Olympic Skier Gus Kenworthy Targets ICE with Protest Message Carved in Snow

Olympic Skier Gus Kenworthy Targets ICE with Protest Message Carved in Snow

The Team GB athlete used his platform at a training run to condemn immigration enforcement, reigniting debate over politics in sports

Copper Mountain, Colorado — Olympic silver medalist Gus Kenworthy has sparked controversy after carving an explicit anti-ICE message into a snow-covered slope during a training session, using his skis to create large letters visible from the chairlift and nearby lodge.

The freestyle skier, who competes for Great Britain after switching from Team USA in 2019, carved the phrase "F--- ICE" into fresh powder at the Colorado resort on Thursday, later posting photos of the snow art to his Instagram account where he has 1.4 million followers.

"Using my platform," Kenworthy, 33, wrote in the caption accompanying the images. "Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a tool of fear and separation. Families belong together."

The post quickly went viral, drawing both praise from immigration advocates and criticism from those who accused the athlete of disrespecting law enforcement and injecting politics into sport.

ICE, the federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement and deportations, has been at the center of political battles for years. The agency has faced intensified scrutiny over its enforcement practices, particularly concerning family separations and detention conditions.

Kenworthy has never shied from activism. The British-born, American-raised skier came out as gay in 2015, becoming one of the few openly LGBTQ+ athletes in winter sports. He has since used his visibility to advocate for various causes, from animal welfare to LGBTQ+ rights, and has been vocal about his opposition to immigration policies he views as inhumane.

"I'm well aware this will upset some people," Kenworthy said in a follow-up statement. "But I can't stay silent about policies that tear families apart and target vulnerable communities. Sports have always been political, whether we acknowledge it or not."

The demonstration comes as the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina approach, where Kenworthy hopes to compete in his fourth Games. The International Olympic Committee maintains strict rules about political demonstrations at Olympic venues, though athletes have increasingly tested those boundaries in recent years.

Reaction to Kenworthy's snow protest has been predictably divided. Immigration advocacy groups praised the athlete for using his platform to highlight what they describe as abuses by ICE.

"Athletes have enormous reach, and when they speak out about injustice, people listen," said Maria Rodriguez, executive director of the Immigration Justice Alliance. "Gus is showing courage by standing with immigrant communities."

Conservative commentators and some sports figures condemned the stunt as inappropriate and disrespectful. Former Olympic skier Todd Richards called it "a juvenile publicity stunt that disrespects the men and women trying to enforce our laws."

The resort's management issued a brief statement noting that while Kenworthy violated no rules, they "do not endorse political messages on our slopes" and asked athletes to "respect the mountain as a space for all visitors."

This isn't Kenworthy's first brush with Olympic-related controversy. At the 2018 PyeongChang Games, he was openly critical of then-Vice President Mike Pence, who led the U.S. delegation despite his record on LGBTQ+ issues. Kenworthy called Pence's presence "a bad joke" and refused photo opportunities with the vice president.

His switch to Team GB, enabled by his British birth in Essex before his family moved to Colorado, was partly motivated by his desire to compete openly as a gay man for a country he felt better represented his values.

The timing of Kenworthy's protest coincides with renewed immigration enforcement efforts in several states and ongoing legal battles over immigration policy. Several athletes across different sports have recently spoken out on the issue, though few have done so as graphically as Kenworthy's snow carving.

Sports marketing experts suggest the incident highlights the evolving relationship between athletes and activism. "The days when athletes could just 'shut up and ski' are over," said Dr. David Chen, who studies athlete activism at the University of Southern California. "Younger athletes see their platforms as inseparable from their values. The question is how sports organizations will respond."

Team GB has not commented on Kenworthy's demonstration, though the organization has generally supported athletes' rights to express political views outside of competition venues.

As the images continue to circulate online, Kenworthy appears unbowed by criticism. In a tweet Friday morning, he simply wrote: "The snow will melt, but the message matters. Speak up for what's right."

Whether the protest will impact his Olympic preparations or selection for the 2026 Games remains to be seen. For now, Kenworthy has once again demonstrated that for some athletes, the biggest jumps happen off the slopes—when they leap into the political arena, consequences be damned.

The controversial message has since been erased by fresh snowfall and grooming equipment, but the conversation it sparked shows no signs of disappearing as quickly.