Gus Kenworthy is making a comeback to skiing, with plans to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy.
The 33-year-old skier announced his retirement in February 2022 after competing in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as part of Team GB. During the games, Kenworthy faced a challenging start, suffering two crashes in his first two runs, one of which left him falling on the lip of the pipe. Despite the setbacks, he rallied in the third round, scoring 71.25 points, earning eighth place.
At the time, Kenworthy reflected on his decision to retire, saying, “The final hurrah. My swan song. I’m done, I’m done competing. I’ve had a career that I’m really, really proud of.”
Since his retirement, Kenworthy has ventured into acting and modeling, but on May 12, the athlete revealed to ESPN that he was coming out of retirement to train for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“After taking a step away, I realized I miss skiing, and I really want to compete again,” Kenworthy shared with ESPN. “I didn’t know if I would be able to after seven and a half. So, it’s this Olympics or nothing. I’m never going to have this opportunity again.”
He also opened up about his experience during his brief retirement, admitting that he continued to think about skiing. “I would be out at a party, and someone would be like, ‘What do you do now?’ And I wouldn’t know how to answer. Saying anything other than, ‘I’m a professional skier,’ felt wrong coming out of my mouth. It was weird to navigate. I felt depressed at times. I felt a loss of my sense of identity,” he said.
Kenworthy began considering a return to the sport last summer. Before making the decision, he worked through some concerns, particularly the risk of head injuries. “I’m scared, but it’s like any risk. You do what you can to try and mitigate the risks and perform as safely as possible,” he explained.
Support for his comeback has come from Team GB’s head coach, but Kenworthy is shouldering the costs of his return. With the team having “zero budget” for him, the skier will fund his own travel and coaching.
Despite the challenges, Kenworthy remains optimistic. “I feel pretty good about my chances if I’m able to stay healthy,” he said.
To secure a spot on Team GB’s 2026 Olympics roster, Kenworthy will need to place within the top 30% in at least two of the four World Cup events he is scheduled to compete in.