2022 Winter Games.
“It definitely sits uneasily for me,” said Kenworthy, who argued it should not be the responsibility of the individual athlete to boycott a Games. “I don’t think it should fall on an athlete to make a big decision.
“If you say it’s appalling human rights, there’s genocide happening I won’t compete at that, one sensational news story won’t do anything to really change the situation out there.
“But the IOC does have the power to create change as it could not grant the Games to countries with human-rights issues. You can’t host the Games because of what you’re doing, that would be a platform.”
All three Olympic host nations where Kenworthy will have competed have questionable attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community.
As he puts it: “It’s unfortunate that as an out athlete the three countries I’ve competed at. Russia’s persecuting people, South Korea is better but not particularly accepting and there’s China, where their stance is appalling.
“Getting to live your truth and speak out, stand up and be visible, that always has an impact but it’s really impactful in places where you’re doing it in the face of adversity. It’s an important responsibility.
“And one of the most proud aspects of my skiing career and legacy is to be an out advocate and a voice for myself but for the community and to visually represent them.”
If anything, Kenworthy has become increasingly more outspoken along with his athlete peers, with the attitude changing from that of “athletes talking about politics should shut up and dribble or whatever it might be”.
A medal would certainly help the 30-year-old widen his platform to speak out about any injustices in China and globally. And competing for Britain for the first time at the Games rather than the United States – he was born in Essex and his mother is English – it remains the goal despite a litany of setbacks in the build-up.
“It’s not been an easy road to the Games at all,” he said. “My coach always says each time it’s another bump in the road but recently said this is so bumpy someone needs to pave this road!”
It started with a concussion in Mount Hood, followed by knee surgery last year, recovering from that and then suffering a big haematoma. Another crash in Park City led to a swollen abdomen and groin, which “drained into my privates – I’ll spare you the details but that was horrific”. He then got concussion at a training camp in Switzerland and was also struck down by Covid.
“You start to think ‘what have I done?’,” he said. “But hopefully that’s all out the way now.”
Of his chances in the half-pipe – his premier event, he said: “Do I think I’m a shoo-in for gold or do I think I’m a dark horse? It’s a no to both. I don’t want to go if I’m not in contention for a medal or to be one of the guys in the mix.
“Last season was not the best for me but I’m confident that I’ll be in the mix for a medal. I could certainly pull together a run that could get me on top of the podium.”
Kenworthy readily admits that switching allegiance to Team GB from the American team helped ease his qualification for Beijing but it is far more than that for the Chelmsford-born athlete, and his mother more so.
“She’s been really excited,” he said. “She was giddy about the fact that I’m in the Union Jack instead of the Stars and Stripes. She feels touched that I’m dedicating my performances to her.
“But with all the injuries lately, she said if you don’t want to go or feel hurt, you don’t have to do it if it’s for me and that no one’s upset if you throw the towel in. But I’m so proud to be competing for GB and for her and my family and to land a run and do them proud.”
