A rare halfpipe and slopestyle double threat, Gus Kenworthy is a highly-talented skier with a drive and ambition that puts him on top of podiums around the world. One of the most decorated freeskiers competing today, Kenworthy has now collected an unprecedented six consecutive AFP overall titles. He was a star of the 2014 Olympic Games where he earned slopestyle silver, joining U.S. teammates Joss Christensen (gold) and Nick Goepper (bronze) on the podium for an American sweep.

When Kenworthy came out as gay in an October 2015 ESPN the Magazine article, he became the first male action sports athlete to do so. The announcement was met with positivity and though Kenworthy has said that he doesn't think an athlete coming out should be newsworthy, he has also said that being able to be his true self has helped with his competitive edge. That edge was razor sharp in 2016, when Kenworthy won slopestyle at the Dew Tour in Breckenridge, halfpipe at the Grand Prix in Mammoth, double silver (halfpipe and slopestyle) at X Games Aspen and bronze in halfpipe at X Games Oslo, all while battling a bruised heel suffered in training at the Dew Tour. Despite his successes in nearly every other elite venue, it was the first time Kenworthy medaled at X Games Aspen (though he has a bronze from X Games Tignes  2013). It was also the first time an athlete had earned an X Games medal in both disciplines since Jon Olsson did it in 2005. Kenworthy then went on to win the final event of the season, the European Freeski Open.   

As a member of the inaugural U.S. Olympic slopestyle team, Kenworthy made his country and sport proud by crushing the Russian slopestyle course and taking home the silver medal. He stood on the podium alongside his fellow teammates, Joss Christensen and Nick Goepper, who together swept the podium for the USA. It was only the third U.S. podium sweep in Winter Olympic Games history. While in Sochi, Kenworthy made headlines by adopting a family of stray dogs he met on the streets of the Olympic town and has since been working with the International Humane Society to raise awareness for the cause.

A Telluride native, Kenworthy first gained recognition for his park skiing with one of his ski movie edits he posted on the Internet. Shortly thereafter he began filming with well-known ski production companies and ascending through the elite freeskiing ranks.

FIRST TRACKS
Growing up in a town like Telluride, CO, it isn't uncommon to start skiing at an early age. Kenworthy’s parents had him on the hill shortly after he learned to walk, and he’s never looked back.

OFF THE SNOW
When Kenworthy does get down time from chasing snow, you can find traveling the globe, skateboarding and spending time with his boyfriend, Matt. In the months leading up to the first events of the season he spends a lot of time jumping on trampolines and doing as much off-mountain training as he can. Kenworthy owns a home in Denver, where he spends time with his good friend and fellow slopestyle competitor Bobby Brown.