In a new interview with USA Today's
sports blog For the Win, skier Gus Kenworthy talks about how
his life has changed since coming out gay.
At the 2014 Sochi Games, Kenworthy took
home a silver medal. A few months later, he announced his sexuality
in an ESPN the Magazine cover story.
The 25-year-old Kenworthy is one of
just a handful of out athletes heading to next month's Olympic Winter
Games in South Korea.
Kenworthy was asked to weigh in on the
White House's selection of Vice President Mike Pence to lead the 2018
U.S. Olympic delegation to South Korea.
“I think it’s not the person I
would have expected, and I think it sends mixed messages because this
is the first time we’re seeing out U.S. Olympic athletes competing
in the Winter Olympics, and then we have someone leading the
delegation that doesn’t support that, and doesn’t support the
LGBT community, and has spoken against it,” Kenworthy
said. “I think it doesn’t send the right message. It’s
unfortunate, but it is what it is.”
(Related: Adam
Rippon: Mike Pence not a friend of a gay person.)
When asked how his life has changed
since coming out, Kenworthy answered: “My life has changed and it
hasn’t! In some ways, I feel like it’s a completely different
life, and I get to just be myself. In other ways, nothing’s
changed. I’m still going to the same ski competitions. Still
hanging out with a lot of my same friends, and my family’s so
great. I think that I’ve gotten to live authentically, and share
who I really am with my family and friends. It’s made me feel so
comfortable. I think that it’s showcased in my skiing. I feel so
free and liberated and it’s one last thing I have to think about,
about being in the closet and worrying about outing myself. My skiing
has benefited from that, from being free.”
(Related: Gus
Kenworthy named P&G Winter Olympics brand ambassador.)