Winter Olympics 2026: Gus Kenworthy took death threats over ICE post ‘with grain of salt’

Team GB’s Gus Kenworthy says he’s “on the right side” after he obtained death threats for posting a graphic message concerning the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement group.

Freestyle skier Kenworthy shared the picture – through which ‘ICE’ was preceded by an expletive – on Instagram every week earlier than he was on account of compete on the Winter Olympics in Italy.

In January, intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, 37, and fellow Minnesota resident Renee Good, 37, have been each killed by ICE brokers within the metropolis, sparking protests throughout the US.

Speaking to BBC Sport concerning the threats he obtained, Kenworthy mentioned: “It was tough. No-one wants to read bad things about themselves, things that are threats and violent and scary and homophobic.

“I additionally took it with a grain of salt. I could not think about writing one thing like that about somebody, particularly on a public discussion board, anybody who does that has one thing mistaken with them.

“I think I’m on the right side.”

Kenworthy, 34, was born in Chelmsford however grew up within the US and gained silver within the ski slopestyle on the Sochi 2014 Games, earlier than switching allegiance to Team GB in 2019.

He certified in ninth place for tonight’s halfpipe closing, which begins at 18:30 GMT, with a rating of 81.25 factors.

US skier Hunter Hess certified in fifth and made an ‘L’ signal towards his brow after finishing his first run, in response to US President Donald Trump calling him “a real loser”.

Before the Games, Hess had mentioned: “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.”

Speaking to reporters after Friday’s qualifiers, he mentioned: “I worked so hard to be here. I sacrificed my entire life to make this moment happen.

“I’m not going to let controversy like that get in my manner. I like the United States of America. I can not say that sufficient.”